<p>I'm currently a civil engineering student and I'm thinking about picking up a minor for self-enrichment reasons. I think I would enjoy an architecture minor but unfortunately it isn't offered at my school. I will probably focus my major on structures. I'm a bit of a math/artsy person and I think I would one day like to do design work, but I can also see myself possibly doing management or running a firm or company one day.</p>
<p>Of the ones that are offered I looked at minors in</p>
<ol>
<li>Math</li>
<li>Computer Science</li>
<li>Business</li>
<li>Engineering Entrepreneurship</li>
<li>Real Estate</li>
</ol>
<p>Math and Real Estate would be the easiest ones to minor in at my school, especially math since it would only require 3 additional courses, I just don't know what math courses would interest me above differential equations and linear algebra. My college offers a summer program where you can take courses to get a business minor in a summer so if I choose business I can technically try to get a business minor over the summer and an additional minor during the school year. Engineering Entrepreneurship looks interesting but the one thing that bothers me is that most of the classes for this minor are all offered during the evening/night time (I prefer morning/afternoon classes). Computer Science looked interesting but is probably the hardest one to arrange.</p>
<p>I read through the course descriptions for each of the minor and I think the key thing that is making it difficult for me to choose is because I don't know what each minor actually entails. Personally, I would diversify and take classes in all of these but probably can't because of time and credit reasons.</p>
<p>Can someone describe to me a little bit about what I might learn in each of these minors and then maybe advise me on what would be good?</p>
<p>I am a structural engineer. I would strongly advise you not to get a minor, but to take additional analysis or design classes. Examples would be timber design, seismic analysis, prestressed concrete design, etc. You want to be able to hit the ground running at your first job, and the more technical knowledge you have, the better. It will also make it easier for you to get your first job, if employers see that you are well-prepared.</p>
<p>Hi MaineLonghorn, thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>I was wondering what do you think would be best if say my university doesn’t offer that many additional analysis and design classes, other than grad courses which I don’t think I’m allowed to take, and that based on my school’s curriculum, I am already planning to take 4ish civil classes each semester in my junior and senior year, leaving me around 1 elective a semester.</p>
<p>I disagree with taking more design classes. I am a former structural engineer and it is my belief that will only further pigeon hole you into being a floor engineer for eternity. Ultimately if you performed well in your core curriculum any of those often skipped design areas (timber, masonry, aluminum, etc.) can be learned rather quickly. It’s all the same basic concepts. If you already feel you have interests beyond being a design engineer, I would broaden your knowledge base for future opportunity. With the way career paths can change you may find yourself doing something completely unexpected in 5-10 years. More flexibility allows you to land those golden opportunities others can’t. Many small (even some large) engineering companies have poor business strategies, so knowing something more about business certainly doesn’t hurt. Real estate could unlock a completely different career path (many railroads hire civil engineers to do their real estate work). The ability to write good software is invaluable, but you can also buy good software. Math, while valuable, is probably less so considering with your major you are already ahead of most people in the work force in math ability.</p>
<p>I have found a much higher level of success than your average engineer by having many interests and a broad educational background. The more specialized in one area you become, the less versatile. Education comes at a very high investment cost, so waste no opportunity to learn what interests you and will provide as much return as possible.</p>