<p>^Exengineer, is that a reply for my post? If not, what is the obsolete engineering you studied?</p>
<p>yg7s7, BLS.gov says that ChemE jobs will decline by ~2% from 2008-2018. However, there is a lot of talk about boomers retiring. So even though the number of jobs will decline, there is a possibility that job openings will increase.</p>
<p>My degree was in Metallurgical Engineering, now renamed Materials Science & Engineering or terminated at many universities due to low enrollment. This is a degree that you really shouldn’t get involved with, particularly at the BS level. It was not worth the effort I put into it, and at age 54 I will be starting a new career in trucking.</p>
<p>What do you guys think of the product design major? At the relevant school, this major is in the engineering dept., and the student partially follows the ME curriculum. Alternatively, one could major in ME, with a certification in product design. However, the student in queston would just do the product design major. Does anyone know how marketable this degree is? Would employers look at it as too light/soft without the full ME degree?</p>
<p>Re: ChemE–many chemicals are now being produced in China. The chemical industry in the US is definitely shrinking, as companies buy each other up.</p>
<p>According to a recent report I saw on MSN.com, CS is the way to go for job security.</p>
<p>A major named “product design” might be mistaken for an art type of major, rather than an engineering major, by employers not familiar with the school and major. It may be more marketable to get one’s primary degree in some type of engineering, which would be more familiar to employers, with a minor or certification in “product design” if available and desired.</p>
<p>Though it was only one article, I read that it isn’t a good idea to get a degree that isn’t well known. Employers know what mechanical engineering is, but if they don’t know what “product design”, the resume would just get thrown away. But I don’t know how true that is. I can imagine the resume being thrown away if it didn’t include any experience, but if it also included experience (w/explanation), then maybe an employer can tell what you are capable of.</p>