Which Engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I want to major in engineering, but there are so many different engineering majors. I want to pursue one that is related to physics/chemistry more than biology. So here are some options:</p>

<p>Mechanical Eng.
Chemical Eng.
Engineering/Industrial Management
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics
Engineering Technology
Engineering Science</p>

<p>Maybe some of these listed aren't real majors, maybe there's some overlap, and maybe there's some I forgot to mention. Anyhow, what are the differences between these (especially the last 4)? What kind of courses do you take in college, and what type of careers lie ahead for each?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>These are good questions, and there is overlap among engineering fields (eg between Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, or between Mechanical Engineering and Materials Engineering/Materials Science). After you have had some introductory classes in different engineering areas you will have a better idea of what you like.</p>

<p>The first three semesters are very similar across engineering fields - a year of Chemistry, 1 to 2 years of Physics and 2 years (usually) of Calculus based mathematics, after that the engineering fields start to diverge. I changed majors (from Biomedical) after I took introductory computer class (and loved it) and it is VERY common to change majors. The average college student changes major at least three times so don’t worry much now about <strong>exactly</strong> which engineering area to major in.</p>

<p>The last four on your list are not as common, and are more general and not as well defined. <a href=“http://www.abet.org”>www.abet.org</a> has additional information on accredited programs and majors</p>

<p>See the US Labor Statistics site for an explanation of the many engineering careers and their outlook
<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

3

<p>Engineering technology is a different, though related, class of majors (e.g. mechanical engineering technology, chemical engineering technology, etc.).</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.abet.org/engineering-vs-engineering-technology/”>http://www.abet.org/engineering-vs-engineering-technology/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/majors/engineering-tech-or-engineering”>http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/majors/engineering-tech-or-engineering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>I have a ABET accredited Engineering Technology degree, core difference is more applied science vs theory in a Engineering program, level of Math courses does not reach as advanced, i.e. Calculus III was not a requirement to graduate but I had classes that Engineering degrees do not offer as well. I had a lot of labs that were 3 hours once a week, 1 year of Chemistry, 1 year of Physics, several years of Math, Trig, Linear Algebra through Calculus, I had Math courses for 2-3 years, Statistics 1 year, it took me 5 years to complete my BS degree at the time with all my Engineering Courses, Electives and General Ed. requirements and extra courses I took. </p>

<p>Engineering Technology degrees are not very common, only a few dozen schools offer them last time I checked, due to that there is a level of ignorance among the Engineering Community on it, typically among the old stale nearing retirement age Engineers who still have a Skolnick Electronics Pocket Protector in their shirt. </p>

<p>I got my degree 20 years ago, but if I could do it over again I would have just went for a straight up Engineering Degree for multiple reasons, a BSME is the cookie cutter standard in the US and it will open more doors across a wider swath of the industry and give you 50 state PE options, I can get my PE in several states but not all. Not that I need a PE, it would only be for bragging rights in my industry, but a lot of jobs and companies along with hiring managers, many who have, BSME, MSME think that you need what they have to succeed, it’s not a reality though in all fields of Engineering as some contain work that is dull and mundane and do not really contain much Engineering if any. I have seen jobs listed online that required a BSME for products like plastic cups and cell phone cases along with toilet seats and garbage cans. Sure once an argue there is some engineering required to make those products, but were not talking rockets here.</p>

<p>I have a friend who works for Apple, he told me that they require a BSME for all Engineering jobs, for a smartphone that is mainly a PCB with a touch screen and a LCD attached to it? Isn’t like they are making missiles, rockets, aerostructures or turbines. Real hard core engineering principles can be applied and utilized in those fields and many others not across the board. Fact is many Engineers with a BSME do not ever utilize Calculus or Differential Equations little alone Thermodynamics, Statics and etc, but it sure makes them sound smart to talk the lingo in Engineering meetings right? I hear it all the time, let’s drop some terminology for something so obvious but when you deal with greenhorns they have to make themselves appear to know the solution.</p>

<p>Don’t bother with ABET’s definition of Engineering vs Engineering Technology as it’s dated and inaccurate. I have been called an Engineer since day one after graduation, do everything that other BSME’s I work with do if not more. Experience is key, but note there are limitations in gaining your Masters with some schools as the Engineering Technology is not widely accepted even with a 4.0 GPA, high GRE score, 3 letters of recommendation and a golden CV with x amount years of experience with world class companies. </p>

<p>This is the best explanation of Engineering vs. Engineering Technology, though take it with a grain of salt as marketing is rampant across all schools, but from my experience I can attest to much of it being fact.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.pointpark.edu/Academics/Schools/SchoolofArtsandSciences/Departments/NaturalSciencesandEngineeringTechnology/EngineeringTechnology/EngineeringvsEngineeringTechnology”>http://www.pointpark.edu/Academics/Schools/SchoolofArtsandSciences/Departments/NaturalSciencesandEngineeringTechnology/EngineeringTechnology/EngineeringvsEngineeringTechnology&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>To be honest, I would not pursue an Engineering Technology degree unless your willing to deal with the shortcomings I mentioned and while they are not so bad, it’s just not as good as it should be and can imagine without experience it’s a hard field for many to gain ground in. Put it this way, I have not been out of a job in my 20 years, if I got let go, I found another job in a week and left a few jobs in good terms for others, I got contacted all the time for work. If money is it, I made/make just as much if not more then my counterparts with a BSME or looking at salary reports I’m well within the bell curve.</p>

5

<p>@ucbalumnus </p>

<p>The RIT description is more accurate, but coming from my 20 years of experience in various industries, I do not see too much difference in general in the professional sector between the degrees and job duties. As well, I have classmates and know others with ET degrees who work in research, went on and got their PhD. </p>

<p>The ABET description is completely inaccurate and a total joke of an explanation. </p>

<p>Like I said, I would not recommend anyone going for a ET degree unless they do not have other viable options, often it’s what you make of it but if you need to rely on others to get opportunity you may find yourself at a disadvantage with some hiring managers and companies, regardless what your CV documents.</p>