Overview

Engineering is essential to both the commercial job market and the research world. As an engineer, you will learn how to manipulate known resources by applying your knowledge of natural, technical and scientific laws in order to design machines and devices that will provide technological advances for the world. Engineers are the people who make our ideas come to life, making engineering a consistently in-demand field of study.

Requirements

Bachelor of engineering degree candidates should possess an aptitude for math and science. Students will be using and applying these skills in order to solve difficult puzzles, and it is expected that students will develop their analytical and problem-solving skills throughout the course of the program.

Students interested in engineering should be creative and willing to experiment, but also detail-oriented and hard-working. Engineers typically work in large teams, so clear and effective communication skills are essential as well.

Coursework

Engineering students will undergo intensive science and math coursework, including classes in chemistry, physics and calculus. Students will also take major-specific courses that vary depending on their engineering concentration. Some common concentrations include software engineering, general engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. An undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, for example, might include the following courses:

• Signals and Systems
• Gas Turbines
• Dynamic Systems
• Manufacturing Processes
• Thermal Systems Design
• Kinetics

Potential Jobs

A career in engineering offers the prospect to work in a high-tech field that is packed with opportunities. The variety of engineering majors will prepare you for work in multiple industries – computer, aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare, biomedicine and agriculture – upon graduation. With the myriad job options available, a bachelors degree in engineering is sure to be a good investment for the future.

Salary

In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $81,085 for agricultural engineers to $126,788 for ceramic engineers in March 2009.

As a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelors degrees. The Bureau of Labor statistics provides a detailed breakdown of engineering salaries by specialty.

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