What is Engineering?
Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more specialized fields of engineering, each with a more specific emphasis on particular areas of applied mathematics, applied science, and types of application.
Engineering is the application of science and maths to solve problems. While scientists and inventors come up with innovations, it is engineers who apply these discoveries to the real world. Yet, todays engineers operate in many different areas as well as building structures.
Engineering is part of STEM education, which aims to engage students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics yet, as a discipline, it has been practiced for thousands of years.
You can see examples of engineering in the Pyramids of Giza, at Stonehenge, the Parthenon, and elsewhere. Engineers work on everything from cell membranes to construction and prosthetics to improving engine and transport efficiencies and developing renewable energy resources.
While engineering dates right back to the invention of the wheel (and beyond), the term itself comes from the word engineer, which goes back to the 14th century, when an engineer meant someone who constructed military engines like catapults and other siege engines. This military meaning can still be seen in use today with the Corps of Royal Engineers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The word engine itself comes from the Latin word ingenium (c. 1250), which means innate quality, especially mental power, hence a clever invention.
Engineering developed beyond military applications and began to be applied to civilian structures like bridges and buildings, leading to the creation of the term civil engineering, to differentiate it from the original military engineering field.
Engineers are involved in the design, evaluation, development, testing, modification, inspection, and maintenance of a wide range of products, structures, and systems.
This involves everything from the recommending of materials and processes, overseeing manufacturing and construction processes, and conducting failure analysis and investigation, to providing consultancy services and teaching engineering to students and trainees.
The field of engineering is divided into a large number of specialty areas:
There is often considerable overlap among the different specialties. For this reason, engineers need to have a general understanding of several areas of engineering besides their specialty. For example, a civil engineer needs to understand concepts of structural engineering, an aerospace engineer needs to apply principles of mechanical engineering, and nuclear engineers need a working knowledge of electrical engineering.
There are tons of different types of degrees in engineering you can earn in college and graduate school. This list contains more than 50 examples of engineering majors, organized by the five engineering branches (which are also majors in and of themselves).
Not all schools offer all these exact majors and specializations, so be sure to check each college youre interested in to see what types of degrees in engineering it offers. As a general rule, tech schools, such as Caltech, MIT, and Georgia Tech, will typically offer a much wider array of engineering majors and degrees.
While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, it should hopefully give you an idea of the different types of engineering you could study in college and what kinds of specializations you can select. You might also consider checking out our picks for the best engineering schools.
This type of engineering uses the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to design and manufacture products through chemical processes.
Civil engineering is a professional discipline that entails the design, construction, and maintenance of the natural world and man-made structures, such as bridges, dams, and sewage systems.
As its name suggests, this type of engineering focuses on technology, specifically the design and production of electronic devices.
Industrial engineering is all about efficiency and optimization in areas such as business, finance, production, and management.
This original branch of engineering involves designing, manufacturing, operating, and testing machines and other devices.
Below are some types of engineering that dont exactly fit into any of the five major categories above.
Engineering has been a part of human history, in one form or another, for thousands of years. Of course, as our knowledge and understanding of science and mathematics grew, so our engineering expertise and competence also improved.
Todays engineers use the most advanced technologies, alongside established scientific principles, to apply cutting-edge solutions and innovation to real-world challenges.
It is hard to over-emphasize the importance of engineering in human history, from designing transportation systems to powering our homes, engineering is all around us, right down to the device you are using to read this.
As our scientific knowledge continues to advance, so engineering will find ways to take this new information and apply it to the world around us.
As you saw above, there are tons of different types of engineering fields you could enter. But which is ultimately the best choice for you? Here are four factors to keep in mind as you consider what type of engineering you want to major in and use in your career.
First, you should think about what your biggest academic and personal interests are.
For example, have you always been fascinated by how things are built? Maybe you often played with LEGO bricks as a child and can easily envision yourself helping construct and design public buildings and roads. In that case, civil engineering would be an excellent fit for you.
Or perhaps youre interested in computers and coding, in which case a career as a software or computer engineer would be a great choice.
Take some time to really ask yourself which of your interests youre most passionate about. It might even help to write down a list of your favorite hobbies and the most interesting classes youve taken in school. Afterward, compare those interests to the five major types of engineering and try to see how they align.
In addition to your interests, take some time to consider your biggest strengths. For instance, was chemistry a total breeze for you? Then chemical engineering might be a smart choice for a college major.
Or maybe youre a natural-born leader whos always managing projects and looking for ways to increase productivity. In that case, you might think about studying industrial engineering.
To figure out your strengths, look at your grades in different classes youve taken and make a list of what you believe to be your best skills. Then, try to match these to the five different types of engineering listed above.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, architecture and engineering workers reported a median annual income of $83,160 in May 2020 about $40,000 more than the median salary for all jobs in the U.S. Certain types of engineering jobs may offer higher incomes depending on factors like demand and industry.
Here are the median salaries for some of the most popular engineering branches.
Engineering is all around us and is an integral part of our everyday lives. It is something that many people take for granted, but it is engineering that allows you to make a coffee in the morning, heats or cools your home, allows you to travel, communicate on your mobile device, and so much more besides.
Within each of these branches are dozens of specializations you can study. As a whole, engineers make good money, and many engineering jobs are in fairly high demand.
When it comes to deciding which engineering, field is right for you, be sure to look at the following four factors:
Overall, engineering is a great field to get into, with lots of unique options to choose from. Just be sure to take lots of time to figure out which type of engineering will work best for you!
Engineers design, build, and maintain various complex systems and structures, from buildings to software. While there are many engineering professions, there is one consistent engineering mindset: to innovate.
Engineering is widely considered as one of the most lucrative and in-demand career choices, with multiple engineering disciplines and job types, as well as salaries that can exceed $100k per year once the engineer has some experience behind them.
Engineering is a scientific field and job that involves taking our scientific understanding of the natural world and using it to invent, design, and build things to solve problems and achieve practical goals. This can include the development of roads, bridges, cars, planes, machines, tools, processes, and computers.
As per research, engineering graduates with top-notch qualities and extensive knowledge get high-paying and highly rewarding careers in the industry. And of course, the income keeps on getting better with time and as you keep gaining more skills.
To engineer literally means to make things happen. Most of what engineers do on a daily basis can fall into four categories: communicating, problem-solving, analyzing, and planning. Depending on an engineers industry and role, their day will typically consist of a various mix of these functions.
Computer Engineering is one of the most sought-after engineering career choices available to girl students in India. The best part of this course is, that there is no fieldwork at all. The expansion in the IT sector and software revolution in India has also made this course demanding.
Considered one of the toughest courses in the world, engineering students are required to have tactical skills, analytical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Engineering continues to be one of the most preferred choices of students after pursuing Science PCM in class 12th.
Yes. They need to understand calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and statistics so that they can understand whats going on with the engineering models they use.
Engineers develop new technological solutions. During the engineering design process, the responsibilities of the engineer may include defining problems, conducting and narrowing research, analyzing criteria, finding and analyzing solutions, and making decisions.
Civil engineers use mathematics equations to study the chemistry of materials. In order to use the right material for the project, engineers measure the strength of the material and apply chemical equations to judge the strength of the material.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) engineers have a median annual wage of $91,010 and the engineering field projects to have employment growth of nearly 140,000 new jobs over the next decade. The bottom line: it is well worth the time and effort it takes to become an engineer.
So, in that case, engineers can get a good job earlier than doctors. After an engineering degree, it will be easier to get jobs, but after a medical degree, it wont be easy to open your own clinic or hospital if nobody in your family background is a doctor, or if you have no good connections with any doctor.
This requires very involved mathematics from algebra through calculus to differential equations and vector analysis. There are, however, quite a few engineering jobs that require almost no advanced math and very little basic math or algebra. It is a very broad field.
It takes four to five years to become an engineer. Engineering degrees are followed by post-education examinations, specialization, supervised training, and continued education. It can take 8-12 years for advanced engineering degrees. You can study for two years and earn an associates degree in engineering technology.
An engineering major is an interdisciplinary study of math, science, and some business principles. General engineering courses teach students how to design and conduct experiments, identify and solve problems, understand professional and ethical responsibility, and communicate effectively.
Yes, an average student can do engineering department easily. In CSE you have to face lots of mathematics stuffs like Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Modern Algebra, etc. Maybe you will face difficulty in starting but if you are average in math then you can improve yourself and do very well in CSE courses.
Subjects such as physics, chemistry, or agricultural science can provide a good foundation for students of engineering, as the first year at college usually involves the study of core scientific concepts.
Engineering positions typically require a bachelors degree in engineering or a relevant field. Some engineering jobs, especially in management, require a masters degree. An engineering degree in a specialty area may qualify engineers for a career in a related field.
Engineering requires creativity, dedication, and patience in your work. Its not that anyone can become an engineer. For engineering, your basic education must include geometry, trigonometry, algebra and calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology depending on which field your interest resides.
Related Posts
Link:
What is Engineering?- Types of Engineering
- 10 books thatll help you become a better software engineer - The Next Web [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Total hands out UKCS engineering framework deals to trio of consultants - News for the Oil and Gas Sector - Energy Voice [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Prometheus: Why The Engineers Were Heading To Earth | Screen Rant - Screen Rant [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Management CEMETERY SUPERINTENDENT The City of Gibbon is currently accepting - Kearney Hub [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Transportation Engineering and Safety Conference to be held Dec. 9-11 - Penn State News [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- 'Bending' light to engineer improved optical devices and circuits - ND Newswire [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- UC Merced Engineering Center to Focus on Ag Technology - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - AGInfo Ag Information Network Of The West [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Head of Engineering Maintenance job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY | 233561 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Civil Engineering student part of National Women in Engineering "Dream Team" panel - uoflnews.com [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Breaking News - Engineering at Its Best... and Worst: Don't Miss the Return of Science Channel's Hit Series "Deadly Engineering" and... [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Tesla is No. 1 most attractive company for engineering students, and thats a massive advantage - Electrek [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2020]
- Wolves alter wetland creation and recolonization by killing ecosystem engineers - UMN News [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Global Automotive Simulation Market To Witness Astonishing Growth 2026 | Altair Engineering Inc., ANSYS Inc., PTC, Siemens AG, Autodesk Inc.,... [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Engineers Without Borders urges industry reflection - The Engineer [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- 9 Engineers on the Hardest Song They Ever Mixed - Vulture [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- Daewoo Engineering and Construction and SPH Engineering disclose AI partnership - sUAS News [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2020]
- TRIPLE EIGHT BATHURST WINNING ENGINEER TO JOIN WAU - Auto Action [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- First-year engineering classes for Anna University affiliated colleges take the e-way from today - The New Indian Express [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Datafold raises seed from NEA to keep improving the lives of data engineers - TechCrunch [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Tech has overtaken engineering as Bristol's fastest-growing industry with more than $1.07bn invested in the city since 2014 - Business Leader [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Start 2021 as an electrical engineer with this training for less than $20 - Boing Boing [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- The Global Engineering Plastics Market is expected to grow by $ 43.00 bn during 2020-2024 progressing at a CAGR of 8% during the forecast period -... [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Elementary students test their engineering skills with Mayflower project - williamsonherald.com [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Global Architectural Engineering and Construction Solutions (AECS) Market 2020-2024 | Market Analysis, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Threats... [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers Celebrates Organizations and Leaders for Doing a World of Good - GlobeNewswire [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- 2 Texas Engineers Honored Among Top Inventors in US - UT News - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Chemical engineering alumna named Woman of the Year in Engineering - Penn State News [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- 14 Largest Engineering Companies In The World - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Vails namesake was a controversial state highway engineer - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- The Next Frontier of Learning Engineering: AI That Teaches Other AI - EdSurge [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- $496M Contract Will Give DOD Engineering Capabilities, Official Says - Nextgov [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- William H. Robinson has a 'new and expanded leadership' post at Vanderbilt University - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- Di Appointed to Lead Computer Science and Computer Engineering - University of Arkansas Newswire [Last Updated On: December 14th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 14th, 2020]
- English is easier: India is woefully underprepared to teach engineering in regional languages - The Times of India Blog [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- VW Bolsters U.S. Footprint With Advancements In Electric Car Portfolio, Infrastructure And Engineering - CarScoops [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- These 4 Measures Indicate That SIA Engineering (SGX:S59) Is Using Debt Reasonably Well - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- New engineering business opens its doors in Netherton despite the pandemic - expressandstar.com [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- 'Earables' the next milestone in wearable tech, say engineers - E&T Magazine [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering job with BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY | 238845 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- New collaboration provides opportunity for future water scientists and engineers - Cranfield University [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Box Opens Research and Development Engineering Site in Warsaw, Poland - Business Wire [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Engineering and Technology Management students achieve high pass rate on certification exam - Morehead State University News [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2020]
- Hydram Engineering warns Covid-19 and Brexit will dent its turnover - Business Live [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Calculating The Intrinsic Value Of Watts International Maritime Engineering Limited (HKG:2258) - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Is Suprajit Engineering Limited's (NSE:SUPRAJIT) Stock's Recent Performance A Reflection Of Its Financial Health? - Simply Wall St [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Engineering CAD Software Market is Flourishing due to Rising Emergence of Technical Implementation Drives Growth by 2027 | TurboCAD, SketchUp,... [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- Apple vs. Tesla: Which Offers Software Engineers the Biggest Salaries? - Dice Insights [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- From the classroom: Mechanical engineering at global top 10 uni - Study International News [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2021]
- 'A lot of unknowns': Grass Valley Assistant City Engineer Bjorn Jones said the city has adapted under the pandemic - The Union of Grass Valley [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Associate Professor in Broadcast Engineering job with BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY | 243677 - Times Higher Education (THE) [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- CORRECTING and REPLACING: KCI, One of the Top Engineering Firms in the US, Adopts ProStar's PointMan SaaS Solution for SUE - Business Wire [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Purdue's online engineering graduate programs again rank in the top 3 nationally - Purdue News Service [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Faculty Positions of Intelligent Engineering and Microelectronics job with South China University of Technology (SCUT) | 314652 - The Chronicle of... [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Examining the Engineering of the Kasukabe Reservoir in Japan - Interesting Engineering [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Home - Springer [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- SIA Engineering ekes out small profit in third quarter - Flightglobal [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- ST Engineering Launches Anti-Microbial Solution Approved for Use in Cabin Interiors - AviationPros.com [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Journey Engineering announces the addition of a new VP and Principal, Projects and Engineering - BOE Report [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- K-2 Ventures Advises Mark Two Engineering on Its Sale to CORE Industrial Partners - Business Wire [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Global Engineering Liability Insurance Market latest demand by 2020-2025 with leading players & COVID-19 Analysis KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper -... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- First recipient of the Black Engineer of the Year Award is appointed Deans' Professor in Education and Engineering - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Google will pay $2.5 million to underpaid female engineers and overlooked Asian applicants - The Verge [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Clay County teen whose dream is to be an astronaut introduces other girls to STEM pursuits - The Florida Times-Union [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- Universal Engineering Sciences Strengthens Western Expansion By Acquiring Construction Testing & Engineering, Inc., In Southern California -... [Last Updated On: February 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 2nd, 2021]
- U.S. Navy Has Patents on Tech It Says Will Engineer the Fabric of Reality - VICE [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Cummins and Isuzu collaborate on mid-range powertrains and advanced engineering - Engine Technology International [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Liberty engineering teams helmet prototype earns second place in NFLs 1st and Future competition - WFXRtv.com [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- FM Global executive on the insurer's risk-engineering based approach - Insurance Business Australia [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Black former NASA engineer: We have to teach our children well - WFXRtv.com [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Cummins and Isuzu announce global mid-range powertrain and advanced engineering collaboration - Automotive World [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- University of Iowa College of Engineering receives diversity recognition, but still has work to do - UI The Daily Iowan [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Darin Gray Named Engineer of the Year - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of Engineering [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- Rubrik transitions to new phase as sales and engineering heads leave Blocks and Files - Blocks and Files [Last Updated On: February 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 5th, 2021]
- A*Star scientist Jackie Ying elected to prestigious US engineering academy based on work in Singapore - The Straits Times [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- A Disillusioned ExxonMobil Engineer Quits to Take Action on Climate Change and Stop Making the World Worse - InsideClimate News [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- USC Junior Advances Communities By Engineering Infrastructures That Serve The People - USC Viterbi | School of Engineering - USC Viterbi School of... [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Join us on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 pm EST for the Black Engineer of the Year Awards - BlackEngineer.com [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Sebastian Ceria Elected to the National Academy of Engineering - Salamanca Press [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Three Harvard Professors Elected to the National Academy of Engineering | News - Harvard Crimson [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]
- Newsmaker: South Shore native working on NASA space telescope - The Patriot Ledger [Last Updated On: February 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 14th, 2021]