Engineering
Any Engineering Discipline
- Research and development
- Design
- Production
- Operations
- Management
- Teaching
- Consulting
- Sales and marketing
- Law
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
Employers
- Engineering companies
- Consulting companies
- Industry
- Local, state, and federal government
- Colleges and universities
Strategies
- Obtain relevant experience through co-ops or internships for industry-related career.
- Develop strong verbal, written, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Pursue Master of Science (MS), Master of Engineering (ME), or Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees for increased opportunities in management.
- Obtain Ph.D. for teaching and research careers.
- Learn federal, state and local government job application procedures. Pursue Professional Engineering licensure.
Aerospace
- Propulsion
- Fluid mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Structural design
- Celestial mechanics
- Acoustics
- Guidance and control systems
Employers
- Aerospace product and parts manufacturing industries (e.g., engines, communication systems, navigation systems, electronic devices)
- Research and development firms
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Federal government:
- Department of Defense
- Aircraft, missile and space vehicle industries
- Communications equipment manufacturers
- Commercial airlines
Strategies
Discipline develops technologies for use in aviation, defense and space exploration.
- Anticipate specializing in the development of new technologies or in particular aerospace products.
- Stay abreast of the status of federal funding for defense and space programs.
- Seek knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) software, robotics, optics, and lasers.
- Seek co-op or internship opportunities in the aerospace industry.
- Develop effective verbal and written communication skills and learn to work well on a team.
- Join chapters of national organizations such as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to build a network of professional contacts and participate in design competitions.
- Note, job prospects in aerospace engineering may be influenced by economic conditions and the demand for military products.
Biomedical
- Bioinstrumentation
- Biomechanics
- Biomaterials
- Systems physiology
- Clinical engineering
- Rehabilitation engineering
Employers
- Medical equipment and supplies manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Research facilities of educational and medical institutions
- Federal government:
- Regulatory agencies
- Veteran’s Administration
- National Institutes of Health
Strategies
Discipline combines engineering and biomedical sciences to study and develop tools, techniques and products to improve human health.
- Build laboratory and research skills through courses and/or work with professors.
- Seek internships, part-time employment or volunteer experiences in the biomedical field.
- Join related professional organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society to network with professionals in the field and submit research and design projects.
- Develop strong teamwork skills, as biomedical engineers often work closely with other engineers in related specialty areas (e.g., biomechanics and biomaterials as well as with medical personnel).
- Many positions require a graduate or professional degree; some biomedical engineers pursue medical school.
- Maintain an outstanding grade point average; seek experiences in hospital or healthcare settings through volunteering, shadowing, part-time positions or internships, secure strong faculty recommendations and plan to meet with a pre-health advisor periodically.
Chemical and Biomolecular
- Bulk and fine chemicals
- Consumer products
- Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
- Electronics
- Environmental safety and health
- Fuels and energy conversion
- Materials
- Process design
Employers
- Industries:
- Agricultural chemicals
- Industrial bulk and fine chemicals
- Plastics
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceutical
- Cosmetics
- Textiles
- Consumer products
- Petroleum
- Food processing
- Energy
- Environmental
- Automotive
- Pulp and paper
- Rubber and rubber products
- Electronics
- Private and national research laboratories
- Federal government:
- Department of Energy
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Department of Agriculture
Strategies
Discipline combines chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering to solve problems involving the use or production of chemicals and biological systems to develop new materials and processes and to increase efficiency and lower cost.
- Pursue a strong foundation in fundamentals in lower division classes as well as specialized knowledge for specific career opportunities in upper division classes.
- Develop exceptional communication and interpersonal skills for work on multidisciplinary teams. Attention to detail is crucial.
- Pursue experimental design, data interpretation, and problem-solving competence through coursework and research with professors.
- Seek internship or co-op experiences in the chemical engineering field.
- Join professional associations such as American Institute of Chemical Engineers to maintain current knowledge of opportunities in the field.
- Prepare for professional license via review classes.
Civil
- Structural
- Urban planning
- Construction
- Environmental
- Water resources
- Transportation
- Geotechnical
Employers
- Construction industry
- Utility companies
- Oil companies
- Telecommunications businesses
- Manufacturing companies
- Railroads
- Airports
- Road construction companies
- Engineering and architectural companies
- Consulting companies
- City, state, and federal government:
- Department of Transportation
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Department of Energy
Strategies
Broad discipline providing for communities through development and improvement of services including construction, transportation, city planning, water, energy, pollution.
- Pursue a strong background of engineering fundamentals as preparation for entering the work force or graduate school.
- Develop the ability to communicate effectively, as civil engineers are likely to collaborate with professionals in a variety of disciplines.
- Seek experience organizing and directing people and materials through related internships, co-ops, summer jobs and leadership experiences in student organizations.
- Join the American Society of Civil Engineers to participate in projects and activities to increase marketability beyond graduation.
- Note, states may require licensing or registration.
Computer
- Information protection
- Communications and wireless networks
- Computational science
- Operating systems
- Computer networks
- Computer systems
- Embedded systems
- Computer vision and robotics
- Circuit design
- Signal, image, and speech processing
- VLSI
- Bioinformatics
Employers
- Industries:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Computer and electronics manufacturers
- Transportation
- Telecommunications
- Guidance and control systems
- Defense
- Electric power and energy/Semiconductor
- Scientific service companies (e.g., instruments, lab equipment, software)
- Electronics
- Environmental
- Medical equipment
- Chemical
- Pharmaceutical
- Computer
- Pulp and paper
- Textile and metal
- Technical service companies (e.g., intelligence, information systems, defense)
- Financial and business service companies
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Federal government:
- Armed forces
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Transportation
- National Institutes of Health
Strategies
Discipline involves the design and development of computer hardware and software and hardware-software integration.
- Expect to take classes in engineering fundamentals, math, science and computer science.
- Develop strong attention to detail, analytical skills and the ability to persevere through lengthy projects.
- Seek ways to enhance interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills for work with people of differing backgrounds.
- Join student chapters of organizations such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to build contacts with peers and mentors, participate in student competitions and develop job leads.
Electrical
- Automatic controls
- Bioelectronics
- Digital systems
- Electromagnetics
- Analog electronics
- Power and energy systems
- Communications and signal processing
Employers
- Industries:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Computer and electronics manufacturers
- Transportation
- Telecommunications, guidance and control systems
- Defense
- Electric power and energy/Semiconductor
- Technical service companies (e.g., intelligence, information systems, defense)
- Scientific service companies (e.g., instruments, lab equipment, software)
- Electronics
- Environmental
- Medical equipment
- Chemical
- Pharmaceutical
- Computer
- Pulp and paper
- Textile and metal
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Federal government:
- Armed forces
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Transportation
- National Institutes of Health
Strategies
Broad discipline applies engineering principles to the design and production of electronic systems and electrical devices.
- Prepare for a course load including engineering fundamentals, math, science and electrical engineering.
- Pursue design projects and laboratory experience throughout college career.
- Seek related experience through research, internships, co-ops or part-time employment.
- Join student chapters of industry organizations such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to develop communication and leadership skills, to participate in competitions and to take advantage of professional networking opportunities.
Engineering Physics
- Engineering (process and testing)
- Quality control
- Research
- Development
- Instrumentation
Employers
- Industries:
- High technology
- Semiconductor
- Chemical
- Aerospace
- Agriculture
- Energy
- Fuel
- Computer
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- National laboratories
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Federal government:
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense
Strategies
Broad interdisciplinary field involves applying physics principles in engineering contexts.
- Choose a major in engineering physics or supplement physics major with engineering minor; both science and math aptitude are fundamental.
- Seek internship, co-op and/or research experience with professors in an area of interest.
- Develop strong oral, written communication and experimental design skills through coursework and laboratory practice.
- Pursue an advanced degree in engineering, engineering physics or physics for increased employment opportunities.
Environmental
- Air quality
- Water quality
- Solid/Water waste management
- Toxic waste management
- Hazardous waste clean-up/bioremediation
- Industrial hygiene
- Radiation protection
- Public health
- Land/Wildlife management
- Recycling
Employers
- Testing laboratories
- Research firms
- Consulting companies specializing in:
- Water/waste water treatment
- Water resource management
- Solid and hazardous waste management
- Air pollution control
- Hazardous waste remediation
- Industries:
- Chemical
- Energy
- Pharmaceutical
- Mining
- Manufacturing
- Local water, sewer, health, and public works departments
- Public interest organizations
- Construction companies
- State departments of Environment and Conservation
- Federal government:
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
- Environmental Protection Agency
Strategies
Discipline plays a vital role in preventing and developing solutions for environmental problems.
- Plan to supplement engineering coursework with classes in biology, hydrology, chemistry, geology and computational methods.
- Seek experience in the environmental engineering field through co-ops, internships, and part-time positions.
- Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills for interacting with legal and business professionals to solve environmental issues.
- Expect to work outdoors at least part of the time for environmental testing, quality control, and site investigation work.
- Join community groups or service organizations such as Student Conservation Association that focus on environmental awareness; attend public meetings about waste management.
- Maintain current knowledge of environmental issues, regulations, and statutes.
- Consider membership in professional engineering organizations such as the American Association for Environmental Engineers for networking and job leads.
Industrial
- Project, program, or operations management
- Manufacturing systems
- Supply chain management and logistics
- Productivity, methods and process engineering
- Quality measurement and improvement
- Human factors
- Strategic planning
- Management of change
- Financial engineering
- Engineering management
- Six sigma
- Lean
Employers
- Industries:
- Manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Transportation
- Construction
- Communications
- Electrical and electronics machinery
- State and federal government including armed forces
- Small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurship
- Hospitals and healthcare organizations
- Education and public service agencies
- Utility companies
- Retail companies
- Consulting companies
- Banks and financial institutions
- Not-for-profit organizations
Strategies
Discipline focuses on effectively utilizing people, products, machines, materials, energy, etc. to improve processes or systems.
- Plan to take courses in engineering and business.
- Seek experiences in student organizations to develop leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. Diplomacy is important in the field, as people are considered a factor of production.
- Pursue practical experience through part-time jobs, co-ops or internships to develop a professional network and increase marketability.
- Consider membership in student chapters of organizations such as the Institute of Industrial Engineers to participate in competitions on topics including operations research, manufacturing, human factors, ergonomics, management science, lean practices and simulation.
- Earn MS or MBA for advancement in management or administration; some programs offer dual degrees.
Materials Science and Engineering
- Metallurgy
- Ceramics
- Plastics/Polymers
- Composites
- Semiconductors and electronic materials
- Biomaterials
- Nanomaterials
- Material research and development
- Extraction/Synthesis
- Processing
- Structure analysis
- Performance
- Failure analysis
- Material selection
- Optical materials
Employers
- Industries/Manufacturers:
- Automobile
- Appliance/Electronic
- Aerospace equipment
- Machinery
- Biomedical
- Communications
- Sporting goods
- Security
- Alternative energy production
- Airlines
- Railroads/Utility companies
- Research institutes
- National Aeronautics Space Administration
- Federal government:
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
Strategies
Discipline focuses on the development of new materials and the improvement of existing ones.
- Gain laboratory and research experience as an undergraduate through coursework, projects with professors, co-ops or internships.
- Develop effective problem solving, communication and teamwork skills.
- Seek undergraduate membership in professional organizations such as the American Society for Materials to learn more about opportunities in the field and to build professional contacts.
- Note, some areas benefit by additional study in business administration, medicine, management and/or law.
- Plan to pursue a graduate degree to specialize in a particular material, process or characterization technique.
Mechanical
- Machine design
- Systems design
- Manufacturing and production
- Energy conversion
- Energy resources
- Transportation and environmental impact
- Materials and structures
Employers
- Industries:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Electronics
- Chemical products
- Petroleum
- Textiles
- Industrial equipment
- Heating and air conditioning systems
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Utility companies
- National laboratories
- Federal government:
- Department of Energy
- Department of Defense
- Federal Aviation Administration
Strategies
Very broad discipline incorporating the research, design, development, manufacturing and testing of mechanical devices.
- Learn computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
- Obtain related experience through engineering internships, co-ops or part-time jobs.
- Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills; consider a class in public speaking to enhance presentation skills. Plan to collaborate with other types of engineers and with those in industry.
- Join student chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers to take advantage of mentorship programs, learn more about specialties in the field and participate in design competitions.
Nuclear
- Electrical power reactor facilities
- Nuclear fuel cycle facilities
- Nuclear instrumentation for industrial applications
- Radioactive waste management
- Environmental science
- Medical research and technology
- Space exploration
- Food supply
Employers
- Nuclear utility companies
- National laboratories
- Industries:
- Medical equipment
- Power equipment
- Defense
- Aerospace
- Environmental
- Waste management
- Food preservation
- Hospitals
- Federal government:
- Department of Energy
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Defense
Strategies
Discipline focuses on research and development to derive benefits from nuclear processes.
- Develop strong research skills as an undergraduate through coursework, internships or co-ops related to nuclear energy.
- Exhibit curiosity, attention to detail, problem-solving skills and perseverance for success in the field.
- Travel to some off-site locations including reactors, laboratories or installations sites may be required.
- Consider student membership in the American Nuclear Society to learn more about specialties in the field, build contacts and cultivate leadership potential
Petroleum
- Research and development
- Design
- Management
- Reservoir engineers
- Drilling engineers
- Production engineers
- Subsurface engineers
- Completions engineers
- Support activities for mining
- Oil and gas extraction
- Petroleum and coal product manufacturing
- Maintenance and inspection
- Sales
Employers
- Energy production companies
- Drilling companies
- Oil companies
- Health and safety
- Geosciences
- Procurement and construction
- Government:
- Department of U.S. Army: Corp of Engineers
- Department of Interior
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Bureau of Land Management
- Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
- Government continued:
- Geological Survey
- Bureau of Safety
- Oilfield services
- Pipelines
- Petroleum companies and refineries
Strategies
Discipline works in the production of hydrocarbons, in relation to crude oil or natural gas. designing, developing, investigating and producing methods for extracting oil and gas.
- Seek knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD), software, drill, optics, and lasers.
- See co-op or internship opportunities in petroleum engineering industry.
- Develop effective verbal and written communication skills, research and analytical skills, mathematical reasoning, and problem sensitivity skills.
- Prepare for the initial Fundamentals of Engineering (PE/FE) exam that can be taken after earning a bachelor’s degree.
- Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers and Pursue SPE certification.
- Note, states may require licensing, registration, or continuing education (CEUs).
General Information
- A bachelor’s degree provides a wide range of career opportunities in industry, business and government.
- A bachelor’s degree is good background for pursuing technical graduate degrees as well as professional degrees in Engineering, Business Administration, Medicine or Law.
- Graduate degrees offer more opportunities for career advancement, college or university teaching positions.
- Related work experience obtained through co-op, internships, part-time or summer jobs is extremely beneficial.
- Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills including presentation and technical report writing. Learn to work well on a team to maximize collaborations with other engineers and those outside of the profession.
- Develop computer expertise within field.
- Engineers need to think in scientific and mathematical terms and exhibit the abilities to study data, sort out important facts, solve problems and think logically.
- Other helpful traits include intellectual curiosity, creativity, technical aptitude, perseverance and a basic understanding of the economic and environmental con text in which engineering is practiced.
- Because of rapid changes in most engineering fields, both continued education and keeping abreast of new developments are very important.
- Join relevant professional associations, attend meetings, participate in design competitions and stay up-to-date on research/publications.
- All states and the District of Columbia require registration of engineers whose work may affect the life, health or safety of the public.
- Professional or technical societies confer certification in some areas.
- Research Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam requirements, as this exam is typically the first step in becoming a Professional Engineer (PE).
- Professional Engineer (PE) licensing guidelines vary by state. Check with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) for links to state boards.
- Become familiar with the federal job application and employment procedures.
Professional Associations
- American Academy of Environmental Engineers
- American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- American Nuclear Society
- American Society for Materials International
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- Association for Women in Science
- Biomedical Engineering Society
- Engineers Without Borders
- Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
- Institute of Transportation Engineers
- International Society of Explosives Engineers
- National Academy of Engineering
- National Society of Black Engineers
- National Society of Professional Engineers
- Society of Petroleum Engineers
- Society of Women Engineers
- Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity
Occupational Outlook
Related Resources
- Discover Engineering
- Educating Engineers
- Professional Science Masters
- Sloan Foundation Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics