Exploring Engineering Careers

Hey everyone, I'm trying to decide on which courses to take next year and my ultimate goal is to pursue engineering. Can anyone break down the differences between the various types of engineering, like mechanical, civil, electrical, and so on? I'm particularly curious about what kind of coursework each of these disciplines would involve.

Sure, let's break them down!

Mechanical Engineering: This field focuses on the design, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems, which may include anything from engines to heating and cooling systems. You would likely take courses in Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Dynamics and Control Systems. Some mechanical engineering programs offer concentrations in areas such as Aerospace, Automotive, Biomechanics, or Robotics.

Civil Engineering: Civil engineers play a big role in community development, focusing on designing and overseeing construction of infrastructure projects like roads, tunnels, bridges, airports, water supply systems, etc. In this program, your coursework would include Structural Mechanics, Engineering Hydrology, Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Design, and Geotechnical Engineering.

Electrical Engineering: As an electrical engineer, you'll work with electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It's a broad field with applications ranging from the design of household appliances to the control of large, complex power systems. You would be looking at courses such as Digital Logic Design, Electronic Circuits, Systems and Signals, and Electromagnetic Waves and Materials.

A couple of other engineering disciplines you might be interested in:

Chemical Engineering: Involves the use of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems related to the production or use of chemicals and bio-chemicals. Courses usually include Thermodynamics, Chemical Reaction Engineering, Separation Processes, and Process Control.

Biomedical Engineering: A field at the intersection of healthcare and engineering, focusing on advancing medical technology, designing medical devices, and improving health care delivery systems. Coursework would span areas such as Biomechanics, Bioinstrumentation, Cell and Tissue Engineering, and Medical Imaging.

Each of these disciplines have lots of overlap especially in the early years when you'll likely be taking math and science prerequisites, and introductory engineering courses. As you delve deeper into your major, the coursework becomes more specific to the field.

Lastly, remember that these descriptions are pretty fundamental and each engineering field has plenty of sub-specialties. You may want to delve into more research to find which specific field and specialty aligns best with your interests. Good luck!