Become an Engineer

Engineers perform research and develop solutions to various technical problems by applying the theories and principles of mathematics and science. The branches of engineering include:

• Biomedical
• Agricultural
• Chemical
• Mechanical
• Computer Hardware
• Civil
• Electrical and Electronics
• Industrial
• Materials
• Environmental
• Mining and Geological
• Petroleum
• Nuclear
• Aerospace

Engineers working in design and development:

• develop and put into effect improved ways to extract, process, and utilize raw materials;
• plan, design, and supervise the construction of highways, buildings, and transit systems;
• analyze the effects the products they develop or the systems they design have on the environment and on the people who use them;
• develop new materials to both improve the performance of products and to take advantage of technological advances

Engineers working in testing, maintenance, or production:

• estimate the time and cost for completing projects;
• supervise production in factories;
• test manufactured products in order to maintain quality;
• determine the causes of breakdowns;

Education and Training for a Career as an Engineer

To obtain an entry-level engineering job, one generally needs a bachelor’s degree in engineering. A bachelor’s degree in physical science or mathematics may be sufficient, especially in high-demand specialized fields. Usually engineering students focus on a particular branch within engineering but may eventually work in a different but related branch.