Preparation
Engineers
typically enter the occupation with a bachelor's degree in an
engineering specialty, but some basic research positions may require a
graduate degree. Engineers offering their services directly to the
public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with
rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.
A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all
entry-level engineering jobs. College graduates with a degree in a
natural science or mathematics occasionally may qualify for some
engineering jobs, especially in specialties in high demand. Most
engineering degrees are granted in electrical, electronics,
mechanical, or civil engineering. However, engineers trained in one
branch may work in related branches. For example, many aerospace
engineers have training in mechanical engineering. This flexibility
allows employers to meet staffing needs in new technologies and
specialties in which engineers may be in short supply. It also
allows engineers to shift to fields with better employment prospects
or to those that more closely match their interests.
Click here to view profiles of
several engineering undergraduate students.
Engineers typically enter the occupation with a bachelor's degree in
an engineering specialty, but some basic research positions may require
a graduate degree. Engineers offering their services directly to the
public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with
rapidly changing technology is important for engineers.
In addition to the standard engineering degree, many colleges offer
2- or 4-year degree programs in engineering technology. These
programs, which usually include various hands-on laboratory classes
that focus on current issues, prepare students for practical design
and production work, rather than for jobs that require more
theoretical and scientific knowledge. Graduates of 4-year technology
programs may get jobs similar to those obtained by graduates with a
bachelor's degree in engineering. Engineering technology graduates,
however, are not qualified to register as professional engineers
under the same terms as graduates with degrees in engineering. Some
employers regard technology program graduates as having skills
between those of a technician and an engineer.
Graduate training is essential for engineering faculty positions and
many research and development programs, but is not required for the
majority of entry-level engineering jobs. Many engineers obtain
graduate degrees in engineering or business administration to learn
new technology and broaden their education. Many high-level
executives in government and industry began their careers as
engineers.
University
Selection
About 1850 programs at colleges and universities offer bachelor's
degrees in engineering that are accredited
by ABET, Inc. and there are
about another 750 accredited programs in
engineering technology. The Career Cornerstone Center provides lists of accredited programs within
specific engineering disciplines.
Accreditation
ABET accreditation
is based on an examination of an engineering program's student
achievement, program improvement, faculty, curricular content,
facilities, and institutional commitment. Although most institutions
offer programs in the major branches of engineering, only a few
offer programs in the smaller specialties. Also, programs of the
same title may vary in content. For example, some programs emphasize
industrial practices, preparing students for a job in industry,
whereas others are more theoretical and are designed to prepare
students for graduate work. Therefore, students should investigate
curricula and check accreditations carefully before selecting a
college.
Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools
include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and
physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and
computer and information technology. Bachelor's degree programs in
engineering typically are designed to last 4 years, but many
students find that it takes between 4 and 5 years to complete their
studies. In a typical 4-year college curriculum, the first 2 years
are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences, introductory
engineering, humanities, and social sciences. In the last 2 years,
most courses are in engineering, usually with a concentration in one
branch. For example, the last 2 years of an aerospace program might
include courses in fluid mechanics, heat transfer, applied
aerodynamics, analytical mechanics, flight vehicle design,
trajectory dynamics, and aerospace propulsion systems. Some programs
offer a general engineering curriculum; students then specialize in
graduate school or on the job.
Some engineering schools and 2-year colleges have agreements whereby
the 2-year college provides the initial engineering education, and
the engineering school automatically admits students for their last
2 years. In addition, a few engineering schools have arrangements
whereby a student spends 3 years in a liberal arts college studying
pre-engineering subjects and 2 years in an engineering school
studying core subjects, and then receives a bachelor's degree from
each school. Some colleges and universities offer 5-year master's
degree programs. Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative plans
combine classroom study and practical work, permitting students to
gain valuable experience and to finance part of their education.
Licensure
In the United States, all 50 States and the District of Columbia
require licensure for engineers who offer their services directly to
the public. Engineers who are licensed are called
Professional Engineers
(PE). This licensure generally requires a degree from an
ABET-accredited
engineering program, 4 years of relevant work experience, and
successful completion of a State examination.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
