All 50 states and the District of Columbia require registration for engineers whose work may affect the safety of the public. As a first step in becoming a registered professional engineer (PE), you must have a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program. You also need to take your Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE) during your senior year. The exam lasts about eight hours and is divided into a morning and an afternoon section. During the morn- ing session, you will answer multiple-choice questions in chemistry, physics, mathematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, electrical and electronic circuits, and materials science. During the four-hour afternoon session, you will answer multiple-choice questions specific to your discipline, or you may choose to take a general engineering exam. After you pass yourFE exam, you need to gain four years of relevant engineering work experience and pass another eight-hour exam (the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam) given by the state. Can- didates choose an exam from one of 16 engineering disciplines. Some engineers are registered in several states. Normally, civil, mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineers seek professional registrations.
As a recent engineering graduate, you should expect to work under the supervision of a more experienced engineer. Based on your assigned duties, some companies may have you attend work- shops (short courses that could last for a week) or a day-long seminar to obtain additional training in communication skills, time management, or a specific engineering method. As you gain more knowledge and experience, you will be given more freedom to make engineering decisions. Once you have many years of experience, you may then elect to become a manager in charge of a team of engineers and technicians. Some engineers fresh out of college begin their careers not in a specific area of engineering, but in sales or marketing related to engineering products and services.
As already mentioned, there are more than 20 engineering disciplines recognized by the professional societies. However, most engineering degrees are granted in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Therefore, these disciplines are discussed here first.
Civil Engineering Civil engineering is perhaps the oldest engineering discipline. As the name implies, civil engineering is concerned with providing public infrastructure and services. Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of buildings, roads and highways, bridges, dams, tunnels, mass transit systems, and airports. They are also involved in the design and supervision of municipal water supplies and sewage systems. The major branches within the civil engineering discipline include structural, environmental, transportation, water resources, and geotechnical. Civil engineers work as consultants, construction supervisors, city engineers, and public utility and transportation engineers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for graduates of civil engineering is good because as population grows, more civil engi- neers are needed to design and supervise the construction of new buildings, roads, and water supply and sewage systems. They are also needed to oversee the maintenance and renovation of existing public structures, roads, bridges, and airports.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electrical and electronic engineering is the largest engineering discipline. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufactur- ing of electrical equipment, including lighting and wiring for buildings, cars, buses, trains, ships, and aircrafts; power generation and transmission equipment for utility companies; electric motors found in various products; control devices; and radar equipment. The major branches of elec- trical engineering include power generation, power transmission and distribution, and controls. Electronic engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the production of electronic equipment, including computer hardware; computer network hardware; communication devices such as cel- lular phones, television, and audio and video equipment; as well as measuring instruments. Grow- ing branches of electronic engineering include computer and communication electronics. The job outlook for electrical and electronic engineers is good because businesses and government need faster computers and better communication systems. Of course, consumer electronic devices will play a significant role in job growth for electrical and electronic engineers as well.
Mechanical Engineering The mechanical engineering discipline, which has evolved over the years as new technologies have emerged, is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers are involved in the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of
machines, robots, tools, power generating equipment such as steam and gas turbines, heating, cooling, and refrigerating equipment, and internal combustion engines. The major branches of mechanical engineering include thermal /fluid systems and structural /solid systems. The job outlook for mechanical engineers is also good, as more efficient machines and power generat- ing equipment and alternative energy-producing devices are needed. You will find mechanical engineers working for the federal government, consulting firms, various manufacturing sectors, the automotive industry, and other transportation companies.
The other common disciplines in engineering include aerospace engineering, biomedical, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, petroleum engineering, nuclear engineer- ing, and materials engineering.
Aerospace Engineering Aerospace engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufac- ture of commercial and military aircraft, helicopters, spacecraft, and missiles. They may work on projects dealing with research and development of guidance, navigation, and control systems. Most aerospace engineers work for aircraft and missile manufacturers, the Department of Defense, and NASA. If you decide to pursue an aerospace engineering career, you should expect to live in California, Washington, Texas, or Florida, because these are the states with large aero- space manufacturing companies. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for aerospace engineers is expected to grow not as fast through the year 2010. One reason for this slower job growth is the decline in Department of Defense expenditures. However, because of population growth and the need to meet the demand for more passenger air traffic, com- mercial airplane manufacturers are expected to do well.
Biomedical Engineering Biomedical engineering is a new discipline that combines biology, chemistry, medicine, and engineering to solve a wide range of medical and health-related prob- lems. They apply the laws and the principles of chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering to design artificial limbs, organs, imaging systems, and devices used in medical procedures. They also perform research alongside of medical doctors, chemists, and biologists to better understand various aspects of biological systems and the human body. In addition to their train- ing in biology and chemistry, biomedical engineers have a strong background in either mechanical or electrical engineering.
There are a number of specializations within biomedical engineering, including: biome- chanics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, medical imaging, and rehabilitation. Computer-assisted surgery and tissue engineering are among the fastest growing areas of research in biomedical engineering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for graduates of bio- medical engineering is very good, because of the focus on health issues and the aging population.
Chemical Engineering As the name implies, chemical engineers use the principles of chemistry and basic engineering sciences to solve a variety of problems related to the production of chem- icals and their use in various industries, including the pharmaceutical, electronic, and photo- graphic industries. Most chemical engineers are employed by chemical, petroleum refining, film, paper, plastic, paint, and other related industries. Chemical engineers also work in met- allurgical, food processing, biotechnology and fermentation industries. They usually specialize in certain areas such as polymers, oxidation, fertilizers, or pollution control. To meet the needs of the growing population, the job outlook for chemical engineers is also good, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Environmental Engineering Environmental engineering is another new discipline that has grown out of our concern for the environment. As the name implies, environmental engineering is concerned with solving problems related to the environment. They apply the laws and the prin- ciples of chemistry, biology, and engineering to address issues related to water and air pollution control, hazardous waste, waste disposal, and recycling. These issues, if not addressed properly, will affect public health. Many environmental engineers get involved with the development of local, national, and international environmental policies and regulations. They study the effects of industrial emissions and the automobile emissions that lead to acid rain and ozone deple- tion. They also work on problems dealing with cleaning up existing hazardous waste. Environmental engineers work as consultants or work for local, State, or Federal agencies.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for graduates of environmental engineering is very good, because environmental engineers will be needed in greater numbers to address and control the environmental issues discussed above. It is important to note that the job outlook for environmental engineers, more than engineers in other disciplines, is affected by politics. For example, looser environmental policies could lead to a fewer jobs, whereas stricter policies could lead to a greater number of jobs.
Manufacturing Engineering Manufacturing engineers develop, coordinate, and supervise the process of manufacturing all types of products. They are concerned with making products efficiently and at minimum cost. Manufacturing engineers are involved in all aspects of pro- duction, including scheduling and materials handling and the design, development, supervision, and control of assembly lines.
Manufacturing engineers employ robots and machine-vision technologies for production purposes. To demonstrate concepts for new products, and to save time and money, manufac- turing engineers create prototypes of products before proceeding to manufacture actual prod- ucts. This approach is called prototyping. Manufacturing engineers are employed by all types of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and food processing and packaging. The job out- look for manufacturing engineers is expected to be good.
Petroleum Engineering Petroleum engineers specialize in the discovery and production of oil and natural gas. In collaboration with geologists, petroleum engineers search the world for underground oil or natural gas reservoirs. Geologists have a good understanding of the prop- erties of the rocks that make up the earth’s crust. After geologists evaluate the properties of the rock formations around oil and gas reservoirs, they work with petroleum engineers to determine the best drilling methods to use. Petroleum engineers are also involved in monitoring and super- vising drilling and oil extraction operations. In collaboration with other specialized engineers, petroleum engineers design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable recov- ery of oil and gas. They use computer models to simulate reservoir performance as they exper- iment with different recovery techniques. If you decide to pursue petroleum engineering, you are most likely to work for one of the major oil companies or one of the hundreds of smaller, independent companies involved in oil exploration, production, and service. Engineering con- sulting firms, government agencies, oil field services, and equipment suppliers also employ petroleum engineers. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, large numbers of petroleum engineers are employed in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, and California, including off- shore sites. Many American petroleum engineers also work overseas in oil-producing regions of the world such as Russia, the Middle East, South America, or Africa.
The job outlook for petroleum engineers depends on oil and gas prices. In spite of this fact, if you do decide to study petroleum engineering, employment opportunities for petroleum engineers should be favorable because the number of degrees granted in petroleum engineering has traditionally been low. Also, petroleum engineers work around the globe, and many employ- ers seek U.S.-trained petroleum engineers for jobs in other countries.
Nuclear Engineering Only a few engineering colleges around the country offer a nuclear engi- neering program. Nuclear engineers design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear power equip- ment that derives its power from nuclear energy. Nuclear engineers are involved in the design, development, and operation of nuclear power plants to generate electricity or to power Navy ships and submarines. They may also work in such areas as the production and handling of nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of its waste products. Some nuclear engineers are involved in the design and development of industrial and diagnostic medical equipment. Nuclear engi- neers work for the U.S. Navy, nuclear power utility companies, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of the Department of Energy. Because of the high cost and numerous safety concerns on the part of the public, there are only a few nuclear power plants under construc- tion. Even so, the job outlook for nuclear engineers is not too bad, because currently there are not many graduates in this field. Other job opportunities exist for nuclear engineers in the departments of Defense and Energy, nuclear medical technology, and nuclear waste management.
Mining Engineering There are only a few mining engineering schools around the country. Min- ing engineers, in collaboration with geologists and metallurgical engineers, find, extract, and pre- pare coal for use by utility companies; they also look for metals and minerals to extract from the earth for use by various manufacturing industries. Mining engineers design and supervise the construction of aboveground and underground mines. Mining engineers could also be involved in the development of new mining equipment for extraction and separation of min- erals from other materials mixed in with the desired minerals.
Most mining engineers work in the mining industry, some work for government agencies, and some work for manufacturing industries. The job outlook for mining engineers is not as good as for other disciplines. The mining industry is somewhat similar to the oil industry in that the job opportunities are closely tied to the price of metals and minerals. If the price of these products is low, then the mining companies will not want to invest in new mining equipment and new mines. Similar to petroleum engineers, U.S. mining engineers may find good opportunities outside the United States.
Materials Engineering There are only a few engineering colleges that offer a formal program in materials engineering, ceramic engineering, or metallurgical engineering. Materials engineers research, develop, and test new materials for various products and engineering applications. These new materials could be in the form of metal alloys, ceramics, plastics, or composites. Materials engineers study the nature, atomic structure, and thermo-physical properties of materials. They manipulate the atomic and molecular structure of materials in order to create materials that are lighter, stronger, and more durable. They create materials with specific mechanical, electrical, magnetic, chemical, and heat-transfer properties for use in specific appli- cations; for example, graphite tennis racquets that are much lighter and stronger than the old
wooden racquets; the composite materials used in stealth military planes with specific electro- magnetic properties; and the ceramic tiles on the space shuttle that protect the shuttle during reentry into the atmosphere (ceramics are nonmetallic materials that can withstand high temperatures).
Materials engineering may be further divided into metallurgical, ceramics, plastics, and other specialties. You can find materials engineers working in aircraft manufacturing; various research and testing labs; and electrical, stone, and glass products manufacturers. Because of the low number of current graduates, the job opportunities are good for materials engineers.
