There are over 20 major disciplines or specialties that are recognized by professional engineering societies. Moreover, within each discipline there exist a number of branches. For example, the mechanical engineering program can be traditionally divided into two broad areas: (1) thermal /fluid systems and (2) structural /solid systems. In most mechanical engineering programs, during your senior year you can take elective classes that allow you to pursue your interest and broaden your knowledge base in these areas.
So, for example, if you are interested in learning more about how buildings are heated during the winter or cooled during the summer, you will take a heating, ven- tilating, and air-conditioning class. To give you additional ideas about the various branches within specific engineering disciplines, consider civil engineering. The main branches of a civil engineer- ing program normally are environmental, geotechnical, water resources, transportation, and struc- tural. The branches of electrical engineering may include power generation and transmission, communications, control, electronics, and integrated circuits.
Not all engineering disciplines are discussed here, but you are encouraged to visit the Web sites of appropriate engineering societies to learn more about a particular engineering discipline.
