7 answers
Samuel
Student
Grafton, Ohio
2
Questions
Updated
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How can I determine what is the best kind of Engineering for me?
I know I have to go to college and get a Bachelor's degree and obtain my PE license, but I'm just not sure entirely of which specific Engineering degree I really want to pursue. I am stuck between a few kinds such as Civil, Electrical, Architectural, and Constructional. I love to work outside and to use my hands and to think.
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7 answers
Dennis Taylor
Self-employed
116
Answers
Columbus, Indiana
Updated
Dennis’s Answer
Hi Samuel!
I liked the very last part of your query - where you said you like to think. Most of what engineers do is to solve problems by thinking. Raphael's answer is spot on. You will need to think about which discipline to pursue, but there is no wrong answer. Consider this: most colleges have a "core" curriculum for the first couple of semesters. You might need to declare one discipline as a major, but, as you work toward your degree, it is usually possible for you to transfer to a different department.
Here's what I did: I started as a Physics major, and actually completed two terms (four semesters). I decided that physics was not really my calling, so I transferred to the Mechanical Engineering program. I took the sophomore ME classes by over-loading my junior semesters. But, my Physics classes were credited as Electives, so no harm there. I also took some summer classes to meet the Sociology part of my degree requirements. It all worked out because I did the classes while working as an engineering intern during the summer following my junior year.
So, THINK, but not too hard. You will do great by asking the right questions as you continue your education. Talk to you academic advisors, your professors and anybody else who can give you insights into your career options.
Good luck, Samuel
I liked the very last part of your query - where you said you like to think. Most of what engineers do is to solve problems by thinking. Raphael's answer is spot on. You will need to think about which discipline to pursue, but there is no wrong answer. Consider this: most colleges have a "core" curriculum for the first couple of semesters. You might need to declare one discipline as a major, but, as you work toward your degree, it is usually possible for you to transfer to a different department.
Here's what I did: I started as a Physics major, and actually completed two terms (four semesters). I decided that physics was not really my calling, so I transferred to the Mechanical Engineering program. I took the sophomore ME classes by over-loading my junior semesters. But, my Physics classes were credited as Electives, so no harm there. I also took some summer classes to meet the Sociology part of my degree requirements. It all worked out because I did the classes while working as an engineering intern during the summer following my junior year.
So, THINK, but not too hard. You will do great by asking the right questions as you continue your education. Talk to you academic advisors, your professors and anybody else who can give you insights into your career options.
Good luck, Samuel
Srinivas Rao Routhu
Business Consultant
40
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Srinivas Rao’s Answer
You can pick the best engineering fit by matching your love of being outside, using your hands, and thinking critically to what each field actually does.
- Civil Engineering – great if you like outdoor work on roads, bridges, and infrastructure; lots of on‑site and practical problem‑solving.
- Construction / Construction Management – ideal if you enjoy building things, managing teams on site, and solving hands‑on problems.
- Architectural Engineering – more about building systems and design, but mostly office‑based.
- Electrical Engineering – mostly indoor or lab‑based, unless you move into power or telecom field roles.
If you like being outside and working with your hands, civil or construction‑related engineering are your best starting points.
- Civil Engineering – great if you like outdoor work on roads, bridges, and infrastructure; lots of on‑site and practical problem‑solving.
- Construction / Construction Management – ideal if you enjoy building things, managing teams on site, and solving hands‑on problems.
- Architectural Engineering – more about building systems and design, but mostly office‑based.
- Electrical Engineering – mostly indoor or lab‑based, unless you move into power or telecom field roles.
If you like being outside and working with your hands, civil or construction‑related engineering are your best starting points.
Ray von Dohren
Retired sanitary engineer
25
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ray’s Answer
You’re normal, Samuel, and your question is a good one. Luckily you have time and a chance to see what is in store for you during your freshman and sophomore years. In addition, your school should have professionals and prof’s talk to you now and then about their careers and programs to help you out. I am the king of indecision. I went from engineering to political science back to aeronautical engineering, and finally a carpet bagging professor from UC Berkeley talked to us about sanitary engineering, and I was hooked. I spent my career making dirty water clean.
So see how it goes. Don’t worry about not knowing right now where you want to go. Talk to engineers like you are doing now at every opportunity, and if you can intern for a consultant or technical company (construction company, engineering district, that kind of group.) I interned for a company that made rockets. I knew I didn’t want to make rockets, but working with engineers, and having lunch with them was great experience. Plus the projects were fascinating.
You’ll be fine. Enjoy your career.
So see how it goes. Don’t worry about not knowing right now where you want to go. Talk to engineers like you are doing now at every opportunity, and if you can intern for a consultant or technical company (construction company, engineering district, that kind of group.) I interned for a company that made rockets. I knew I didn’t want to make rockets, but working with engineers, and having lunch with them was great experience. Plus the projects were fascinating.
You’ll be fine. Enjoy your career.
Sandeep Velaga
Senior software engineering
27
Answers
Princeton, Texas
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
That's a great question, and it's awesome that you're thinking about this early. Since you like working outside, using your hands, and solving problems, Civil or Construction Engineering could be a great match for you. These fields often involve real-world projects and spending time at job sites. Civil Engineering is a good starting point because it's broad and lets you explore areas like structural, transportation, or construction before choosing a specialty.
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
239
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Samuel,
I appreciate your interest in engineering - it's an excellent starting point.
Choices are normally influenced by a number of factors: natural gifts, love for what we do, role models, fascination with what surrounds us, desire to make our world a better place to live in etc.
Civil & structural engineering and architecture are related fields of study. And I suppose this is where your main interest lies. In practice, you could have a qualification in more than one of these fields of study - I have a close friend who has Bachelor's degrees in civil, structural and production engineering.
Internships & mentorships will definitely give you the chance to distill and zero on to your most desired choice. Best of luck.
I appreciate your interest in engineering - it's an excellent starting point.
Choices are normally influenced by a number of factors: natural gifts, love for what we do, role models, fascination with what surrounds us, desire to make our world a better place to live in etc.
Civil & structural engineering and architecture are related fields of study. And I suppose this is where your main interest lies. In practice, you could have a qualification in more than one of these fields of study - I have a close friend who has Bachelor's degrees in civil, structural and production engineering.
Internships & mentorships will definitely give you the chance to distill and zero on to your most desired choice. Best of luck.
Justin Struthers
Engineer
7
Answers
Laguna Hills
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Hi Samuel.
I think as you age you will experience things that can influence your decision. Make sure to try new things. Find people in engineering fields you have interest in and ask them questions. But sounds to me like you want to be some sort of field test engineer for a defense giant. They are outside constantly testing their creations and problem solving. If not that, some sort of field test engineer or something in that realm.
I think as you age you will experience things that can influence your decision. Make sure to try new things. Find people in engineering fields you have interest in and ask them questions. But sounds to me like you want to be some sort of field test engineer for a defense giant. They are outside constantly testing their creations and problem solving. If not that, some sort of field test engineer or something in that realm.
Rafael Diaz Montelongo
Consultant
563
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Rafael’s Answer
Hi Samuel! I totally get the struggle because picking a specific engineering path is a big decision, but the good news is you're already narrowing it down and the options you're looking at all connect to that love of working outside, using your hands, and thinking through problems. From my own experience, I went with Industrial Engineering because I wasn't 100% sure what exact role I wanted, and it turned out to be a great call because it gave me a broad foundation that touched on optimization, systems, supply chain, and problem solving, which opened the door to all kinds of roles from purchasing analyst to consultant to working in operations at a big tech company. My advice for you would be to think about what excites you most on a day to day basis: if you love seeing physical structures come to life and being out on job sites, Civil or Constructional Engineering might be your sweet spot since both get you outdoors and hands-on with real projects. If you're more drawn to the design side and making buildings not just stand up but actually look and function beautifully, Architectural Engineering could be the move. And if you're the kind of person who gets curious about how systems and power work behind the scenes, Electrical could be a great fit.
One thing that really helped me figure out my path was getting exposed to real world experiences early, like internships or even just talking to professionals in each field. Also don't forget that your PE license will be valuable no matter which one you choose, and you can always specialize further down the road through work experience or even a master's degree once you've had time to see what you like most. Best of luck!
One thing that really helped me figure out my path was getting exposed to real world experiences early, like internships or even just talking to professionals in each field. Also don't forget that your PE license will be valuable no matter which one you choose, and you can always specialize further down the road through work experience or even a master's degree once you've had time to see what you like most. Best of luck!