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Which degree in engineering is most universally useful in your daily life?
I'm a senior applying to colleges, I love the idea of engineering but I also want to make sure that my skills are applicable outside of the classroom. #engineering
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Leslye’s Answer
Going back on history a little, there used to be only mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. But from there, many additional branches evolved and every single one of them is having a real use in life (that's why they are needed).
You will learn the basics of engineering in any branch during the first year, then you'll start studying deeper into your specialty throughout the remaining years. You will see that every topic can help you solve a real problem and have an impact in the world. That's the best part of being an engineer, you get to solve real problems. You just have to chose what type of topics you want to think about :)
You will learn the basics of engineering in any branch during the first year, then you'll start studying deeper into your specialty throughout the remaining years. You will see that every topic can help you solve a real problem and have an impact in the world. That's the best part of being an engineer, you get to solve real problems. You just have to chose what type of topics you want to think about :)
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Sam’s Answer
I had the same question before I started engineering! The answer isn't any one major. Learning real-world-skills as opposed to book-knowledge is much more dependent on the professor, the program, the school, and YOU rather than a general major. The good news for you is that it is your goal to apply your skills after college.* If you carry out this goal in school and put your knowledge into practice, you'll achieve your goal! I recommend doing research on the learning outcomes for the schools and programs you're interested in attending. Don't be afraid to contact professors and students in these programs to ask them this question directly. Another thing to consider is that a lot of college is in fact "outside the classroom". During college get involved in research, internships, co-ops, charities, business opportunities... that help you achieve your goals.
To pick a major think where you want to be after college. Think of what you're good at doing, how you can make the world better, and what you enjoy. This is probably collection skills and passions. Choose the major that combines your qualities best and that will also take you where you want to be after graduating.
*The noble prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman has show in his research that the presence of goals makes the desired outcome more likely to occur
To pick a major think where you want to be after college. Think of what you're good at doing, how you can make the world better, and what you enjoy. This is probably collection skills and passions. Choose the major that combines your qualities best and that will also take you where you want to be after graduating.
*The noble prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman has show in his research that the presence of goals makes the desired outcome more likely to occur
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
How much you use of pretty much any degree depends on what career you choose to go into, and whether it matches your degree exactly.
If you go into a highly-related field (say you do Aerospace Eng and then end up working on aircraft; or do Chem Eng and end up in a petrochemical plant) , you'll likely use a fairly good proportion of your degree knowledge and skills quite regularly. Of course, you'll likely specialize in certain areas you studied and not use others, but overall, your degree will be quite useful, whichever it happens to be.
If you go into a different career to your degree, but still within STEM fields, there's still a lot of overlap. For most engineering subfields, if you're outside of that subfield, you won't use the specific details you've learned, but the underlying skills and be basic engineering approaches will the same, so you'll still use a proportion of your degree, but you'll be applying it in different ways. The two biggest engineering subfields of electrical and mechanical engineering are generally broader degrees and may have a slight edge over some of the more specific subfields for honing those transferable skills, so might be a better choice if you've got no idea what career you'd eventually like to go into, but I don't think it's a big difference; if there's a subject you're more interested in, it can be worth following that and seeing where it takes you, rather than focusing purely on which might have broadest applicability.
If you go into other fields outside STEM, you might not use that much of any engineering degree. The ability to "think like an engineer", breaking problems down into constituent parts and analysing logically is still valuable in most fields, and some of the basic practical workshop and/or electrical skills are often transferable even to tasks around the home. Again, there's perhaps a little more of those transferable skills studied in Mech or Electrical Eng, but broadly, you'll gain most of those skills in any engineering subfield.
If you go into a highly-related field (say you do Aerospace Eng and then end up working on aircraft; or do Chem Eng and end up in a petrochemical plant) , you'll likely use a fairly good proportion of your degree knowledge and skills quite regularly. Of course, you'll likely specialize in certain areas you studied and not use others, but overall, your degree will be quite useful, whichever it happens to be.
If you go into a different career to your degree, but still within STEM fields, there's still a lot of overlap. For most engineering subfields, if you're outside of that subfield, you won't use the specific details you've learned, but the underlying skills and be basic engineering approaches will the same, so you'll still use a proportion of your degree, but you'll be applying it in different ways. The two biggest engineering subfields of electrical and mechanical engineering are generally broader degrees and may have a slight edge over some of the more specific subfields for honing those transferable skills, so might be a better choice if you've got no idea what career you'd eventually like to go into, but I don't think it's a big difference; if there's a subject you're more interested in, it can be worth following that and seeing where it takes you, rather than focusing purely on which might have broadest applicability.
If you go into other fields outside STEM, you might not use that much of any engineering degree. The ability to "think like an engineer", breaking problems down into constituent parts and analysing logically is still valuable in most fields, and some of the basic practical workshop and/or electrical skills are often transferable even to tasks around the home. Again, there's perhaps a little more of those transferable skills studied in Mech or Electrical Eng, but broadly, you'll gain most of those skills in any engineering subfield.
Updated
Bill’s Answer
Good question. The only thing I can add to the other answers is that you should enjoy whichever field you choose. Yes, it's important to be aware of the most common, universal degree, but you must also like what you are doing or you will be miserable. One way to validate how much you like a certain discipline is to intern or be involved in a co-op program at your university. Working in a company is the best and fastest way to understand whether you might like that field as your career. Some co-op programs allow you to move to different areas while in the program. If you don't enjoy a certain field(s), that's a win too--you just eliminated an option! Good luck to you!
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Hello, Cyrus. I will answer your question quite directly. The one branch of Engineering that most directly affects people's everyday lives is undoubtedly Civil Engineering. Every time you open the kitchen faucet, every time you flush a toilet, each time you hop in a car and drive somewhere, you are benefiting from projects that were conceived and designed by civil engineers. Many of the goods you order on Google or buy at a store passed through ports and were subsequently transported by railroads designed by civil engineers. With a trip to any airport, you are passing through a complex facility designed and constructed by civil engineers. Any bridge you cross or tunnel you drive though were all designed and developed by civil engineers. Along with other specialists, civil engineers are largely responsible for most of the river and lake environmental restoration projects across this country. They also play a key role in site cleanup and air quality improvement projects.
Multiple times a day the average person benefits from the fruits of the Civil Engineering Profession. Quite simply, our high standard of living in this country depends upon the utilities and services made possible by this profession. If your wish is to work in a profession that has a profoundly beneficial effect upon people's lives, I cannot think of a better engineering career than one in Civil Engineering. Disclaimer: I am a proud, retired Civil Engineer who has had a very satisfying career.
-Pete Sturtevant, PE
View the website for the American Society of Civil Engineers for great examples of Civil Works
Multiple times a day the average person benefits from the fruits of the Civil Engineering Profession. Quite simply, our high standard of living in this country depends upon the utilities and services made possible by this profession. If your wish is to work in a profession that has a profoundly beneficial effect upon people's lives, I cannot think of a better engineering career than one in Civil Engineering. Disclaimer: I am a proud, retired Civil Engineer who has had a very satisfying career.
-Pete Sturtevant, PE
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