What is an Electrical Engineer?

Electrical engineers study electronics, electromagnetism, and the application of electricity. The products they develop are used in medical technology, game systems, cell phones, robotics, cars, green technologies, and navigation systems, just touching lightly on the list.

Nearly everything that defines modern civilization is linked to electrical engineering. These engineers work in labs, offices, and industries. They develop systems for power generation, transmission, and distribution—have you heard about "the grid?"

In addition to the subjects mentioned above (and still touching only briefly on the scope), this expertise covers power switches (solar, wind, geothermal), design of power systems, and architectural planning. Electrical engineering is behind the development of every electronic thing within your grasp.

Electrical engineers focus on computer systems design, components, and processes. They incorporate research or management using specialized, hands-on knowledge and dealing with public, private, and academic sectors. They are dedicated to continuing education, on-the-job learning, leadership, and applying new techniques to new situations.

The sciences of physics and mathematics are fundamental to this profession, but technical focus accounts for only a fraction of this work. Making proposals to clients, preparing budgets, and calculating project schedules consumes much of these engineers' time. Senior-level engineers often manage a team, so project management skills and strong communication skills are vital.

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Computer Engineering Career Advancement

 

Career Advancement

Just like their educational background, the job market for Computer Engineers is very broad. Rewarding careers are found in many areas. Robotic manufacturing, security equipment, medical diagnostic devices and personal electronics virtually all have some sort of computer in them.

The breadth of this industry means there are many opportunities to expand your skills as well as move up in responsibility and compensation.

Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer Hardware Engineers make a median annual salary of $98,610. Jobs in Computer Engineering are, like many other high-paying careers, most available in the Northeast and Southwest. Jobs in Computer Engineering are expected increase by 9% annually. The job market is expanding, and average salaries in the field are respectable.

Studying Computer Engineering can lead to a very rewarding career at the cutting edge of technology. Since virtually every modern device you own has some form of microprocessor in it, there is a growing need for Computer Engineers to design and integrate them. The job market is expanding, and average salaries in the field are respectable.

If you love math and science and want to be a part of the growing technology world, look into one of the many available Computer Engineering college degrees and get started in a rewarding career.

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What is the Main Focus of a Civil Engineer?

"Civil engineering is the oldest and most diverse branch of engineering. In its broadest sense, the civil engineer adapts the physical features of the earth to the needs of society. According to the University of Florida, approximately one out of four engineers is engaged in civil engineering."

Civil engineers design, construct, maintain, and operate infrastructures, while simultaneously safeguarding the public and environmental health and upgrading neglected structures and systems. Civil engineering reaches from the natural environment to the constructed environment, focusing on interactions between the two, with an emphasis on sustainability.

Combining atmospheric and energy sciences, civil-engineers study climate, air pollution, and weather, addressing problems that might be solved through renewable energy systems. They examine the availability of renewable resources (wind, hydropower, and solar), and best practices for their combinations. These kinds of research brought about the first data-based wind map and examine the effects of alternative fuels on air pollution.

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Jobs with a Chemical Engineering Degree

Through chemical processes, chemical engineers find new and creative ways of making those things that improve our lives. Their work ranges from developing better skin-care products to finding materials that are more fire-resistant. Chemical engineers can be part of an innovative team at a manufacturing facility or working in cutting-edge research.
As a chemical engineer, you might be a quality control specialist for a corporation that manufactures cleaning products or jet airplanes. You might be discovering less destructive and more sustainable ways to extract and use natural resources. You might be designing or discovering the latest sensation in the eye care industry, better aerosol propellants, more durable paints, and ways to preserve foods and medicines longer. The sky is not the limit; it is just another avenue for what you might discover.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the median annual wage of chemical engineers was $90,300 in May of 2010. Glassdoor.com statistics showed salaries ranging from $62k to $99k

You can gain access to membership in a generous list of professional organizations, associations, and societies through a degree in chemical engineering. These associations offer resources, research opportunities, networking avenues not readily available on the job, and much more.

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Biomedical Engineering Degrees

A relatively new discipline, biomedical engineering involves research and development that combine medical and biological sciences for the advancement of all healthcare disciplines. It is a growing and evolving career field and according to CNNMoney.com, is the #1 Best Job for 2012 in America.

Some biomedically-engineered phenomena include regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceuticals, high-tech prostheses, diagnostic imaging equipment, and micro-implants. Biomedical engineering includes an increasing subset of specialties. Some of those specialties include:

Tissue Engineering

Organ transplants made from patients' own tissue, offer a quality of life not possible with donor organs. This field has produced solid jawbones and tracheas from human stem cells. Artificial bladders have been developed and successfully transplanted into humans.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulates an organism's genes on a molecular level. Some applications include improved crops, synthetic insulin, and the production of mice more suitable for cancer research.

Neural Engineering

Centers on the repair of neural systems—those pathways that tell our muscles when to move. All paralysis victims have an interest in this science on some level.

Pharmaceutical Engineering

Falls into both biomedical and chemical engineering categories. While some pharmaceuticals have upfront need of biological agents, even the development of chemical drugs requires BME knowledge.

Medical Devices

Cover all health care products not developed primarily through chemical means. They aid in disease diagnoses, cures, treatment, and prevention. Examples include prostheses, pacemakers, life-sustaining machines, artificial organs, and non-organic implants.

Medical Imaging

Equipment essential to diagnoses typically accounts for hospitals' most complex tools. Radiological techniques through ultrasound, magnetism, and UV, are among medical/biomedical imaging equipment achievements.

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Associations for Automotive Engineers

 

Online Degree

The few universities that offer online automotive engineering degrees do so only at the master’s degree level. The student gains only theoretical knowledge from an online master's degree. The student does not receive any hands-on experience, which can be important to landing a job in automotive engineering. The online programs assume that the student received hands-on experience while obtaining the bachelor's degree. Therefore, online master's degree programs in automotive engineering are meant for the working automotive engineer.

In 2011, automotive engineers earned an average income of $117,600 in 2011. This was a 10 percent increase from the 2010 median salary of $107,000, according to SAE International.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers provide helpful information about scholarships and financial aid, design and racing competitions and networking opportunities. Automotive engineering students should consider participating in SAE’s “Collegiate Design Series.” These competitions are great opportunities for students to apply their book knowledge to the design, building and testing of an actual motor vehicle. Additionally, students can show off their talents to recruiters for prospective employers.

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Audio Engineering Degree

Audio engineering is an intricate blend of science and creativity. It involves technical aspects of equipment set-up and operation, but also requires a creative side to enhance and blend the sounds to produce the desired effects.

Often called sound engineers, these professionals are highly sought after in all areas of the entertainment industry. Musicians depend on audio engineers in the studio and in live performances to polish their sound and to keep it consistent throughout each recording or performance. Audio engineers mix the music and enhance the balance to provide the best final product. In television and movies, audio engineers are responsible for all of the sound effects, music, and sound levels heard in the video productions. Even radio depends on sound engineers to keep their stations operating properly. There are other careers available to audio engineers, but the entertainment industry provides the most opportunity.

For those interested in pursuing a career in the audio engineering field, there are three different levels of degrees available. An Associate in Applied Science will teach the basics of working in the industry. The Bachelor of Science degree goes more in depth in both the music and technical aspects of the business. The Master's degree programs focus on very specific aspects of audio engineering.

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Real-Life Example of an Applied Engineer

As a project engineer for Applied Engineering, Mike Jamieson daily exhibits the range of skills a practitioner in the field must master to excel. He interfaces with internal and external team members and associates in-person and over e-mail every morning. He then focusses on business activities such as speaking with various suppliers on product inventory, consulting with clients on budget requirements and researching options on the internet. In the afternoon, he often leaves the office to visit clients and ongoing projects. He enjoys the opportunity to get out of the office and into the field to interact live with people. For example, on one project he consulted with one of the managers on an HVAC system for a residential structure, specifically the ductwork and air flow systems. Later in the afternoon, he returns to the office to revisit projects he initially tacked in the morning. He may attend more meetings to deliver presentations on status or negotiate with suppliers to acquire the best pricing for a client project. Demonstrating his commitment to continuous education, Jamieson in the evenings attends functions featuring industry thought leaders who make presentations on recent development in technology and best practices. In the past he attended a dinner featuring a presentation by a professor at Purdue University who presented a talk on refrigeration concepts and developing compressor innovations. Ultimately, each day presents him with a range of challenges and learning experiences that enrich him.

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Main Focus of an Agricultural Engineering Degree

Agricultural engineering degrees prepare students to work professionally in the many fields of agriculture. Subsets of the studies belonging to the classification of agriculture offer unlimited opportunities for involvement in this field. Demand for Agricultural Engineers has grown over the last 10 years.

Degrees in agricultural engineering cover all aspects of the industry, from water and waste issues, massive farming of foods and livestock, water farming, farming equipment, and farm economics to genetically designed corn and cows.

Earning a degree gives students textbook knowledge and hands-on vision of their chosen field. Fieldwork and The bachelor of science is the first degree to obtain. While majoring in agricultural engineering, a student can minor is any other field. Often students will minor in a related subject such as economics, to enhance their food engineering major, for example.

Graduate students are eligible to pursue a number of advanced degrees, including the Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Agriculture, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Engineering. These students can major in bioacoustics, biomaterials science, bioprocess engineering, environmental and natural resource engineering, food engineering; food, feed and fiber processing; machine and energy systems; and systems analysis.

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Master of Science Degree and Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering

Graduate students seeking a master's or doctorate degrees to augment their undergraduate or graduate education can take advanced courses in:

• Aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • The study of air flow over a body, such as the wings on an aircraft or spacecraft.

• Aeroelasticity and structural dynamics
  • The study of how inertial, elastic and aerodynamic forces interact.

• Flight mechanics and control
  • The study of how forces affect a flight vehicle, how it responds to those forces and how to modify the vehicle to achieve the desired goals.

• Propulsion and combustion
  • The study of creating mechanical power using internal combustion engines, jet engines, turbomachinery, propellers, wings, fins, and wheel and axles to generate force causing motion.

• Structural mechanics and materials behavior
  • The study of the stress and strain on the components of a flight vehicle.

• System design and optimization
• The study of the application of algorithms to improve the performance, weight, reliability and/or cost of aircraft and spacecraft systems.

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Acoustic Engineering Degree Requirements

 Acoustic engineers focus their efforts on the shaping and control of sound. They work to manipulate and capture the vibration of sound by harnessing the best quality for hearing. These engineers work to manage noise control in a variety of industrial, commercial and domestic settings. Acoustic engineers develop noise buffers and sound barriers to optimize hearing as well as refine technology used in recording and live performance such as microphones and amplifiers. Moreover, they often work to develop solutions for transferring sound energy into electricity. Other professionals in the field design interiors by selecting specific construction materials and aesthetic products to customize the sound experience of a given living or work environment. Private enterprises in the fields of construction, architecture, and entertainment are a few of the employers seeking the expertise of these professionals. They often strive to perfect the sound experience in concert halls and recording studios, while others may employ their skills in the healthcare industry with work on equipment like hearing aids. 

These types of professionals may be asked to perform a variety of duties based on the industry they choose to employ their skills and knowledge. In the construction industry, engineers may execute sound and environmental evaluations on a building to ensure it meets codes and regulations. They may examine how alterations in the design of a structure may impact sound quality. In an industrial setting, these professionals utilize digital hardware and software to determine means for lessening sound disruptions in a work facility, while inquiring into how vibrations impact factory equipment or transportation structures such as a bridge or automobile. In the entertainment sphere, these professionals often work to optimize sound quality in recording studios and in live performance venues, evaluating how structures, materials and digital equipment and software enhance sound quality. Often, bioengineering firms seek these professionals to address how ultrasound and other forms of technology provide the best treatment options for patients under a medical professional’s care. Firms across the world like Sony, LA Live, the NFL, Bose, and Honda are a few of the huge companies seeking the services of these acoustic experts.

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Professional Outlook and Salary for Vehicle Engineers

 

Professionals in this field have been integral in developing the hybrid electric car technology that has transformed the automotive industry. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) provides a bevy of resources for current and aspiring engineers in the field. Moreover, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), furnish professionals and students with transformative knowledge and tools to embolden their ability to thrive as technology and techniques evolve. There are regular updates on news in the industry, events, seminars and educational conferences to enhance and develop the skills of the community. In addition, professionals capitalize on networking and mentoring opportunities as well as recruiting efforts from major corporations like Ford Motor Co. and General Electric. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunities for these engineers is expected to grow through the year 2020 by 9 percent. The U.S. cities with the most opportunities and highest salaries for these professionals are Detroit and Auburn Hills, Michigan. The states of California and Texas are the next two locations with the greatest career prospects. According to statistics at O*Net salary data, these engineers earned a median salary of $82,100.

Ford Motor Company is one of many companies that value and actively recruit vehicle engineering professionals to their organization. In a Detroit News profile of Alana Strager, a Ford program manager with a background in the field, the executive illuminated the various duties and responsibilities she performs daily in their work producing the Ford F-150 truck. Her background enabled her to seamlessly lead a team of engineers and product developers in refining a product that served their customers’ needs while featuring the latest technological features. Known as the “Queen of Innovation”, Strager helped assemble a team of insightful marketers, astute engineers, and expert designers in developing a product coveted by a range of consumers. Her work on the truck’s BoxLink technology particularly illustrated the medley of skills demanded and refined by the engineering profession.

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Transport Engineering Career Outlook

 

Transportation engineering focuses on the design and development of public transportation infrastructure and systems. As a discipline of civil engineering, practitioners endeavor to create roads, bridges, mass transit systems and other modes of transport to enhance society. In this capacity, these practitioners may design, operate and repair any of these assets with the aim of producing fast, efficient, safe, cost-effective, and sustainable forms of transport. Airport, highway, railroad and port engineering are all subsets of the discipline.

Learn more about becoming a transport engineer by contacting the schools below to request information about their programs! On a daily basis, transport engineers juggle a medley of tasks from interfacing with clients and suppliers in-person and over e-mail to meeting with their teams to receive project status updates and to address any complications in a project lifecycle. More business-oriented professionals may attend strategy sessions with their executive teams and/or meet with current and potential investors to discuss prospective opportunities in the market place. In the evenings, many professionals engage in continuing education initiatives, whereby they may take a course on new technological advances and/or attend a presentation by an academic or industry practitioner to receive insight on best practices or solutions to existing problems.

National and local governments, as well as private firms, seek to employ these professionals for global projects, where they are given the responsibility to ensure safety and efficiency, whereby they are entrusted to ensure public safety by meeting building codes and standards through computer hardware and software applications.

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Career Outlook for Thermal Engineers

Thermal engineering professionals have access to a medley of organizations and associates to bolster their careers. From the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which features a library of resources for present and future practitioners, to the Technology Student Association (TSA), and the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), students and seasoned thermal engineers access information and soil-building resources to buttress their daily learning. They specifically learn of the constantly evolving developments in technology and best practices that are transforming the industry. In addition, updates are provided on events, news and congresses within the field that endeavor to unite and strengthen the community. Young engineers have access to mentoring and networking opportunities that will facilitate their entry and rise into the profession. Moreover, prospective job candidates have access to recruiters from prestigious global firms like Intel, Sony and ConEd. As stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job prospects for thermal engineers are predicted to continue to grow by 9 percent through 2020. The U.S. states of California and Texas are geographic locales featuring the most opportunities for these professionals. According to compensation statistics at O*Net salary data, these engineers earned a median salary of $82,100.

Though most universities in the United States do not offer formal degrees in thermal engineering, most candidates find employment with a Bachelor’s Degree in mechanical engineering. This level of education is required by employers in the industry. In this course of study, students complete coursework in thermodynamics, computer science and kinetics. Those students who elect to pursue more advanced study in the field at the Master’s and Ph.D. level access career opportunities in advanced research, design and quality control. Coursework at the Master’s level explore theory in heat transfer and mechanics rooted in computer modeling and smart materials that respond to temperature change. Doctoral students embark upon classwork in granular flows, electronics architecture, data storage solutions, as well as material innovation, whereby they assume titled roles like consultant analyst, heat engineer and quality assurance manager. These highly trained professionals are actively recruited by federal organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency in order to teach both graduate and undergraduate students at esteemed universities around the world. Candidates are served by also developing broader skills in terms of written and oral communication, leadership, negotiating, multitasking as well as team-building and management capacities.

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Structural Engineering Career

 

Structural Engineering focuses on the support integrity of large developments such as buildings, bridges and stadiums. Structural engineers are responsible for some of the most import constructions in history, including Washington Roebling who built the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and Gustave Eiffel who completed The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Structural engineers traditionally collaborate with a team of professionals including architects, urban planners and civil engineers, among others, to realize the completion of a project.

Federal and local governments as well as private enterprises contract these practitioners for work throughout the world, whereby they are entrusted to ensure public safety by meeting building codes and standards. For buildings, these professionals achieve this by developing the components such as roof framing columns and foundations. In bridges, they develop the piers, deck and/or stringers. In addition, they select the most appropriate materials including wood, concrete, steel and/or aluminum, thereby protecting the structure and surrounding communities in the case of natural disasters, weather, collisions or explosions. To determine the best materials, structural engineers rely on digital hardware and software applications for modeling and analysis.

If you want to pursue a career in structural engineering, use the list of schools below to learn more about programs that can help you get started!

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Software Engineering Education

 

Education

Software Engineering degrees are available at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate (PhD) levels. As you move up in a Software Engineering career, increasing your education level will allow you to tackle ever more complex systems. At the pinnacle of Software Engineering are people that design the systems behind well-known technological marvels from the Space Shuttle to Google’s databases.

Prerequisites

Most colleges require similar courses as prerequisites for their Software Engineering programs. You’ll normally be expected to study mathematics up through Calculus, basic computer programming, and cross-discipline engineering basics. You’ll also take courses in computer algorithms and system documentation methods prior to moving on to the core Software Engineering program.

Undergrad

Once your undergraduate prerequisites are met, you start taking classes in Software Engineering. This is where you gain cutting-edge expertise in skills like requirements identification, system design, software integration and software testing methodologies. During this coursework, you’ll learn how modern software systems are designed and implemented.

There are an incredibly complex number of variables when engineering software components, and a Software Engineering degree provides the educational foundation you need to be productive in the field.

There are numerous avenues for studying Software Engineering. Virtually every major university offers this as an undergraduate major, and many larger colleges offer Master’s and PhD programs as well. You can also get a Software Engineering degree through many of the top online colleges.

Since a lot of the software work being done is on the Internet and mobile devices, studying Software Engineering online can be a flexible and effective method for pursuing your education.

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Petroleum Engineering Degree

 

Petroleum engineering deals with the production of hydrocarbons—the products of crude oil and natural gas. This above-ground field focuses on recovering fossil fuels from below ground in the most economical and environmentally friendly ways.

Trained to understand the physical behavior of oil, water, and gas deep in porous rock and under high pressure, these skilled engineers make reliable estimations of the volume of a resource's reservoir.

They form teams with geologists to determine the best methods for depleting reservoirs. Related disciplines include drilling, reservoir simulation, well engineering, petroleum geology, and geophysics.

Since the beginning of petroleum engineering, in the early 20th century, many easily accessed deposits have been depleted. Fuel harvesting has become more dependent on fresh technologies incorporating horizontal drilling and computer modeling.

Drilling in deserts and in deep waters requires today's engineers to have expertise in intelligent systems, geomechanics, and hydraulics, naming only a few things on their growing list of knowledge bases.

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Nuclear Engineering Degree through Online Study

A number of colleges and universities offer online nuclear engineering studies toward master's and doctoral degrees. Some of these universities include, but are not limited to, Penn State, MIT, and Ohio State.

Online nuclear engineering degrees open a wide range of opportunities for students, at both graduate and postgraduate levels. A graduate degree in nuclear engineering opens doors to better job opportunities.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering is a basic four-year course, but a specialized five-year course can incorporate a master's degree. The Ph.D. degree generally adds two years of study beyond the master's.

Because nuclear science and engineering has such a broad range, graduates can be prepared for a wide variety of careers. Today's graduates enjoy research and teaching jobs at universities; they work at power plants and in government and industrial laboratories. They have launched LED lighting companies. They manage hedge funds, create interactive science and art displays, design new reactors, improve aircraft components, attend medical school, and design domestic energy policies.

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