Careers in Engineering

What are the Different Fields in

Engineering?

http://www.hku.hk/bse/about-bse.htm

Electrical and Computer

Mechanical and Civil
Aerospace
Petroleum and Chemical
Industrial
Acoustics
Biomedical
Materials
Nuclear
Agricultural
Environmental
Ocean

What is Engineering?
An engineer is a person who
uses scientific knowledge to
solve practical problems
Engineers create new things
and make old things better

What will you study as a

Engineering student?

Forces, motion, structures: statics, dynamics, kinematics, mechanics of

solids, and fluids.
Energy: thermodynamics, heat transfer, chemical reactions
Materials: materials engineering & processing, manufacturing.
Design: graphics, computer design applications.
Electronics: Circuits and electricity
Economics: engineering economic analysis, cost engineering.
Human and Social Studies: arts, humanities, social sciences, history,
government, ethics, law.
Overall foundation: math, physics, chemistry, biology, analysis skills,
communication skills, computation skills.

What Engineers Do?

Engineers cover a variety of tasks
in general. They create and fix
almost everything.
Some of the major fields in
engineering are:

Mechanical
Civil
Electrical
Computer
Ocean
Agricultural
Environmental
Petroleum
Aerospace
And Chemical

http://www.fotosearch.com/DGV130/064002

Aerospace Engineering
Design, analyze,
model, simulate,
and test aircraft,
spacecraft,
satellites, missiles,
and rockets
This field also
focuses on
electronics and
computer
technology rather
than just physical
dynamics.

Aerospace Engineering
Includes more than just
designing aircraft
Aerospace deals with
the motion of flight
outside and inside the
Earths atmosphere
This includes motion
of satellites, control
systems in unmanned
aircraft, and even
machines and tools
created specifically for
the exploration of
space like the Mars
Rover

http://aero.tamu.edu/photos/slides/s_d0d48734cc1b532b29bddb27bb28b8e8350648ad.JPG

Foundations in Aerospace
Includes the study of:

Mathematics
Physical dynamics
Heat transfer
Fluid dynamics
Electrical circuits
Design analysis

http://aero.tamu.edu/photos/slides/s_43f64e20904b04f3975ea83caadc79815e5440b8.JPG

Foundations in Aerospace
Should develop the fundamental skills
necessary for:

the design,
synthesis,
analysis and research development of aircraft,
spacecraft and other high technology flight
systems

Careers in Aerospace

Design and test different

technologies for space and
motor vehicles
Work with communications and
navigation systems
Design and test different types
of helicopters or other airborne
technologies for governmental
use
Locations for careers are very
diverse throughout united states

Aerospace engineer at Boeing

Airline company
Engineer for NASA
Engineer for military and other
government controlled agencies
Air Traffic controller for any
airline company
Ford, Honda, Toyota, or any
other motor vehicle company
Pilot Astronaut
Professor/teacher
Working for a scientific,
professional, or technological
service firm

Electrical Engineering:

Electrical engineering is a
field of study with a broad
scope and significant impact
on society
Is an engineering field that
deals with the study and
application of electricity,
electronics and
electromagnetism

Foundations in Electrical
Physics
Mathematical
analysis
Optics
Circuits
Electricity flow
Computer systems
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Careers in Electrical

Design, develop, test and supervise the

deployment of electrical systems and
electronic devices
Usually specialize in circuit design,
communications, controls and signal
processing, computer engineering, and
different types of power systems
Study in this field can branch into
computer engineering and/or computer
science

Patent lawyer (law degree required)

Software designer for animation
software (Pixar)
Artificial intelligence researcher
Computer game designer
Special effects engineer for movies
Information security (cryptography)
Race car designer (electrical
components)
Alternative energy systems developer
(wind power, electric cars)
Electronics designer
Digital assistant/cell phone/iPod
developer
Optical laser scientist and developer

Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineers use
their knowledge of
chemistry to discover and
manufacture better
plastics, paints, fuels,
fibers, medicines and all
other kinds of chemicals,
by carrying out chemical
reactions and
purifications.

http://www.engin.umich.edu/dept/cheme/images/sean.jpg

Foundations in Chemical
Study the fundamentals of:

chemistry (basis of field)

physics and mathematics
Thermodynamics
Material physics
Microelectronics
Reaction engineering

Education in this field will allow you to use

elements from all areas of engineering, science,
mathematics

Careers in Chemical

Frequently specialize in a
particular chemical process
such as polymerization or
oxidation
Can specialize in a particular
field, such as materials science,
or the development of specific
products such as and pesticides,
fertilizers, chlorine bleach, or
automotive plastics

Professor/Teacher
Working for a scientific,
professional, or technological
service firm
Working for governmental
agencies:
Military interaction

Working for industries such as:

Pharmaceutical
Oil and Natural Gas
Nuclear energy
Minerals and metals
Textiles

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineers use their

knowledge of physics to extract
valuable oil and natural gas from
beneath the earth.

Petroleum engineers design,

drill and operate wells and
well systems, and integrate
this into the management of
the underground reservoirs
in which the resources are
found

Foundations in Petroleum
Study the fundamentals
of:

http://www.pe.tamu.edu/homepage/graphics/homepics/pe6.jpg

Geology
Physics
Mathematics
Fluid dynamics
Reservoir Development
Heat transfer

Careers in Petroleum

Best employment opportunities

are in other countries
U.S. Careers are mostly located
in the southwest such as Texas
and Louisiana
Design and construct different
methods of extracting natural
resources from the earth

Reservoir engineer (working in

close relation to geologists)
Mud engineer (examines and
tests oil content)
Design engineer for companies
such as ConocoPhillips and BP
Construction engineer for
contracting companies such as
Trinidad, Nabors, and Grey
Wolf
Professor/Teacher

Civil Engineering

Civil engineers
design and build
many systems that are
central to everyday
life
Civil engineers plan,
design, construct,
operate, maintain,
inspect and manage
bridges, buildings,
offshore structures,
airports, seaports,
railroads, highways,
waterways, dams and
water treatment
plants, and many
other public facilities.
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Civil Engineering
They work to prevent or minimize damage
due to natural disasters
Civil engineers also work to reduce air,
water and soil pollution, develop alternative
energy sources and improve congested
transportation systems.

Foundations in Civil

Mathematics
Physics
Structural Analysis
Materials Science
Fluid dynamics
Thermodynamics and heat transfer

Careers in Civil
Design facilities that vary
widely in nature, size, and
scope and include space
satellites and launching
facilities, offshore
structures, bridges,
buildings, tunnels,
highways, and many more!
Opportunities all across
the world as a civil
engineer

Bridge Design
Water-way and waste
treatment design
Traffic control
Beach Protection (coastal
civil engineering)
Tunnel design
Mining (ocean and land)
Wildlife protection

Mechanical Engineering

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Mechanical engineering is
one of broadest studies in
engineering
The design and creation of
mechanical technologies
that benefit society
They utilize power to
work with all types of
mechanical devices, and
all types of manufacturing
and plant designs

Foundations in Mechanical
Mathematics
Physics
Thermodynamics and
heat transfer
Materials science
Gears and systems
Fluid mechanics
Structural Analysis

Careers in Mechanical

Work in a diverse range of

industries from automotive to
aerospace and petroleum
Can be applied to other
engineering fields as well
Develop everyday power-using
machines such as refrigerators
and air conditioning units
Design and test different types
of mechanical parts such as
gear systems and jet engines

Law firm (law Degree required)

Jet engine design (General
electrics)
Mechanical gears technician
Race car design
Aircraft Design (NASA,
Boeing)
Offshore drilling and natural
gas extraction (BP,
ConocoPhillips)
Automotive transportation
(General Motors, Ford, Honda)
Professor/Teacher

Ocean Engineering
Engineers in this field
design and test
different technological
systems that withstand
the harsh conditions of
the ocean

http://oceaneng.civil.tamu.edu/Images/22_sm.jpg

Foundations in Ocean

Mathematics
Physics
fluid mechanics
structural mechanics
ocean wave mechanics
geotechnical engineering
environmental fluid
mechanics
marine structures
naval architecture
underwater acoustics
http://oceaneng.civil.tamu.edu/Images/wave.jpg

Careers in Ocean
Involved in:
exploration and exploitation
of offshore gas and oil
fields by working in
conjunction with petroleum
engineers,
designing fixed and floating
offshore structures,
searching for economical
methods for extracting
energy from the oceans,

Research Firms

Professor/Teacher

Marine navigation and other

governmental agencies

Offshore Drilling companies

Analysis and design of deepwater

and coastal structures
Beach nourishment
Bridge scour

Environmental Engineering

Utilizes different
techniques that improve
the environment:
Includes water and air
pollution control,
recycling, waste
disposal, and public
health issues
Environmental engineers
also work in conjunction
with civil engineers to
evaluate impact of
construction on the
environment
http://cagesun.nmsu.edu/programs/environment/front.jpg

Foundations in Environmental
Most environmental engineers begin as Mechanical, civil,
or chemical engineers
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Thermodynamics and heat transfer
Materials science
Gears and systems
Fluid mechanics
Structural Analysis
Reaction engineering

Careers in Environmental

Involved in water and air

pollution control, recycling,
waste disposal, and public
health issues
Study and attempt to minimize
the effects of acid rain, global
warming, automobile
emissions, and ozone depletion
Also involved in the protection
of wildlife
Environmental engineers help
to comply with environmental
regulations and to clean up
hazardous sites

Wildlife protection
Water treatment plants
Beach restoration
Pollution control
Government and military
interaction
Containment engineering

Agricultural Engineering
Applies engineering
technology to
agricultural production
and processing, and to
the management of
natural resources
Agricultural engineers
design agricultural
structures, equipment,
and agricultural
machinery, that benefit
the production of
natural resources

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Foundations in Agricultural

Mathematics
Physics
Fluid Dynamics
Biology
Thermodynamics
Biological materials

Careers in Agricultural
Designing and managing
food production systems
Protecting surface and
ground water quality
designing natural resource
management systems
Designing animal
production facilities and
environmental control
systems
Can work anywhere in the
United States

Food safety research

Soil restoration
Crop Production
Design irrigation systems
Design controlled farm
structures (housed
livestock, greenhouses,
silos)
Flood and water control

Other titles and careers in

Engineering:

SALES ENGINEER
RESEARCH SCIENTIST/ENGINEER
ARRANGEMENT ENGINEER (M/F) POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
PIPING ENGINEER/CALCULATION SPECIALIST (M/F)
SPECIALIST (M/F) FOR VALVE TECHNOLOGY
MARKETING ENGINEER
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER 3
SR. QUALITY ENGINEER FOR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SR. SUPPLIER QUALITY
MANAGEMENT (SQM)
CIVIL ENGINEER/STRUCTURAL
REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEER/STRUCTURAL PROJECT DESIGN ENGINEERING
PLANNER-SCHEDULER
TEACHER/PROFESSOR
SECURITY SYSTEMS ENGINEER IV
VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEER REGIONAL SALES ENGINEER/SALES
EXECUTIVE
PROCESS ENGINEER MODELING ENGINEER I
ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER MECHANICAL ENGINEER
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER SOLIDWORKS DESIGNER
APPLICATIONS ENGINEER

Career Paths in General

Industry
Teaching/Education
Graduate School
Entrepreneur/Business Owner
Research Labs
Military
Government
Preparation for other Professions (law, medicine,
etc.)

Skills associated with engineering:

Strong interest in math and science
Strong social awareness and concern for quality of
life
Desire to put ideas into action
Strong academic background
Ability and determination to succeed; continuing
education
Good communication skills
Teamwork

Conclusion
Engineering is a field that requires
dedication and focus.
If you enjoy math and science, this is a
great field to pursue.
It is a challenging but also exciting and
highly satisfying career

References

http://www.me.utexas.edu/~me302/classnotes/ME-intro_files/frame.htm
http://www.kids.net.au/encyclopedia-wiki/me/Mechanical_Engineering
http://www.discoverengineering.org/cool_things/cd/index.asp
http://www.discoverengineering.org/Engineers
http://www.engcen.com/
http://thinkbig.tamu.edu/
http://www.wikepedia.com
http://www.abe.iastate.edu
http://www.collegegrad.com
http://careerservices.rutgers.edu/

Questions and Discussion