Which Engineering is Best For Me?
College student at UC San Diego taking part in their hand-on electrical engineering curriculum
Engineering is a vast field with an extensive variety of options to choose from. However, with so many options, it can be a bit overwhelming when deciding which type of engineering one would want to pursue in college and later on as a job. To help decide, this blog will give a brief rundown of various branches of the field of engineering and outline the main focuses in each field and the type of work one can expect to find themselves in if they pursue said field as a career. Each field is not only different in their respective focuses, but also in other facets such as activity level, social interaction, salary, and more. With the following rundown of the major branches of engineering, we hope to be able to give greater insight to FInE members on what careers they may be interested in pursuing in the wonderful world of STEM.
The first, and arguably most broad, field of engineering that we’ll be discussing is mechanical engineering. When one first imagines an engineer, he or she is most likely thinking of a mechanical engineer. Their work mainly involves designing, building, and fixing mechanical systems like machines, engines, vehicles, and more. In terms of knowledge, those that are greatly interested in subjects like physics, math, and material sciences would most likely like this field. Moreover, mechanical engineering is one of the most hands-on fields, so if one has a preference to be more active and “get their hands dirty,” then this field might be the one to pursue. Mechanical engineering itself is a field that you can pursue, but there are also subsects of this that are tailored to more niche interests such as aerospace, marine, and automotive engineering.
The second major field of engineering is electrical engineering. It revolves around the study and use of electricity and harnessing it to control machines and devices. Workers in this field maintain electrical systems from small items like your smartphone and kitchen appliances to massive power grids. Those who are heavily interested in mathematics, computer science, and physics will most likely find interest in the doings of an electrical engineer. Again, this is a very broad field so if you are someone that is interested in circuitry but still want a more hands-on job, there are such subspecialties in the field of electrical engineering like control system and hardware engineers. On the other hand, if you don’t want much physical activity but still are interested in the world of electricity, then specialities like telecommunications and signal processing engineering are great options.
Another major field is civil engineering. Jobs in this area have a focus on the infrastructure and buildings that make up our society. They design and oversee the construction of roads, bridges, sewage systems, plants, and other frameworks. In the previous two fields, most of the work will be done inside a building, office, lab, or some indoor facility. However, most civil engineers are often surveying and working on construction sites themselves. So, this is perfect for those that would dislike having to remain in the office space all day. Those interested in material sciences and architecture will most likely favor a career in this field. Common subspecialties include structural, environmental, and transportation engineering which focus on varying aspects of maintaining and improving our infrastructure.
Lastly, there is the intersection of medicine and engineering in the fields of chemical and biomedical engineering. Those that have shared interest in both mathematics and biological sciences will most likely enjoy a career in these fields. Subspecialities include pharmaceuticals where engineers are developing and testing new medicinal drugs and biochemical engineering where living organisms are used to convert biofuels and organic matter into usable energy. If you want to improve the health of others while remaining in the field of engineering, pursuing a career in these areas will help you do so.
The important message that we hope you take away is that the field of engineering is very broad and diverse. Many fields were given brief rundowns, but there are also numerous more that weren’t covered as well. The field of engineering is expansive and so there is almost certainly at least one field that is tailored to your unique interests and wishes. The goal of FInE is to help nurture these interests and curiosity so that members can readily pursue their passions in the world of engineering in their futures.
Bibliography
Walker, Sharon. “Why Diversity Is Key to the Future of Engineering - UC Riverside.” UC Riverside Online Master of Science in Engineering, engineeringonline.ucr.edu/blog/why-diversity-is-key-to-the-future-of-engineering/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
Chau, Tom. “Areas of Specialization in Bioengineering.” Navigate the Circuit, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, navigate.aimbe.org/why-bioengineering/areas-of-specialization-in-bioengineering/. Accessed 2 Aug. 2024.
