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What Engineers Do
Engineers Help People, Society, and our Planet
From creating better medicines to combating terrorism and securing
cyberspace, engineers make the world a better place.
In 2008, The National Academy of Engineers
identified these 14
Grand Challenges for Engineering
in the 21st Century.
Which challenge do you want to take on?
Make solar energy economical
Provide energy from fusion
Develop carbon sequestration methods
Manage the nitrogen cycle
Provide access to clean water
Restore and improve urban infrastructure
Advance health informatics
Engineer better medicines
Reverse-engineer the brain
Prevent nuclear terror
Secure cyberspace
Enhance virtual reality
Advance personalized learning
Engineer the tools of scientific discovery
The works and services of engineers have a profound impact on society and the
environment. Nearly everything we touch is the result of an
engineer's work.
Engineers Turn Ideas into Reality
Engineers make positive contributions to our quality of life.
They are concerned with the creation of structures, devices, and
systems for human use - generally for groups of people rather than
individuals.
-[Koblasz and Sayle II, Introduction to Engineering]
Salary and Employment Information
Note that engineers earn great salaries, even in entry-level
positions.
| Major |
Average starting salary for new graduates, 2005 |
| Chemical Engineer |
$54,256 |
| Electrical Engineer |
$52,009 |
| Computer Engineer |
$51,496 |
| Mechanical Engineer |
$51,046 |
| Aerospace Engineer |
$50,701 |
| Industrial Engineer |
$49,541 |
| Civil Engineer |
$43,462 |
| |
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers |
"Salaries of engineering graduates consistently have been among the
highest for all college graduates over the past several decades."
-[Oakes, Leone, Gunn, Engineering Your Future]
Fields of Specialization
There are several major branches of engineering and dozens of minor
branches.
| Electrical |
Agricultural |
| Civil / Environmental |
Materials |
| Mechanical |
Mining |
| Chemical |
Nuclear |
| Industrial |
Computer |
| Aerospace |
Petroleum |
| Oceanographic |
Bioengineering |
Rewards and
Opportunities of an Engineer Career
1. Job Satisfaction
2. Varied Opportunities
3. Challenging Work
4. Intellectual Development
5. Social Impact
6. Financial Security
7. Prestige
8. Professional Environment
9. Understanding How Things Work
10. Creative Thinking
[from Raymond B. Landis, Studying Engineering]
If you
like to help people and enjoy working with things,
look at the degree
program here.
The Engineering Design Process.
This schematic illustrates the engineering method used to produce a
device, structure, system, or product that satisfies a human need.
| Customer need |
| Problem definition/specifications |
| Data collection |
| Development of alternative designs |
| Evaluation of designs/selection of optimal design |
| Implementation of optimal design |
"Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the
mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and
practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize,
economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of
humankind."
-Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology, ABET
Last updated:
March 31, 2008
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