Is a Career in Engineering For Me?

You may have heard about engineering as a career but are not really sure what's involved. Perhaps your guidance counselor says that you are good in math and science, so maybe you should consider engineering. The counselor also says that engineers get good jobs and travel all over the world. This maybe true, but what does an engineer actually do? How do you become an engineer? Finally, do you have the skills to become an engineer?

What is engineering?
Engineering is a very old profession that can trace its roots to Roman roads, bridges, and viaducts; however, modern engineering began with the Industrial Revolution. At that time, society needed people to the design machines and power systems to drive the new era.
Today, the profession of engineering stretches from biomedical engineering to ocean engineering. While the role of the engineer has changed over the years, problem solving remains the foundation of all engineering disciplines.

The solution to most problems is the design of a plant, computer system, building, airplane, medical device, etc. To develop a design, engineers must use creativity, knowledge of the laws of nature, and management skills. Engineers must also be able to effectively communicate their ideas and how they will create solutions to non-engineers or greater society.

What kind of education do I need?
To become an engineer, you must complete a four year course of study at an accredited engineering college where you will learn about the laws of nature and how to apply them to real world problems. Engineering students also develop skills in the area of computers, oral and written communication, and teamwork. In addition, the modern engineering curriculum emphasizes characteristics needed for an educated professional including; lifelong learning, ethical standards, and an appreciation for contemporary problems. Upon completion of an undergraduate degree, the majority of these students obtain entry level positions in their chosen career field while others go directly to graduate school for advanced degrees.

Today, the trend is for most engineers to study for advanced degrees in their field or a related field. You can think of engineering as a tree with many branches. The trunk is one of the main engineering disciplines such as chemical, civil, electrical, or mechanical engineering. The branches represent the many different directions that an engineer can take. In the mechanical engineering example, it could be biomedical, aerospace, environmental, law, and even medicine.

Am I cut out to be an engineer?
Everyone will tell you that you should be good in mathematics and science. A better way to say this is that you should be comfortable with these topics and enjoy them. Engineering is the application of mathematics and science to the solution of a problem. You do not have to know how to take a car apart; however, you should be an observer of nature and be curious about how things work. Imagination, curiosity, and creativity are three of the most important personal characteristics for an engineer. In high school, you should take four years of mathematics and science through physics.

This does not mean that you should neglect your other courses in English, history, and language. You will need all of this background for the SAT test and other entrance requirements. Today, most engineering schools have essentially a common first year so that the initial, important choice is engineering, not which discipline. Professional engineering societies and colleges are great sources of information about engineering. Use the internet to find the data that you need to make the decision to go into engineering.

Engineering is often described as one of the hardest majors in college; however, it is also one of the most rewarding. Remember, if you are admitted to an engineering school, the admission committee has a high degree of confidence that you will succeed. Your job will be to apply yourself and remember that you are not alone.

Editorial provided by Edward V. McAssey, Villanova University, and Dean Lynda A. Capuzzi, Associate Dean of Engineering for Student Affairs, Villanova University.