Prospective Students

Is Engineering for me?

This is the question that you as a high school student must reflect on if you are seriously considering engineering as a career.

To truly understand what is involved in engineering, you must find out the specific qualifications and academic preparation needed to become an engineer. Listed below are some factors one should consider:

1. What are the abilities, aptitudes and academic preparation essential for entering the profession of engineering?

2. What do engineers do on the job?

3. What are the various specialties in the field of engineering?

4. What are the current and future employment opportunities in engineering?

ENGINEERING AS A CAREER

To research the field of engineering as a possible career, you must begin by examining - what is engineering, who are engineers and what do they do?

A. WHAT IS ENGINEERING?

By definition, engineering is a profession in which engineers take raw materials and apply scientific laws, principles and concepts to produce a product or a process which is useful to society. It is a career that requires at least 4 years of formal academic education after which many obtain certification to become a licensed professional engineer (P.E.).

B. WHO ARE ENGINEERS?

Engineers are problem solvers. They are concerned with seeking solutions to problems using the technology available to them. They rely strongly on their creativity and academic background to meet the challenges confronting them. Engineers work today to solve the problems of tomorrow. Just about everything that we can see, hear or touch has been planned, designed, developed and produced by engineers.

C. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ENGINEERING SPECIALTIES?

(1) Civil Engineering - Civil engineers plan and design the building and construction of all types of structures. They devise and develop the infrastructure of our nation - the basic installation and facilities that are so essential to the very existence and growth of our communities. This includes the construction of bridges, dams, airports, highways, various transportation systems, large buildings, power generating plants, sewage systems, water supply and waste treatment facilities.

(2) Electrical Engineering - Electrical engineering is the largest branch of the profession and these engineers usually specialize in the research, design, development, manufacturing and production of all kinds of electrical and electronic equipment. They get involved with power generation and distribution, computers, microprocessors, instrumentation, microwave communications systems, weather and military satellites, missiles and guidance systems, space vehicles, solid state materials, lasers, fiber optics and robotics. Electronic engineers will engage in the designing and development of all types of consumer products such as radios, TV sets, stereo sound equipment, VCRs, CD players and fax machines to mention a few.

(3) Mechanical Engineering - Energy conversion and machine systems are the main areas of mechanical engineers. They are instrumental in designing and developing power producing machines such as jets, rocket engines, internal combustion engines, steam and gas turbines. They plan and design power using machines and mechanisms such as elevators, power tools, materials handling equipment jigs, fixtures and cranes. They have provided us with refrigerators, air conditioners and heating equipment for home and commercial use. Some specialize in marine equipment, automobiles, airplanes, and space craft design .

(4) Other Fields of Specialization - Over the years, the field of engineering has expanded from the four basic specialties to over 50 different disciplines. The advancement in technology has created more opportunities in the fascinating and challenging world of engineering. Some include the following:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Agriculture Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Ceramic Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Geological Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Plastics Engineering
• Sanitary Engineering
• Textile Engineering

D. DO I HAVE THE APTITUDE FOR ENGINEERING?

We have established that engineers are problem solvers. They seek solutions to problems. This demands a unique person who must have the aptitude for engineering. Aptitude is characterized as the natural ability, inclination and potential that one possesses. Engineering aptitude manifests itself into several characteristic traits. Here are some of the pertinent objective qualities which we can measure in an engineering aptitude test.

(1) Numerical Ability - Do I have the ability to grasp mathematical concepts readily, or do I struggle to comprehend these concepts? Do I understand the basic fundamentals in mathematics and, am I able to use this knowledge to solved mathematical problems?

(2) Mechanical Comprehension - Do I have an appreciation and understanding of how tools, machinery and instruments work? Do I see the relationship of the various parts of a machine as it functions with the whole?

(3) Abstract Reasoning - Can I use my knowledge to analyze and make decisions and judgments based on implications, inferences and theoretical information? Do I recognize and evaluate the relationship between various component parts or elements and decide on an appropriate course of action?

(4) Spatial Relations - Am I able to visualize three dimensional objects and put them in perspective? Do I recognize patterns, shapes or objects as they relate to the overall picture?

(5) Communication Skills - Am I able to convey my thoughts both verbally and in writing, so that others can comprehend me without being confused? Is my vocabulary adequate?

(6) Other Essential Qualities of Engineers - While aptitude is of fundamental importance in considering engineering as a career, there are some other important attributes which seem to be common to all successful engineers. Those are subjective qualities that are difficult to measure. They are namely: curiosity, vision, foresight and a love for problem solving. These are inherent qualities which are very difficult to measure objectively and yet they represent essential ingredients that successful practicing engineers posses.