Engineering is a technical discipline that applies scientific principles to solve problems. Engineers are found in nearly every industry where design, building, and testing tasks are found. Engineers generally have completed an educational degree that is heavy in mathematics and science courses, and follows with more specific engineering courses.
About the Engineering Career Field
Engineering is a well-compensated discipline, and both entry level and experienced engineers can receive high salaries for their work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers earn one of the highest salaries for entry level workers with four year degrees, from $52,000 for civil engineers, up to $83,000 for petroleum engineers. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm Mean salaries for engineers range from $72,000(health and safety engineer to over $100,000 petroleum engineer.
An engineering education generally begins with a 4-year undergraduate degree. High school students who are interested in engineering will generally complete a high school program that contains calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology. When a student begins his undergraduate engineering education, he will begin with advanced mathematics and science courses to build on his high school courses, proceed to general engineering courses, then on to more advanced and specialized engineering courses. Most engineering curricula include a senior project that allows the engineering student to apply the knowledge to solve a relevant problem.
There are several branches within the engineering discipline, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering. Each of these areas also contains sub-disciplines that provide a finer focus on the topic. For example, the area of mechanical engineering encompasses sub-areas such as aerospace engineering, materials engineering, and robotics engineering. http://www.suite101.com/blog/skristoff/the_engineering_profession_and_branches_of_engineering<ref>
Some engineering jobs require the engineer to have a professional engineering license. This certification shows that the engineer meets certain minimal requirements in terms of education and competence. Professional engineers are regulated by the licensing board in the state where the engineer resides. In general, professional engineers are required for project that involve the safety of occupants or people in general, such as roadway projects, and building projects. In many cases, a junior engineer will perform a design task, and a licensed engineer will review the design and certify it.
References
Fast Facts
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The equipment used for engineering depends on the specific branch of engineering, although today's engineers all use computers.
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Engineers are people who often like to build or fix things.
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Companies all over the world hire engineers for a variety of functions. Some engineers perform work in laboratories, others work in the field.
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Engineering is a discipline that will always be in demand. Engineers are inventors, designers, producers, and evaluators that are necessary for innovation to continue.
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The earliest engineers could be considered civil engineers by todays standards. These engineers designed and built structures for human use, such as buildings, fortifications, and bridges.
