Make it Happen
High School: Building the Foundation
Pick the Right College or University
Search Engineering Schools
Engineering or Technology
Engineering Licensure
High School: Building the Foundation
Although admissions requirements differ from school to school, you should have four years of core classes (see 'The Core'). In addition to 'the core' it's also important to take courses in history/social studies, geography, computers, and the arts and to get involved in extracurricular activities that you enjoy. Adding technical courses such as computers, drafting/CAD or technology will help you build a foundation for your secondary engineering education and chosen career.
Don't forget ... standardized test scores are critical to college admission (score requirements vary by college), and it's a good idea to take AP/Honors or international baccalaureate (IB) as you can.
The Core
| Language Arts |
4 years (including English, speech, communications) |
| Math |
4 years (including algebra I & II, geometry, trigonometry, calculus) |
| Science |
4 years (biology, chemistry, physics) |
| Second Language |
3 years |
It is also a good idea to take courses of particular interest to you ... they may just help to guide you towards a particular engineering specialty. Do what you love!
How Do I Pick the Right College or University?
With more than 300 universities offering engineering programs, picking the right one may seem like a daunting task. Accredited engineering programs are offered in every state in the country with a selection of majors offered at each university. Engineering programs are accredited by ABET, Inc., a non-profit institution that evaluates programs to ensure they meet quality standards needed to prepare students to enter the profession. The ABET Web site—www.abet.org—provides a searchable database of engineering programs by discipline, region, and state.
What's Important to Me?
Determine the factors most important to you in choosing an engineering program. The following is a list that may be important to consider in finding the right college or university for you:
- Engineering discipline
- Distance from home
- Financial constraints—public vs. private, instate vs. out of state, or the need to secure a scholarship
- College selectivity—finding the right academic fit based on your SAT scores and academic record
- Availability of co-op or intern programs
- Size of institution, class size, and approach to learning
- Other offerings—sports and other campus activities, military academy
- Campus facilities—including student housing, food, and recreational facilities
- Setting—urban, suburban, or rural
- Regional differences
Picking an Engineering Discipline
While it may be an advantage to select an engineering discipline going into college, it's not critical. Most engineering programs expose you to a wide range of engineering topics your first two years. In addition, programs such as chemical, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering—the big four—are very broad and give you access to a vast array of career choices. If there are three or four engineering areas you are interested in, particularly if they are not widely offered, it might be wise to select a university that offers each of them. It's OK if you're not sure what you want to do, but do a lot of exploring. If you can't do that within your coursework, do it outside of your classes-whether it’s through volunteering or jobs. The most important thing to do is follow your interests. It's easy to think that there is a road map, but most often the things you do that are unique and different from everyone else end up defining your success. Volunteer and get involved in things outside of class, and don't be afraid to take risks.
Search Engineering Schools
Engineering or Engineering Technology
If you know a four-year engineering program isn’t for you but still want to work in the engineering field, a related technology may be a great choice. Engineering technologists are the applications people on a team who work with engineers in the design process and often are heavily involved in implementation or ongoing maintenance of a project. Two-year (associates degree) and four-year degrees (Bachelors degrees) are offered in engineering technology. Two-year degrees in a wide range of engineering specialties are offered at technical institutes and schools, community colleges, and extension programs of universities. Four-year degrees in engineering technology are offered by more than 200 schools and universities. Visit www.abet.org to find one.
Technology is changing how all products and systems are designed, constructed or manufactured, and maintained. It shapes almost every aspect of our lives. Teamwork is needed to complete today's and tomorrow's complex engineering projects. As part of this team, engineering technologists and technicians help make engineering ideas come alive. Working in the same fields (i.e., mechanical, civil, chemical, electrical, and many others) as engineers, technologists and technicians ensure the applications of the design or project.
Engineering technology makes things work. It applies principles of math and science to design and build the structures, equipment, and power systems behind computer systems; roads, bridges, and buildings; sound systems; radar; engines — even variable shocks for mountain bikes.
Engineering technology is a broad term for the field that forms the backbone of manufacturing and other industries. It's often divided into smaller, specialized areas and skill sets. Electrical and mechanical engineering technologies create power systems and their components — things like electrical devices, motors, engines, semiconductors, circuits, and computers. Civil engineering technology focuses on building bridges, tunnels, and transportation systems — from subway and rail to air and space travel. Computer and telecommunications engineering technologies are at work in computer hardware and software, as well as in data and network systems.
Career options for engineering technologists and technicians are as far-reaching as the field itself. Jobs often utilize math, science, building, and problem-solving skills in industries like manufacturing, transportation, microelectronics, biotechnology, aerospace, and computer technology, by providing valuable operations, troubleshooting, and critical information to guide engineering decisions.
What's the Difference between Engineering & Technology?
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology describes the difference between engineering and engineering technology as: "Engineering and technology are separate but intimately related professions. Here are some of the ways they differ:
- Engineering undergraduate programs include more mathematics work and higher level mathematics than technology programs.
- Engineering undergraduate programs often focus on theory, while technology programs usually focus on application.
- Once they enter the workforce, engineering graduates typically spend their time planning, while engineering technology graduates spend their time making plans work.
- At ABET, engineering and engineering technology programs are evaluated and accredited by two separate accreditation commissions using two separate sets of accreditation criteria.
- Graduates from engineering programs are called engineers, while graduates of technology programs are often called technologists.
- Some U.S. state boards of professional engineering licensure will allow only graduates of engineering programs—not engineering technology programs—to become licensed engineers."
The National Society of Professional Engineers describes the difference between engineering and engineering technology:
"Engineering programs are geared toward development of conceptual skills, and consist of a sequence of engineering fundamentals and design courses, built on a foundation of complex mathematics and science courses. Engineering technology programs are oriented toward application, and provide their students introductory mathematics and science courses, and only a qualitative introduction to engineering fundamentals. Thus, engineering programs provide their graduates a breadth and depth of knowledge that allows them to function as designers. Engineering technology programs prepare their graduates to apply others’ designs."
NSPE Issue Brief #4049: Engineering Technology
Engineering Licensure
One of the most important decisions you can make early in your engineering career is to place yourself on a course to become licensed as a professional engineer (P.E.).
The licensing of engineers is important because of the significant role engineering plays in society, affecting every human being in terms of safe buildings and roads, clean water, functional machinery, communication, and medicine. The profession is regulated by licensing boards—composed of P.E.'s and members of the public—in each U.S. state and territory. The licensing boards set high standards for professional engineers, and these high standards help protect the public health, safety, and welfare. As a result, engineers must be licensed to offer their services to the public.
Licensure is the mark of a professional. It demonstrates a commitment to the high standards of professionalism to which the engineering profession subscribes.
Licensure is important because it demonstrates the accomplishment of a set of standards to which all engineering professionals recognize. Consider the following:
- It serves as a protection of public health, safety, and welfare. It demonstrates that you've accomplished a recognized standard.
- In most cases, it provides a "portable" credential, which means once you've received your P.E., you can carry the P.E. credential with you throughout your career. True, you will need to register with the states in which you want to use the P.E. credential, and some states may have additional requirements, but the P.E. credential itself is very portable.
- It sets you apart from others in your profession.
- It gives you career options and opportunities that might not have been available to you without the licensed professional engineer designation.
This information was reprinted with permission rom NCEES. To learn more about engineering licensure, visit http://www.engineeringlicense.com/.
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