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What can you do with a degree in engineering?
Engineering degree careers
An engineering degree can lead to more career paths than you might realize. Earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering develops problem-solving and creative-thinking skills that are valuable across a wide range of careers.
Engineering is the art of solving real-world problems. “Generally speaking, engineering is a profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied to develop solutions to real-world problems,” said Joel Chapman, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Charleston Southern University.
“Engineering is a broad term with many subcategories and specialties. At CSU, we have four engineering concentration areas: mechanical, electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering.”
What are some careers one can do in engineering?
Mechanical Engineering:
Mechanical engineering is the study of objects and things that move. “Mechanical engineering is a branch of engineering that combines physics and mathematics with materials science to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems and fluid systems,” said Chapman.
Mechanical engineering touches every aspect of life which includes the human body.
What can you do with a mechanical engineering concentration?
Design
One can create 2D and 3D models of mechanical parts, assemblies, and systems using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing involves designing and improving factory production lines, assembly processes, and automation to reduce waste.
HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
One can design the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for buildings, data centers, or airplanes.
Maintenance
One can develop maintenance methods to keep equipment or factory machinery/operations running smoothly. “Mechanical engineers develop devices and systems ranging from drills, signs, refrigerators, and elevators, to automobiles, aircraft, spacecraft, power plants, and robotic systems,” said Chapman.
Electrical Engineering:
Electrical engineering is the study of how electricity works. “Electrical engineering is a branch of engineering concerned with the study, design, and application of technology and systems associated with the use of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism,” said Chapman.
They figure out how to use their knowledge of electricity to build electrical things.
What can you do with an electrical engineering concentration?
Hardware
Hardware engineers build the physical parts and components inside electronics, like consumer laptops and circuit boards.
Power systems
Engineers in power systems plan and maintain the infrastructure or base that delivers electricity from places like generation plants to consumers, homes and businesses.
Controls
Control engineers design and program systems that regulate machinery by making sure the equipment runs safely and correctly.
Electronics
Engineers in electronics develop and test electronic components like phones, medical instruments, and circuit boards.
Radio Frequency
Engineers in radio frequency design and test systems that make wireless communication work by developing antennas and radar systems for things like cell phones and Wi-Fi.
Systems
A systems engineer oversees and designs big and complicated projects to make sure that all electrical and digital systems work together smoothly.
Test and Validation
Engineers in test and validation make sure that electrical products work correctly and are safe before they are released to the public. “Electrical engineers develop devices and systems ranging from toaster ovens, electric motors, GPS devices, radios, and TVs to automobiles, aircraft, and satellites,” said Chapman.
Computer Engineering:
Computer engineering is a branch that combines both electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineering is a branch of engineering that integrates aspects of computer science and electrical engineering required to develop computer hardware and software, said Chapman.
What can you do with a computer engineering concentration?
Hardware
Hardware engineers are just like electrical hardware engineers, but with computers. They design, develop, and test physical computer parts like processors, circuit boards, and memory devices.
Embedded systems
Engineers who work with embedded systems develop software to control specialized hardware devices, such as medical equipment or cars.
Network
Engineers in network design implement and maintain data communication to keep systems connected and running correctly. “Computer engineers design devices and systems ranging from circuit boards, memory devices, microcontrollers, and microprocessors to personal computers, operating systems, routers, and networks,” said Chapman.
Biomedical Engineering:
Biomedical engineering combines science and healthcare to solve problems in medicine.
“Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering.”
What can you do with a biomedical engineering concentration?
Medical Device Designer
Engineers in this career design and build medical equipment like pacemakers, prosthetics, and robotic surgical systems.
Biomechanics Engineer
A biomechanics engineer studies human movement to develop tools to prevent injury and rehabilitation equipment.
Quality Engineer
Quality engineers make sure that medical products and pharmaceutics meet the safety and efficacy standards before sending it out to companies.
Regulatory Affairs Specialists
Engineers in this career help companies navigate FDA standards and look over compliance for new medical technologies.
Field Clinical Engineer
Field clinical engineers work directly with hospitals to show how medical devices and equipment work.
Clinical Engineer
Clinical engineers act as the bridge between technology and patient care, making sure machines like MRIs and X-ray systems function reliably and safely.
“Due to the increased demand for advanced medical devices, and innovations in areas like 3D bioprinting, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence, a biomedical engineer can work as a key person in a wide range of roles and places.”
Where will your engineering degree take you?
Engineering is more than a degree, it is considered a foundation for many types of career opportunities. The skills one learns in this major can be very helpful and valuable in different types of careers or industries. There are so many paths available, giving students the option to pick a career that fits their interests and strengths.
Students will take classes such as Introduction to Engineering, Statistics, Digital Systems, Control Systems, and more, based on concentration.
Charleston Southern University’s accreditation can be found here. CSU is a member of the Christian Engineering Society.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for General Engineering.
Adrienne Antley, author, is an intern in the CSU Marketing & Communication Office and is a double major in communication and public health.
Learn more about the Engineering at Charleston Southern.
About the Contributors
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CSU Media features are created by staff, faculty, or guests of Charleston Southern University in collaboration with the Office of Marketing & Communication.
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