What can I do with a Major in Engineering What is engineering?

Engineering is the art of applying scientific and mathematical principles, experience, judgment and common sense to make things that benefit people. Engineers are problem solvers who search for faster, better, less-expensive ways to use the forces and materials of nature to meet tough challenges. They design bridges and important medical equipment, processes for cleaning up toxic spills, systems for mass transit and much more.

Engineering at U of L
Since 1924, the University of Louisvilles J.B. Speed School of Engineering has been one of the top choices in the country for an advanced technical education that includes on-the-job training through a required co-op program. With a strong tradition of hands-on learning, some of the latest technology available, and a generous scholarship program, Speed School offers students a quality education at an affordable price. The mission of the J. B. Speed School of Engineering is to serve the university, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the engineering profession by providing high quality educational programs to all students; engaging in research and scholarship that will extend knowledge; and assisting the economic development of the regional, state and national economies through technology transfer.

Degrees in Engineering at U of L:
The J.B. School of Engineering offers the following degrees: o Bachelor of Science o Master of Engineering o Master of Science o Doctor of Philosophy in seven degree fields: o Bioengineering o Chemical Engineering (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by EAC of ABET) o Civil Engineering (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by EAC of ABET) o Computer Engineering and Computer Science (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by EAC of ABET) o Electrical Engineering (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by EAC of ABET) o Industrial Engineering (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by EAC of ABET) o Mechanical Engineering (five-year Master of Engineering program accredited by

EAC of ABET)

Occupational Overview
According to the American Society for Engineering Education more than 1.2 million engineers work in the United States today, making engineering the nation's second largest profession. On average, new graduates with a bachelor's degree can expect a starting salary of around $58,000; students with a master's degree can expect more than $67,000. Opportunities for engineers will generally increase as fast as the average for all occupations through 2010.
An engineering degree opens doors to other careers, too. Many graduates find their engineering background a valuable asset in professions such as medicine, law and business.

Employment Requirements
You will need at least a four-year or bachelor's degree in engineering. To increase your chances for career advancement, a master's or graduate degree is desirable. Engineers spend
much of their time solving problems, so a strong engineering candidate should enjoy problem solving and excel at it. Enrich your problem solving know-how by taking as many math courses as your school offers, including calculus and trigonometry. You should also take laboratory science courses such as chemistry and physics. Engineering institutions expect you to have good grades in: algebra, geometry, advanced math, physics, chemistry and English. Because engineers convey ideas graphically and may need to visualize products or processes in three dimensions, courses in graphics, drafting or design are helpful, too.

What is bioengineering?
Bioengineering is a relatively new engineering discipline when compared to the longstanding traditions of other fields of engineering. A bioengineer uses traditional engineering skills and tools to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine. The difference between bioengineering and biomedical engineering is that bioengineering is a more global term which encompasses biomedical engineering and is applied to all life sciences and medicine while biomedical focuses primarily on medicine and healthcare. However, few universities, research institutes, and corporations adhere strictly to those definitions and, in fact the terms are often used interchangeably.
Bioengineers interact with biologists, biochemists, physicians, physiologists, and therapists to design, develop and manufacture instruments, devices, and software, or to develop new procedures to solve clinical problems. Recent advances in bioengineering that you may be familiar with include artificial hearts and joints, laser systems used in corrective eye surgery, and miniaturized devices for detecting insulin levels and automating insulin injections.

Fields of specialization within bioengineering include: o Bioinformatics o o Bioinstrumentation o Biomaterials o

o o

Bio-Micro/Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems Cellular, tissue and molecular engineering Clinical engineering

Biomechanics Biomedical devices

o

o o

Medical imaging Molecular imaging

Rehabilitation engineering

Who Hires Bioengineers? According the Occupational Outlook Handbook, bioengineers held about 7,600 jobs in 2002. Manufacturing industries employed 38 percent of all bioengineers, primarily in the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing and medical instruments and supplies industries. Others were employed in universities, hospitals, research facilities of education and medical institutions, teaching, governmental regulatory agencies, or as independent consultants. Companies and federal agencies that employ bioengineers include: 3M- AbioMed- Boston Scientific, Inc.- DePuy, Inc.- Eli Lilly- FDA- General Electric Medical Systems- Guidant- Johnson & Johnson- Medtronics- Medventure- Merck- NASA- Phillips Medical Systems- Sulzer Medica, Ltd.- Synthase Related Links: http://www.bmes.org/aws/BMES/pt/sp/jobs - The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) website connecting employers and job seekers. http://www.nibib.nih.gov/ - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. This website offers useful information on research, funding and training, and health and education. http://www.biomedicalengineer.com/ - A career marketplace for employers and job seekers interested in careers in biomedical engineering. http://divisions.asme.org/bed/ - American Society of Mechanical Engineers website. Professional organization for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines. http://bioengineering.jobs.topusajobs.com/ - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in bioengineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice.

What is a Chemical Engineer?

Chemical engineers use their knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics and economics to develop new processes and products and to improve existing processes. They translate scientists developments into large-scale production and apply chemistry and materials knowledge to a range of engineered products. A chemical engineer might specialize in: o Chemicals manufacturing o Advanced materials manufacturing o Biomedical engineering

o Pharmaceuticals o Energy Conversion o Food processing

Who Hires Chemical Engineers? Chemical engineers are employed in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare,

design and construction, pulp and paper, petrochemicals, food processing, specialty chemicals, microelectronics, electronic and advanced materials, polymers, business services, biotechnology, and environmental health and safety industries, among others. In all these companies chemical engineers apply their knowledge, training, communication and teamwork skills to solve the problems of todays industry. Companies and federal agencies that employ Chemical Engineers include: Colgate Palmolive- Reynolds Metals- Lexmark Int.- Brown Forman- General ElectricExxonMobil- Jim Bean- DuPont- Atochem- Martek Biosciences- And many more
Related Links:

http://www.chemicalengineer.com/ - This website showcases Chemical Engineering jobs and products for chemical engineers. http://www.engcen.com/chemjobs.htm - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in chemical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content? _nfpb=true&_pageLabel=PP_CAREERS&node_id=87&use_sec=false&sec_url_var=region1 - American Chemical Society (ACS) website for professional at all degree levels in the field of chemistry and science. This website offers references, educational resources, and networking opportunities. This organization is open to students. http://www.interec.net/jobsearch/chemical.html - Full service job search website for chemical and biochemical engineers. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.neis.com/ - Search engine website for job seekers in several categories of engineering. This websites is also a resource for other links to businesses that hire chemical engineers. http://www.aiche.org/ - American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is the worlds leading organization for chemical engineering professionals. This organization is open to students.

What is a Civil Engineer?

Civil engineers are the primary designers and builders of a nations cities, transportation, supply and energy systems. They design and manage construction of large buildings, highways, bridges, foundations, railways, canals and locks, tunnels, airports, water supply and sewage systems, dams and power plants. Considered by many to be the oldest engineering discipline, civil engineering encompasses many specialties: o Construction o Transportation o Environmental o Urban planning o Geotechnical o Water Resources o Structural Civil engineers often work jointly with architects, urban planners, economists, biologists, and geologists, applying the latest technology in computer-aided design, geographic

information systems, construction, project scheduling, cost control and management, and simulation modeling. Who Hires Civil Engineers? According to the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook, civil engineers held about 228,000 jobs in 2002. More than 4 in 10 were employed by firms providing architectural, engineering, and related services, primarily developing designs for new construction projects. Almost one-third of the jobs were in federal, state, and local government agencies. The construction industry accounted for most of the remaining employment. About 15,000 civil engineers were self-employed, many as consultants. Civil engineers usually work near major industrial and commercial centers. Some projects are in remote areas or in foreign countries. In some jobs, civil engineers move from place to place to work on different projects. The spectrum of opportunities for a civil engineer range from work in an office setting, doing computer design or project management, to work outdoors, performing construction supervision and job site management. Many civil engineers become the CEO of engineering design and construction firms or open their own company. Companies and federal agencies that employ Chemical Engineers include: GEO/Environmental Associates- Gresham Smith and Partners- Louisville Water Co. - Strand Associates, Inc. - And many more Relates links: http://www.civilengineeringjobs.com/ - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.engcen.com/civil.htm - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://careers.asce.org/search.cfm - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.civilengineeringcentral.com/- Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.icivilengineer.com/Jobs/ - Full service website partnering with Careerbuilder for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.ecojobs.com/ - Website designed for employers and job seekers who are seeking employment in environmental engineering. http://www.environmentalengineer.com/ - This website to showcases Environmental Engineering jobs and products for environmental engineers. http://www.simplyhired.com/a/jobs/list/q-environmental+engineer - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice.

What is a Computer Engineer? What is a Computer Scientist?

Computers are used in almost every aspect of our lives today from desktops at home and work to large systems supporting government and industry to supercomputers and grids of networked processors expanding the frontiers of science and technology. Jobs for qualified computer scientists and engineers are among the fastest growing occupations.

The terms computer engineering and computer science are sometimes used interchangeably and, in fact, the job tasks may overlap to some degree. For example, both may design complex software systems. Computer engineers apply professional engineering knowledge of computer hardware and provide balanced hardware/software engineering expertise. They design, construct, and operate computer systems. Some specialize in digital systems, operating systems, computer networks and software engineering. While computer scientists must have a working knowledge of hardware, their emphasis is on computer theory, algorithms, data structures, programming concepts and languages, and computer architecture. This knowledge can be used to store, manipulate, transform or present information through computer systems. Who Hires Computer Engineering & Computer Science Majors? The number of computer hardware engineers is relatively small compared to the number of professionals who work with software or computer applications. Hardware engineers held about 74,000 jobs in 2002 compared to 675,000 software engineers. Computer engineers work in a variety of environments, such as computer and electronic product manufacturing, other businesses and industries, academia, and government. They are often part of a team comprised of design, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing. Telecommuting is a growing opportunity for computer professionals. They normally can have flexible work arrangements due to the increased bandwidth of the Internet. Instead of asking, Who will hire me? with a CECS degree, you will be able to ask, Where do I want to work? Companies and federal agencies that employ Chemical Engineers include: Boeing- Silicon River Technologies- Oracle Corporation- IBM- Middleton-Reutlinger- And many more Related Links: http://www.cra.org/ - Website devoted to research and education in computer science and computer engineering. http://www.careeroverview.com/computer-software-engineering-careers.html - Career and job search resource website for computer software engineering jobs. http://www.indeed.com/q-Computer-Engineer-jobs.html - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in civil engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice.

http://jobs.myspace.com/a/ms-jobs/list/q-Computer+Engineer - Social and professional networking site that is linked to jobs in computer engineering. http://www.engineering.com/Jobs/tabid/5120/ct/4/Default.aspx - Resource website for all fields of engineering.

What is an Electrical Engineer?

Electrical engineering is the historical name for what is now called electrical, electronics, and computer engineering. Originating in the 19th century with the development of electric power and the advent of telephone and wireless communications, electrical engineering continues to have lasting impact not only on technology and the engineering profession, but on all of society. Recent advances such as integrated computing and communications systems and the proliferation of microchips and microelectronic hardware have revolutionized the ways we live and work, as well as how we interact as a society and how we spend our leisure time. Electrical engineering is a profession that uses science, technology, and problem-solving skills to design, construct, and maintain products, services, and information system. Electrical engineers design and develop new technologies to generate, store, transmit, control and convert energy and information. They design new products, write performance requirements, and develop maintenance schedules. They also test equipment, solve operating problems, and estimate the time and cost of engineering projects. Electrical engineers may work in design, research and development, production or management positions at government agencies or private corporations An Electrical engineer might specialize in: o Microprocessors and microcomputers o Computer engineering o Analog and digital electronics, optoelectronics o Measurements, instrumentation, remote sensing o Microelectronic design and fabrication

o o o o

Control systems, robotics, automation Communications systems, signal processing Microwaves, radar technologies, antennas Power generation, transmission, and distribution

Who Hires Electrical Engineers? The Occupational Outlook Handbook indicates that electrical engineers held about 292,000 jobs in 2002, making it the largest branch of engineering. The majority of jobs were in professional, scientific, and technical services firms, government agencies, and manufacturers of computer and electronic products and machinery. Wholesale trade, communications, and utilities firms accounted for many of the remaining jobs. Companies and federal agencies that employ Chemical Engineers include: Boeing- Lexmark International- General Electric- NASA- Motorola- Nokia- IBM- RaytheonSandia National Laboratories- And many more

Related Links: http://www.engcen.com/electrical.htm - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in all disciplines of engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://engineering.careerbuilder.com/ - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.interec.net/jobsearch/electrical.html - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.indeed.com/q-electrical-engineer-jobs.html - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://electrical.engineer.jobs.topusajobs.com/ - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobs-k-electrical%20engineer-c-Engineering - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice.

What is an industrial Engineer?

An industrial engineer (IE) is responsible for designing integrated systems of people, machines, material, energy, and information. As an industrial engineer you may be responsible for the quality of automobiles coming off the end of a manufacturing line, the scheduling of a hospitals emergency room, or even designing a better cockpit to improve the performance of a fighter pilot. Industrial engineers figure out how to do things better. They engineer processes and systems that improve quality and productivity. They work to eliminate waste of time, money, materials, energy, and other resources. This is why more and more companies are hiring industrial engineers and then promoting them into management positions. An Industrial Engineer utilizes the latest advances in the following areas: o Computers and Simulation o Artificial Intelligence o Robotics and Automation o Production and Inventory Control o Materials Handling o Ergonomics and Human Factors o Logistics and Distribution o Operations Research o Management Information Systems o Reliability and Maintainability o Advanced Manufacturing Processes o Engineering Economic Analysis o Quality Control o Scheduling o Facilities Layout and Location o Transportation Systems

Who Hires Industrial Engineers? Every type of organization - particularly those in the manufacturing, service, healthcare, and logistics and distribution industries - depend upon industrial engineers to design and operate their systems. Companies and federal agencies that employ Industrial Engineers include: Coca Cola- United Parcel Service- Disney- IBM- General Electric- Ford Motor Company- NASANike- National Football League- Prudential- Dow Chemical- And many more Relates Links: http://www.iienet2.org/ - Resource website for careers in industrial engineering. http://www.princetonreview.com/Careers.aspx?page=1&cid=79&uidbadge=%07 Resource website from the Princeton review. http://www.industrialengineer.com/ - This website to showcases Industrial Engineering jobs and products for industrial engineers. http://www.engcen.com/industrial.htm - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in industrial engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice. http://www.indeed.com/q-INDUSTRIAL-ENGINEER-jobs.html - Full service website for employers and job seekers interested in careers in electrical engineering. This website also offers rsum writing and career advice.

What is a Mechanical Engineer?

Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power producing machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines. They also develop and apply power-using and energy-conversion machines such as refrigeration and airconditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. More recently, mechanical engineers have begun applying their knowledge to the development of biotech devices and therapeutic regimens to aid in patient health care. Design teams in the automotive, aerospace, petrochemical and computer industries all include mechanical engineers. They use computers to accurately and efficiently perform computations and to model and simulate new designs as well as change existing ones. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) are used for design data processing and for turning the design into a product.
A Mechanical engineer might specialize in:
o o

Applied mechanics Fluid mechanics

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Heat transfer Mechanical design

o Computer-aided design Instrumentation o Biomechanics Control systems o MEMs design Engines and power plants o Biomedical Pollution control Who Hires Mechanical Engineers? According to the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook, mechanical engineers held about 215,000 jobs in 2002. More than half of the jobs were in manufacturing - mostly in machinery, transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, and fabricated metal products manufacturing industries. o o o o

Companies and federal agencies that employ Mechanical Engineers include: Boeing- General Electric- Ford- Toyota- Bendix- United Parcel Service- Raytheon- And many more Related Links: http://www.mechanicalengineer.com/ - Website listing of mechanical engineering jobs and products for mechanical engineers. http://www.engineer.net/mechanical.php - Website for mechanical engineering job seekers within the USA. http://www.asme.org/Jobs/ - Website for the American Society for Mechanical Engineers that provides one stop resources for job hunting strategies, career management and workplace trends. http://www.engcen.com/mechanical.asp - Website listing mechanical engineering jobs in and outside the US. http://www.engineerjobs.com/jobs/mechanical-engineering/ - Full service website for job seekers and employers. This website also includes rsum writing and career advice.