Engineering is currently the most commonly chosen major amongst college students throughout the USA and it is a field which is attracting more and more people each year. Once you have the foundation of engineering you will have to select a branch of engineering in which to specialize, and there are many to choose from. We spoke with Adam Ferrari, engineering expert about what should influence the choice that you make and what branches are available to you once you have finished your college education. In terms of which to choose, this will come down to your own skills and passions, and here are the top 5 fields of engineering which are being chosen at the moment.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering focuses on the design, maintenance and construction of almost everything that you see around you. From bridges to highways, buildings to parks, civil engineers are the ones building everything around us. Within civil engineering there are fields such as environmental engineering, architecture, structural engineering, mining engineering, utility and transport.
Electrical Engineering
This field of engineering is centered on the study and the application electronics, electromagnetism and electricity in general. Within this particular branch of engineering are disciplines such as computer engineering, both in the development of software and hardware, as well as power, optical and electronic engineering, working within telecommunications and digital electronics.
Mechanical Engineering
This particular engineering field is about the design, research and analysis of mechanical power and heat, which is used in the operation of mechanical systems and machinery. Once again there are many specific fields within this branch of engineering such as thermal, vehicle, power plant, energy and manufacturing engineering.
Aerospace Engineering
Engineers who work within aerospace deal with the design and development of aeronautic systems which are used by air traffic control, as well as focusing on the design, the construction and the maintenance of all aircraft from space vehicles to planes and helicopters. This is a branch of engineering which is at the cutting edge of technology and it requires a great deal of passion as well as high levels of intellect in both engineering and the theories and principles of aerospace.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering is about the application of biological, physical and chemical sciences to provide solutions. This is a broad field and within this you can opt to focus on bimolecular engineering which is used in genetics and immunology, materials engineering which focuses on the production of raw materials to be used in industry, process engineering which will focus on areas like petroleum, textiles and paper, as well as molecular engineering which lays heavy focus on the production of drugs and medicines for pharma companies.
As you can see there are a greta number of fields which you can specialize in and within those fields there are even more specific branches which you may decide is the perfect option for you. Consider what you enjoy and what you are good at before deciding.