To become an engineer, you need to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in the field, and a number of positions will also require you to be licensed. If you have a degree in math or a physical science, there's also a chance you'll qualify for an engineering position. If you want to make sure you can stand up to the competition (which can be stiff), however, you'll need to pursue additional education to keep up with technology in your field.
Engineering job opportunities are expected to continue to be appealing, since the number of graduates is likely to stay in balance with the number of opportunities. However, that's going to vary according to your particular specialty. Some areas of the engineering field will grow faster than others. What fields can engineering students specialize in? There's really no limit. Let's take a look. You might be surprised at all the different options available to people who want to work in engineering.
Agricultural engineers are those who combine biological science knowledge with a good grasp of technology to improve equipment, structures and machinery in the agricultural field, while biomedical engineers work to solve health and medical problems. Chemical engineers are responsible for designing the processes and equipment used in chemical manufacturing, for supervising chemical and other product production, and for planning and testing manufacturing plans.
Civil engineers can be thanked for designing, planning, and supervising the airports, roads, tunnels, bridges, sewage and water systems, and other major projects we all enjoy. Electrical engineers develop and test electrical equipment, and electronics engineers do the same for individual electronic systems. Environmental engineers work to control pollution, improve efficiency, and work with public health and waste disposal officials.
Engineers in the healthy and safety fields are responsible for working to cut down on injury and damage from use of products or at the workplace, while industrial engineers look at the best ways to use materials, machines, people and other resources in the industrial sector. Mechanical engineers are responsible for design and development of mechanical devices, like generators, engines, and turbines.
Of course, there are work hazards in engineering, from environmental issues to problems with long hours and repetitive stress. Engineers are usually well paid to compensate for this and the rigorous schooling they need to go through. Fortunately, there are lots of options open to people interested in entering the engineering field, so it's usually possible to find an area of engineering that will appeal. Backgrounds in almost all fields can help you in your pursuit of an engineering job.
