Academic Requirements for Structural Engineers

Employers require structural engineers to have a college degree in the discipline or comparable areas such as civil engineering. Most professionals have acquired a Master’s Degree or even a Ph.D. to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. Undergraduate students complete coursework in materials, algorithms, design and mechanics, among other concepts. Advanced academic training in the field facilitates a candidate’s ability to receive management positions in the industry as well as university teaching roles. At the Master’s Degree level, students complete classwork in advanced materials design principles, structural mechanics and seismology. For Ph.D. students, coursework includes classes in computer modeling, advanced renovation and restoration as well as risk analysis.

Organizations such as Structural Engineers Association, the Structural Engineering Institute, and the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) are a few of the organizations dedicated to fostering the development of professionals in the field. They organized congresses throughout the world to educate and bring together professionals in the industry to trade knowledge and share opportunities and best practices, thereby expanding the breadth and awareness around the industry. Moreover, they feature digital libraries of materials, including journal publications and links to online resources that enhance the toolbox of practitioners. Affiliated organizations like the

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Software Engineering Education

 

Education

Software Engineering degrees are available at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate (PhD) levels. As you move up in a Software Engineering career, increasing your education level will allow you to tackle ever more complex systems. At the pinnacle of Software Engineering are people that design the systems behind well-known technological marvels from the Space Shuttle to Google’s databases.

Prerequisites

Most colleges require similar courses as prerequisites for their Software Engineering programs. You’ll normally be expected to study mathematics up through Calculus, basic computer programming, and cross-discipline engineering basics. You’ll also take courses in computer algorithms and system documentation methods prior to moving on to the core Software Engineering program.

Undergrad

Once your undergraduate prerequisites are met, you start taking classes in Software Engineering. This is where you gain cutting-edge expertise in skills like requirements identification, system design, software integration and software testing methodologies. During this coursework, you’ll learn how modern software systems are designed and implemented.

There are an incredibly complex number of variables when engineering software components, and a Software Engineering degree provides the educational foundation you need to be productive in the field.

There are numerous avenues for studying Software Engineering. Virtually every major university offers this as an undergraduate major, and many larger colleges offer Master’s and PhD programs as well. You can also get a Software Engineering degree through many of the top online colleges.

Since a lot of the software work being done is on the Internet and mobile devices, studying Software Engineering online can be a flexible and effective method for pursuing your education.

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Software Engineering Degrees

Most people are familiar with older, more traditional engineering fields such as mechanical, civil, or electrical. Software Engineering is a relatively new discipline, but in today’s increasingly interconnected world, it is becoming more and more important.

Software Engineering differs from Computer Science or Web Design in that you are formulating how the overall software system functions, and how it works within its intended hardware environment.

Software Engineers are responsible for every phase of a development project, not just for writing the computer code. Upon the initiation of a project, they make sure requirements are documented and validated.

This assures the entire project is working toward the correct goal. They then move on to system design, often overseeing the creation of software prototypes to present to clients for additional validation.

Once the design is solid, Software Engineers manage the overall development effort to make sure the pieces are coming together as planned. Finally, they create and oversee test cases which assure system functionality is complete and traceable to the requirements generated at the time of project initiation.

Software Engineering is the discipline that makes sure computer systems are developed methodically and result in building the right product with quality built in from the beginning.

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Day in the Life of a Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers typically design equipment to extract oil and gas, and develop ways to force oil out of wells through injection of water, chemicals, gases, or steam.

They develop drilling plans, survey, evaluate, and test wells. They use computer-controlled drilling to connect separated deposits to a single well. They ensure proper installation, maintenance, and operation of oil field equipment.

Reservoir engineers optimize production with proper well placement and enhanced recovery techniques. Drilling engineers oversee the technical aspects of drilling exploration, production, and injection wells. Production and subsurface engineers direct connections between reservoirs and wells, overseeing downhole monitoring equipment and flow control, sand control, and perforations.

They select surface equipment to separate fluids (oil, natural gas, and water), and they evaluate artificial lift methods.

Emerging career choices involve pollution cleanup, hydrology, and underground waste disposal (the subsurface injection of carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases). Petroleum engineers are also educated in geothermal energy production, in situ uranium leaching, and coal gasification.

The known worldwide oil and gas reserves are larger than ever. Found in diverse areas, these resources provide opportunities for assignments in the Middle East, Asia, South America, Australia, and beyond.

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Main Focus of a Nuclear Engineering Degree

Nuclear engineering is the most integrated of the engineering disciplines. The many components of nuclear systems (medical imaging, nuclear fission reactors, ultrasensitive contraband detectors, and fusion reactors) must all be understood as well as how they relate to one another. Nuclear engineers must be experts in their primary field, as well as knowledgeable in other fields such as electronics, thermodynamics, physics, and materials science. The fundamentals of one science are often the same tools used in solving problems in the other disciplines.

An undergraduate degree in nuclear science and engineering develops the fundamentals of nuclear processes—their production, interactions, and radiation measurements. These studies bring the student all the way to the design phase of nuclear-based systems, stressing social, health, and energy and security impacts.

Studies also incorporate computer methods, thermal-fluid engineering, and electronics—critical tools for a nuclear engineering career.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering prepares students for careers in the application and engineering of low-energy nuclear physics. This includes design, analysis, and operation of radiation systems and their applications, such as fission reactors and accelerators, and biomedical uses. Students are also prepared for graduate study in a wide range of engineering and physical sciences.

A five-year program offers an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering simultaneously.

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Real Life Nanoengineers Making an Impact

Nanoengineers not only impact the way people live and think on Earth, but also may provide the key to further space exploration. As both the European Space Agency and NASA strive to execute manned missions to other planets like Mars as well as develop more advanced spacesuits and micro-shuttles, nanotechnology will serve an essential role in pushing these endeavors into reality. Nanoengineers will be called upon to reduce the weight and sheer volume of components needed to explore other worlds, thereby reducing the costs associated with such expeditions. This may well enable countries with smaller economies to venture into space. For example, nano engineers at NASA have created sensors rooted in nanotechnology for use on the International Space Station (ISS). The sensor is the size of a postage stamp, yet has the capacity to detect impurities in an astronaut’s air supply, and may well be utilized on potential roving explorations on Mars to gather samples from the red planet. Furthermore, technology companies like Apple have used nanotechnology and professionals to develop their tablet hardware products and musical devices like the iPad mini and iPod nano. The iPod nano, for instance, features a compact, design that clips onto a person’s lapel making it easy for customers to listen to music while being unencumbered by a weighty product. The sleek, minimalist design associated with Apple products illuminates how the field of study bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and providing useful and lucrative consumer products. As nanotechnology grows with the expertise of its practitioners, its impact will be seen throughout all spheres of human life.

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Molecular Engineering Degree

Molecular engineering entails the creation of molecules and the development of new products from them. Often these molecules do not exist naturally and may not be stable enough to employ beyond a narrow of parameter of uses. It is quite difficult to create these particles, as it requires the manual use of sensitive equipment such as a scanning tunneling microscope. The technology has the capacity to take entire libraries of books and condense their contents into a digital storage device the size of a single cube of sugar. This is an interesting field of engineering, with limitless potential. If you want to learn more about working towards a career in this area, search for schools in your area by using our list below. The work of molecular engineers is present in every industry, including robotics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, materials, fashion and entertainment. In addition, the agricultural industry and medical devices field is expected to be transformed by innovations in molecular engineering, thereby forging new markets and employment opportunities for trained professionals.

The field is particularly important for scientific materials research and pharmaceuticals, as it is employed as a sophisticated form of chemical engineering. A potential application of molecular engineering would include a minute device that navigates seamlessly through a human body eradicating cancerous cells thereby precluding them from spreading. Duties of professional in the field may well include using statistics and computer models to predict molecular manipulation outcomes; employ business acumen in marketing applications; demonstrate leadership capabilities in managing a team of engineers and researchers; as well as manage the entire life cycle of product development. 

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Geological Engineering Salary and Career Outlook

 

Salary and Career Outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS,) “employment of mining and geological engineers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2012 to 2022,” which according to their data puts it on par with most other occupations in terms of projected growth. With the average salary for mine and geological engineering professionals being reported at $86,870 annually (or $41.76 hourly) as of 2013, the range between the lowest and highest paid percentages of the industrial professionals was between approximately $49,000 and $140,000 depending upon industrial focus, employer, position and experience.

A recent 2013 BLS study found that in regards to median salary, differences in respect to specific location also existed. In the metropolitan area of Huston Texas, the annual mean average for geological and mining engineers, including health and safety professionals, was $147,880, with the same occupations earning between $118,450 and $121,350 in the Bakersfield and Oakland California markets, respectively. These salaries, when compared to the $84,140 mean of the St. Louis metropolitan market and the $69,970 measured in the Colorado Springs market, show that sometimes drastic disparities exist in respect to salary, dependent upon location and industrial focus.

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Mechatronic Engineering Career

Mechatronics engineering revolves around the design, construction and operation of intelligent products and systems, stemming from the integration of hardware and software applications. The Japanese engineer Tetsuro Mori developed the name for the field in 1969, while working as an executive engineer at the firm Yaskawa. The field is still evolving and sometimes is still referred to as Asset Management in the industry. Professionals in this arena develop approaches to industrial problems employing mechanical and electronic solutions and computer applications. They develop products through the integration of diverse technologies for streamlining processes and applications in endeavors like underwater exploration. These engineers create and evaluate factory production lines blending manufacturing and technologies to enhance efficiency. In addition, they preserve and augment manufacturing designs and processes in applications such as robot floor cleaners.

If you are looking for information about Mechatronics and want to speak with colleges and universities about earning your engineering degree, we can help. We work with schools across the nation to inform students of their options for education. Use our directory of schools to request more information today about their programs.

Mechatronic engineers traditionally work in a laboratory, processing plant or engineering office setting, especially among product developers, manufacturing firms, mining or forestry industries, aerospace and defense, government and industry research groups, as well as electrical power facilities. In addition, the skill set is highly desired by prominent global enterprises in the automotive, aerospace and consumer products sectors and in innovative technology firms that manufacture and supply software components and equipment. Often graduates will establish their own firms or capitalize on research opportunities in the fields of bioengineering or nanotechnology. The demand for mechatronic specialists will continue to grow as more institutions seek to integrate technological innovations in the computer, electronic and sensor areas to enhance product processes and services. Institutions across the globe that have capitalized on mechatronics technology include Bosch, Royal Dutch Shell, FOX Racing, and Keurig Green Mountain.

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Mechanical Engineering Professional Engineer License

 

Professional Engineer (PE) License

The PE license is a respected seal of competence and assurance of quality. This prestigious license shows that the engineer is at the top of the profession, both in competence and ethics. For consulting engineers and private practitioners, it is essential if not a legal requirement to be licensed. Only professional engineers can sign and seal engineering drawings or serve as qualified expert witnesses.

Moreover, professional engineers can earn higher incomes throughout their career, and the license expands the opportunities beyond the company organization, such as independent consulting.

• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university
• Four years of work experience that is acceptable to the state licensure board
• Five character references, three of which are from professional engineers
• Passing scores on the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the Principal and Practice of Engineering exam (PE exam).

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Materials Science and Engineering Degree

Few studies are as vital to the advancement of industry as Materials Science and Engineering. Focused on the study, discovery and creation of new physical materials for use in everything from medicine, automotive and aerospace engineering and consumer goods, to rocketry and space exploration, careers in Materials Science and Engineering maintain a heavy focus on attention to detail, critical thinking and problem solving skills. As an “interdisciplinary science,” Materials Science and Engineering combines a variety of specific skills and studies, varying upon the professional or scientific objectives of the student. With strong emphasis in areas such as mathematics, thermodynamics, chemistry, bio-chemistry and materials properties (mechanical, transitional, chemical,) Materials Science and Engineering is a study which focuses on the physical materials used in given applications, for the purposes of research, safety, quality control and in certain professional areas, forensic engineering and investigation.

If you are ready to learn more about this area of engineering, contact the schools in our directory to learn more about their degree programs. We work with these schools directly and do not charge for our services. We simply want to help students like you understand your options!

Classically referred to as “metallurgy” in many schools and training programs, Materials Science and Engineering is generally regarded as a relatively new field of study, combining older metallurgic arts and understanding with newer studies of things such as atomic structure, applied physics and the creation and study of newer synthetic materials. Professional opportunities in the field cover a broad spectrum of industrial and scientific sectors, ranging from basic scientific research and discovery to applicable industry specific occupations in fields such as bio-technology, defense and consumer product engineering.

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Jobs you can get with a Marine Engineering degree

Marine engineering graduates have a number of career options. They may choose to work as naval combat or propulsion engineers or marine equipment specialists. Becoming a marine systems, marine structural, or ship’s engineer is also a possibility. Others may find the job duties of a marine equipment specialist or hydrographic surveyor more to their liking.

Many companies hiring freshly graduated marine engineers provide hands-on training using new employees’ academic knowledge as a foundation. In general, undergraduate students are expected to take advantage of marine engineering-related work-study jobs and internships to improve their likelihood of being hired post-graduation.

Individuals with a masters or PhD in Marine Engineering usually aim for jobs in government or academia. Working for private design, engineering and architectural firms is also a popular choice. Potential jobs for those holding advanced Marine Engineering degrees include:

• Engineering Professor
• Submarine Engineer
• Shipyard Project Engineer
• Marine Operations Manager

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Industrial Engineering Career Outlook

Industrial engineering is actually a far-ranging profession that focuses on optimizing complex processes or systems by reducing wastefulness in production. It focuses on systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, and materials and may address mathematical, physical and social science concerns. It brings to bear the principles and techniques of engineering design on many facets of life and seeks to specify, predict, and evaluate the results derived from these systems or processes.

Industrial engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering taught in engineering schools, and generally requires that practitioners hold a professional engineering license in order to practice. If you want to learn more about this field, and how to pursue a career in this direction, contact the schools in our directory to receive detailed information you can use to make a decision.

The entry-level qualification needed to work as an industrial engineer is typically a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. It is not uncommon, however, for practicing industrial engineers to have degrees in related fields such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering technology, or general engineering. Many universities that offer degrees in the field offer advanced degrees: master’s and doctoral level program, as well. US News and World Report ranks industrial engineering programs in the United States. In 2012, the top ranked US program was at the Georgia Institute of Technology. As of 2012, it had held this ranking for twenty-two consecutive years. The program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and University of California, Berkeley, have been ranked second and third in the United States for many years.

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