What can I do with this degree?
ENGINEERING
ANY ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE
Production
Sales and marketing
Management
Consulting
Research and development
Teaching
Law
EMPLOYERS
Industry
Business
Federal, state, and local government
Colleges and universities
STRATEGIES
Obtain related experience through co-op or internships for business/industry-related career. MBA degree provides best opportunities in technical management. Obtain Ph.D. for optimal teaching and research careers. Develop strong verbal and written communication skills. Learn federal, state, and local government job application procedures.
AEROSPACE
Propulsion
Fluid mechanics
Thermodynamics
Structures
Celestial mechanics
Acoustics
Guidance and control
EMPLOYERS
Aircraft, guided missile, and space vehicle industries
Communications equipment manufacturers
Commercial airlines
Federal government departments: Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA)
Business and engineering firms
STRATEGIES
Discipline uses cutting edge technology to deal with challenges of aeronautics, space, mass transportation, environmental pollution, and medical science. Keep abreast of status of federal funding for defense and space programs. Seek co-op opportunities. Develop effective verbal and written communication skills. Learn to work well within a team.
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Natural resources: soil and water conservation
International consulting
Environmental control
Agricultural structures
Power and machinery
Electronic systems
Food engineering
Genetic engineering
Engineering technology
EMPLOYERS
Technological agricultural industries
Land grant universities: experimental farm stations, research laboratories
Consulting firms
Equipment design, testing, and manufacturing firms
Equipment and food industries including processing, packaging, and storing
Quality control for food, feed, fiber, etc.
Biotechnology research firms
Foreign service
STRATEGIES
A broad, basic engineering discipline with a close relationship to the environment, food production, and agricultural productivity. Participate in internship or co-op programs. Acquire strong computer skills. Learn a foreign language for work in foreign service. Develop strong math and problem solving skills.
BIOMEDICAL
Bioengineering: design, development, manufacturing
Medical engineering: instrumentation, materials, diagnostic/therapeutic devices,
artificial organs, medical equipment
Rehabilitation engineering
Bio-environmental engineering
EMPLOYERS
Manufacturers of medical and surgical devices
Hospitals and healthcare facilities
Federal government:
- Regulatory agencies
Veteran's Administration
National Institutes of Health
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)li>
Industry
Research facilities of educational and medical institutions
STRATEGIES
Discipline combines engineering and human anatomy to develop and maintain medical and healthcare systems and equipment. Develop strong teamwork skills. Many positions require a graduate or professional degree. Serves as a good background for medical school.
CHEMICAL
Administration
Design and construction:
- Project engineering
Control systems
Field engineering
Process engineering
Operations/production
Environmental and waste management: development, design
EMPLOYERS
Independent research institutes
Consulting organizations
Chemical industry including:
- Agricultural chemicals
Plastics
Industrial chemicals
Petroleum
Pharmaceutical
Cosmetic
Food processing
Atomic energy development
Environmental
Federal government including: Department of Energy, Environmental Protection
Agency
Manufacturing plants including:
- Automotive
Airplane
Paper
Microelectronics
Textiles
Metals
Rubber
Food
Beverage
STRATEGIES
Combines science of chemistry with discipline of engineering to solve problems and develop efficiency. Develop exceptional interpersonal skills. Acquire technical work experience during college years.
CIVIL
Structural
Urban and community planning
Construction
Environmental
Water resources
Transportation and pipeline
Geotechnical
Photogrammetry, surveying, and mapping
Materials
EMPLOYERS
Construction industry
Engineering or architectural firms
Utility companies
Oil companies
Telecommunications businesses
Manufacturing companies
Consulting firms
Railroads
State and federal government agencies
STRATEGIES
Broad discipline of "doers" providing service to the community through development and improvement. Works extensively with other professionals involved with the community. Provides opportunity to work outdoors. Learn to work well within a team. Develop strong communication and interpersonal skills. Develop physical stamina for outdoor work. Get experience in organizing and directing workers and materials. Ability to visualize objects in three dimensions is helpful. Demand has remained steady due to broad nature of discipline. States may require licensing or registration.
ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER
Power electronics
Power systems
Communications
Electronics
Control systems
Digital signal processing
Microelectronics
Image processing & robotics
Computer engineering
Plasma engineering
Computer vision
EMPLOYERS
Manufacturing firms and industry including:
- Aeronautical/aerospace
Automotive
Business machines
Professional and scientific equipment
Consumer products
Chemical and petrochemical
Computers
Construction
Defense
Electric utilities
Electronics
Environmental
Food and beverage
Glass, ceramics, and metals
Machine tools
Mining and metallurgy
Nuclear
Oceanography
Pulp and paper
Textiles
Transportation
Water and wastewater
Public utilities
Federal government including:
- Armed forces
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)ASA)
National Institutes of Healthalth
Bureau of Standardsards
Department of Defenseense
Various commissionsli>
Consulting firms
Free-lance consulting
STRATEGIES
A field in touch with a wide and growing range of applications such as high speed and wireless communication, exploration of outer space, and a revolution in medical diagnosis and treatment. Develop effective verbal and written communication skills. Gain experience in team work. Acquire capacity for details. Develop interpersonal skills. Obtain research experience.
INDUSTRIAL
Operations research
Applied behavioral science systems
Manufacturing management
Information engineering
Computer systems design and development
EMPLOYERS
Manufacturing industries
Accounting firms
Retail distribution organizations
Banks and financial institutions
Hospitals and healthcare organizations
Educational and public service agencies
Transportation industries
Construction industries
Public utilities
Electrical and electronics machinery industries
Consulting firms
STRATEGIES
Discipline links management and operations by improving productivity through a "big picture" approach; serves human needs and works with people. Take courses in psychology, sociology, and anthropology to learn more about people and how they behave. Earn an MBA for advancement in management or administration.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Metallurgy
Ceramics
Plastics/polymers
Composites
Research
Extractive
Process
Applications
Management
Sales
Service
Consulting
EMPLOYERS
Materials producing companies
Manufacturing companies including:
- Automobiles
Appliances
Electronics
Aerospace equipment
Machinery
Medicine
Service companies including airlines, railroads, and utilities
Consulting firms
Government agencies: Department of Defense, National Aeronautics Space Administration
(NASA)
Research institutes
Publishers
STRATEGIES
Studies properties of various types of materials and how they are made and behave under different conditions. Many positions require a graduate degree. Some areas benefited by additional study in business administration, medicine, management and/or law. Develop good communication skills. Gain laboratory and research experience as an undergraduate.
MECHANICAL
Mechanical power generation: internal combustion engines, jet engines,
steam
power plants, rockets, energy utilization and conservation
Thermal/fluids: thermodynamics, environmental control, refrigeration, instrumentation
and control
Machine sciences: mechanical design, manufacturing and production, robotics,
operation and maintenance
EMPLOYERS
Transportation: automotive industry, aerospace industry, military laboratories
Utilities: steam driven electric power stations
Equipment design: plants, nuclear power stations
Electronics industry
Petro-chemical: drilling and production, plant operations
Manufacturing: consumer products, chemical products, farm equipment, industrial
equipment, paper and wood products, textile equipment
Consulting engineering firms
STRATEGIES
Takes broad outlook on solving complex problems. Involves design, development, and production. Keeps pace with technology. Acts as an interface between society and technology. Obtain related experience through internships or co-op. Take additional courses in area(s) of interest. Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Design
Planning
Operations
Administration
Regulations
EMPLOYERS
Private industry and businesses involved with:
- Air pollution control
Industrial hygiene
Radiation protection
Hazardous waste management
Toxic materials control
Water supply
Storm water and wastewater management
Solid waste disposal
Public health
Land management
Private engineering consulting firmss
Construction firms
Research firms
Testing laboratories
International organizations
STRATEGIES
Discipline plays vital role in reducing toxicity and pollution of water, ground, and air for a better quality of life for all living things. Consider a master's degree for advancement. Foreign language ability beneficial for international work.
NUCLEAR
Environment and pollution
Health
Space exploration
Consumer and industrial power
Food supply
Transportation
Water supply
EMPLOYERS
Electric and gas utility companies
Guided missile and space vehicle companies
Engineering consulting firms
Business services including medical industry
Manufacturers of nuclear power equipment
Research facilities
Military services
Defense manufacturers
STRATEGIES
Discipline studies basic components of neutrons, protons, electrons, and all matter; deals with inanimate substances.
ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND MECHANICS
Engineering mechanics
Biomedical engineering
Computational mechanics
Engineering materials
EMPLOYERS
Industry
Manufacturing
Research organizations
STRATEGIES
Interdisciplinary program with broad training in engineering science, mathematics, and physical or biological science.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Bachelor's degree provides wide range of career opportunities in industry, business, and government.
- Graduate degrees offer more opportunities for career advancement.
- Bachelor's degree is good background for pursuing technical graduate degrees as well as professional degrees in Business Administration, Medicine, or Law.
- Related work experience obtained through co-op, internships, part-time or summer jobs, or regular employment is extremely beneficial.
- Develop computer expertise within field.
- Engineers need to think in scientific and mathematical terms, have ability to study data, sort out important facts, solve problems, and be logical thinkers. Creativity is useful. Other helpful traits include intellectual curiosity, technical aptitude, perseverance, ability to communicate and work well with others, a commitment to teamwork, and a basic understanding of the economic and environmental context in which engineering is practiced.
- Develop excellent verbal and written communications skills including presentation and technical report writing.
- All states and the District of Columbia require registration of engineers whose work may affect the life, health, or safety of the public.
- Professional or technical societies confer certification in some areas.
- Join related professional organizations.
- Most fields offer overseas opportunities with businesses or government agencies.
- Because of rapid changes in most engineering fields, both continued education and keeping abreast of new developments are very important.
- Most states require an EIT (Engineer-In-Training) test before taking a state examination to become a Professional Engineer (PE).
- Search the Internet for additional information about individual disciplines.
Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2005) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer
December 2006