Work in this group usually requires education and/or training ranging from four years to more than ten years. Most workers entering this field have a bachelor's degree in engineering. College graduates trained in one of the natural sciences or mathematics qualify for a few beginning jobs. Experienced technicians with some engineering education may advance to engineering jobs.
Coursework for engineering includes English composition for technical writing skills, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, physics, drafting or design graphics, computer programming, and social sciences (for example, government and economics). Most engineers study calculus, differential equations or numerical analysis, statics, dynamics, heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid dynamics or fluid mechanics. Specialized engineering courses are taken in the last two years of college.
Several engineering schools have agreements with liberal arts colleges to allow students to spend three years in the college and two years in the engineering school. A bachelor's degree is then granted by each school. Some engineering schools offer a five or six-year cooperative work-study program in which the student’s alternate periods in school with employment in related jobs. These students earn part of their tuition costs and get on-the-job experience as they learn.
What Licenses And Certificates Are Usually Needed For Engineers?
Engineers whose work affects life, health, or property must be licensed by an appropriate governmental agency. A degree from an accredited engineering school, four years of related working experience, and acceptable performance on a state examination are common requirements for a license. All engineers may obtain professional engineering licenses from the state and may register with professional organizations.
Organizations and Agencies to Contact for Additional Information about Engineering Jobs:
- Aerospace Electrical Society
- American Association of Cost Engineers
- American Ceramic Society
- American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
- American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
- American Institute of Architects
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- American Nuclear Society
- American Society for Metals
- American Society for Quality Control
- American Society for Testing and Materials
- American Society of Agricultural Engineers
- American Society of Certified Engineering Technicians
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Society of Golf Course Architects
- American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- American Society of Landscape Architects
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- American Society of Safety Engineers
- American Society of Sanitary Engineering
- American Welding Society
- Health Physics Society
- Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
- Institute of Industrial Engineers
- International Society of Certified Electronics Technicians
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
- Numerical Control Society
- Refrigerating Engineers and Technicians Association
- Society for Computer Simulation
- Society for Experimental Stress Analysis
- Society of Automotive Engineers
- Society of Broadcast Engineers
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers
- Society of Mining Engineers of AIME
- Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
- Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME
