India is clearly a developing nation and generates 15,000 engineering graduates annually. However, knowing something and understanding it are two entirely different things. Today, we'll be talking about this enormous degree called engineering.
It is surely a begrudging word to hear, because it’s always repeated so many times in so many places, but what even is engineering?
What is Engineering?
To tackle difficulties, engineers employ science and math. While scientists and innovators create advancements, engineers are the ones who translate these discoveries into practical applications.
Though engineering as a field has been performed for thousands of years, it is a component of STEM education, which strives to engage students with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Engineers work on a wide range of goods, structures, and systems, including their design, evaluation, development, testing, modification, inspection, and maintenance.
Offering consulting services, imparting engineering knowledge to students and trainees, recommending materials and procedures, supervising manufacturing and construction procedures, conducting failure analysis and investigation, and more are all included in this.
How to decide if Engineering is the right career path for you?
While engineering can prove to be a lucrative career, it is only so when the person studying this has a true passion for the subject, not just the outcome. Engineering takes time, creativity and dedication. How can you tell whether this is your field? Ask yourself these questions-
Do I live solving problems and developing new and sustainable approaches?
Can I commit to the hard coursework and adapting to changes in the field?
Am I truly passionate about the problem I’m developing a solution for?
Can I handle more failures and challenges than successes?
Do I have any interest in how things work around me, and how I can make them better?
Will I make an effort to get hands-on experience?
Deciding on a career takes time, and rightly so. While engineering on its own is a hard course, it has proven itself as a subject which can’t survive just with theory, but needs practical exposure and hands-on learning to fully capture the essence of the subject. A commitment to engineering is also a commitment to research and development.
The most crucial part of becoming an engineer is loving the process of problem-solving. Understanding the scope of the issue, gaining knowledge about its working and what it affects and devising a solution while trying to be sustainable and maintain the best quality is the job of an engineer.
If this sounds like something that you can commit yourself to, then a career in engineering is the right choice for you. If not, there is absolutely no need to worry, here are some of the other careers you can pursue.
Career options in Engineering
So now you’ve decided that engineering is the right path for you. First off, Congratulations! Thai is a rigorous path, but also a rewarding one, and we wish you all the best! Secondly, it’s time for more choices. While engineering is the ice cream shop, your engineering stream is the ice-cream flavor you chose. Making sure it’s up to your taste and something you can complete is the utmost priority, and while all the streams may seem overwhelming, we’re here to extinguish that confusion and lay out everything in the most comprehensible way. Without further ado, onwards!
Computer Science Engineering
CSE or computer science engineering is undoubtedly the most sought after career in engineering, with an incredibly diverse market or opportunities. A CSE student learns all about algorithms, programming languages, design, computer software and hardware, computational skills, programming and more. Using this knowledge, they assess problems in various fields like data science, research analysis, upgrading databases and making them more user-friendly and accessible, among many other things. After completing a Bachelor's degree in CSE, it is a good idea to start thinking about pursuing a Master’s degree in a specialized field to address more niche problems.
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering or EEE is another popular stream of engineering. An electrical engineer designs, develops, and tests electrical devices and equipment,like communications systems, power generators, and electrical systems for automobiles and aircrafts along with overseeing their manufacture. Like CSE, this stream also has more opportunities with higher levels of education like a master’s which can help one specialize in very specific areas of electronics like Radio Communication, Signal Processing, and more.
Electronic and Communication Engineering
ECE or Electronics and Communication Engineering is a different branch from EEE in the respect that it deals with electronic devices, circuits, communication equipment like transmitter, receiver, etc. It also deals with transmission & reception of data , microprocessors, satellite communication, and microwave engineering. Being such an important field with applications in all industries, it has multiple specializations in both Bachelor’s and Master’s level, like medical electronics, embedded systems, linear circuits, etc.
Civil Engineering
Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline, with some examples being- public structures like roads, bridges, dams, airports, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways. This branch of engineering deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment to make the quality of human life better. The degrees that can help one specialize after their Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering are spread across many fields like- Hydrology and water resources, remote sensing, Soil Mechanics, etc.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineers are the ones that have the most hands-on experience. They ideate, build, develop, and test.They analyze their work using the principles of motion, energy, and force ensuring safety and reliability. To be concise, all devices are developed using the principles of mechanical engineering. Some of the Masters courses offered include Mechatronics, Nanoengineering, Robotics and more.
Chemical Engineering
A chemical engineer develops and designs manufacturing processes by using the principles of chemistry. They use chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve chemicals, fuel, and food. The applications for this field are very versatile as chemical processes are present everywhere. Some of the specializations offered in this field are- Oil Extraction, Alternative Energy, Nuclear Energy, Food Processing and more.
Aeronautical Engineering
Aeronautical engineers work with the designing of aircrafts. They research how construction materials and aircraft behave aerodynamically. They work with theory, technology, and flight in the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of the specializations that can be further pursued in this field are- Ground Propulsion Systems, Aerodynamics, Structural Analysis, etc.
Automobile Engineering
Automobile engineers design, manufacture and operate automobiles. This is a combination of techniques and elements of mechanical, electrical, software and safety engineering and apply them to design and manufacture buses, bikes, trucks and other automotive machines
Some of the master’s specializations offered in this field are Automotive Mechatronics and Intelligent Vehicles, Transportation and Automobile Design, Advanced Automotive Electronic Engineering.
Biotechnology Engineering
The branch of Biotechnology or Biotech Engineering integrates subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and mathematics to develop products and technologies for ameliorating human life. Being a relatively new field, it has a lot of scope to improve and expand its influence. Some master’s specializations offered by this course are- Toxicology, Applied Biology, Animal Biotechnology.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering or medical electronics is the application of engineering and design concepts to medicine and biology to improve healthcare. Biomedical engineering companies leverage technology to create pharmaceutical drugs, surgical robots, micro-implants, and other cutting-edge products designed to improve medical technologies. Some of the Master’s degrees that are offered to further specialize in this field are- Neurotechnology, Biosignal Processing, Medical Physics and Computing, and Nanotechnology.
Now that you have seen all the different careers in engineering, their components and how they work, it’s time to introspect and pick the stream that suits you the most. All the best, future engineers!
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