I enjoy making things in software, and figuring out how to make them work. More specifically and practically, students study the application of these concepts on machines. Because of this, the Computer Engineering major is difficult in many of the same ways the EE major is at the start. Is Engineering Hard? I learned so much more than just engineering concepts. As such, ME majors often work in fields that are technically “meant” for other engineers, but they qualify for because of the nature of their training. The Aerospace Engineering major is essentially a specialized Mechanical Engineering degree. Be forewarned, though a thrilling major, mechanical engineering carries a rigorous and heavy workload. Only being a firm disciplined engineer will do that and that means being a mechanical, electrical, or chemical engineer. Find … Therefore, it tends to be more concrete and less abstract than electrical or computer engineering. This is not to say that BME students do not have success finding jobs in more traditional engineering industries, just that the competition may be stiffer. It’s also incredibly fulfilling to build something that’s never existed before. There is a lot of abstract thinking involved. Regardless of how easy it is to obtain any engineering degree, it … I'd say aerospace is more competitive, but only because it's a more specialized discipline than mechanical (by far). Students study a wide range of subjects, and the BME major intersects with most traditional engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, chemical, and computer engineering. Engineering jobs are all competitive, no matter what field you go in. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us a question! It's said that it's difficult to land a job as an aerospace engineer and that's what frightens me. And an engineer took the initiative to create that product to solve a problem and make our day-to-day possible. Mechanical engineering is the most popular major, and the program graduates nearly 600 students a year. Thanks to the mandatory internships, I ultimately settled into the micro-electronics industry. Why Engineering Majors Change Their Minds. In some programs, the aerospace engineering major places heavier emphasis on learning fluid dynamics because aviation is so influenced by it. Of course, if you choose to learn more about EE or CE within mechanical engineering, you will have to grapple with more abstract concepts too. Engineering taught me so much about the physical world I live in and how things work. Therefore, in order to build anything, students must have a strong grasp of the fundamental concepts – how circuits and signals work – and the ability to think openly and abstractly about projects. As mentioned before, BME is a very broad, interdisciplinary field of study. This should give you additional insight on engineering majors. If you were a mechanical engineering major, there would be no such resource for you. I got to work with flight hardware and see a few launches. In nonlinear math, exact answers are difficult to come by. Mechanical engineers are responsible for developing, constructing, and improving machines: manufacturing equipment, engines, hydraulic systems, machine tools, steam turbines, air-conditional equipment, and many others. Mechanical engineering offers students various paths to follow where the skill sets of a mechanical engineer come in use, like vehicle design, robotics, nanotechnology or energy. "Engineering" sounds like a difficult discipline. Chemical Engineering is a difficult major to begin with, however, there are a few courses that make the engineering major even worse. Understanding theory (even understanding it. And even though the classes are rigorous a dedicated student can make it through. Dan Reich Former Contributor. My strengths lie in physics and mathematics so that makes the subject easy to me but hard to her, and the same is true for the reverse. I'm quite interested in both and am having a hard time choosing, can you please help? Biology tends to require a lot of memorization, so that may also be challenging for students. But some engineering majors are more difficult than others. It is the initial courses that all engineers take, including IE's, that knocks some kids out . Because of its versatility, the mechanical engineering major is a great choice for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies in engineering but are unsure of which one. Engineering is difficult mainly because of the math involved, and the amount of workload. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT often tops the list of the best engineering schools in the United States if not the world. Major medical device companies want someone to be a contributor right out of the box. The six featured here are all difficult for different reasons. Electrical engineers are often the ones at the forefront of new technologies. As a NASA space buff, this was one of the best jobs I could land. They use this skill set to work on and improve every set of electrical equipment there is. This makes it tricky for BME students in the job market if their goal was to do actual engineering. Is business administration a good major? Set a foundation for a successful career and pursue the best professional opportunities. Having said that, it IS certainly possible to get a 3.6+ in engineering. Making sure you will get a good job has less to do with your particular major and is more about working hard, doing internships or working in research labs, and applying your knowledge. More than one out of every three college freshman intend to major in science, math, technology or engineering, but the wash out rate is high. Beyond mastering theory and fundamentals, EE requires students to troubleshoot and analyze in real time. Depending on the school or how specialized the program is, the aerospace engineering major may be more competitive to stay in, because they require students to maintain a certain GPA that is higher than that required of mechanical engineering students. As Computer Engineering came out of Electrical Engineering, they share a common foundational curriculum that diverges from one another later on. I was also very confident to enter the workforce because of the positive environment in the engineering department. Their goal is to solve problems in order to achieve better, more efficient, and more economically feasible outcomes, products, or means of production/processing of chemical compounds. Double Major vs. Dual Degree: Which One Is Better? It solely depends on your passion. Industrial Engineering is generally the easiest major in most engineering schools, Electrical and Computer Engineering are generally harder than Mechanical Engineering classes. These are the reasons chemical engineering is difficult as a major: This is hard for students because, while some may be particularly gifted at math, or physics, or chemistry, it is rare for someone to have a knack for all three. I liked that because it let me explore my other interests, including a variety of sciences and history. There are definitely easier majors than any of the engineering majors, including IE. No matter what your strengths are, it will take time and effort to study chemical engineering, which brings us to the next point. Here are some key things to keep in mind: We asked engineering experts, scholars, and professionals about their time studying engineering. The CE major has more coursework in programming, computer architecture, and networking than EE the major. Tony Glockler, mechanical engineer from UCLA and CEO of SolidProfessor: I loved studying engineering because I’ve always had an engineering mindset, even from a young age. They may work on developing and manufacturing systems and devices in the medical, telecommunications, fuel, and automotive industries among others, as well as develop computer equipment (processors, memory devices, routers, circuit boards, etc.) For example mechanical engineering is easier than Aerospace engineering. Important measures of a quality ME program can vary widely even among the top schools. Its areas of focus span mathematics, physics, chemistry, and even economics. In addition to this, CS majors have a tremendous amount of resources offered that some engineering majors do not. Program Overview. At the fundamental level, the mechanical engineering major is concerned with the basic laws concerning physical nature (for example, the principles of force, motion, and energy). Computer Engineering is often inaccurately described as “Electrical Engineering with a dash of Computer Science.”. Unlike the other majors, like civil engineering, where students can physically feel or concretely see what they are designing, changing, and building, electrical engineers have to imagine what they are constructing or learning in their minds. You need to spend time tinkering with products on your own and getting involved because there’s just no replacement for experience. Electrical engineers cannot see currents move through circuits. Individuals searching for Mechanical Engineering Majors: Information and Requirements found the following related articles, links, and information useful. Copyright @ 2003- 2020 National Academy of Sciences on behalf of the National Academy of Engineering. 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