There are various specialties of Engineering and career opportunities in their respective field. Following are various disciplines in engineering that qualify as the best area of specialization in engineering.
- Aeronautics and aeronautical engineering: The aeronautics and aeronautical engineering includes the subjects of aerospace engineering, thermodynamics, biomechanics and computational control systems.
The occupation that is related to spacecraft/aircraft is called aeronautics and person involved in this type of work is called aeronautical engineer. The engineers who are normally involved in designing, testing and supervising the manufacturing of aircraft, spacaecraft and missiles are called Aerospace engineers. They are specialized in structural design, navigation and control, instrumentation and communication and production. They are responsible to develop new aviation techniques that can be useful to defense, aviation industry, space exploration. They can also further specialize in particular type of aerospace product such as commercial aircraft, helicopters, spacecraft, military fighter jets, missiles and rockets.
- Architecture: If any person is interested in making buildings and structures can opt for architecture engineering. Architecture is the combination of physics, math, industrial design, planning of urban, civil and mechanical engineering.
Architectural engineers are trained to apply engineering principles to the planning, designing structures and construction of buildings. Besides learning these areas, they need to focus on several other area that includes structural integrity of buildings, design and analysis of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, efficiency and design of plumbing, fire protection and electrical systems, acoustic and lighting planning and energy conservation issues. The study of architectural engineering also includes the elements of other engineering majors like electrical, mechanical, fire protection and others. They need to work with other engineer who focuses on the functional layout and aesthetic of building projects.
- Agriculture: Agriculture Engineer is also one of the most demanded career opportunities. Agricultural engineering study is a combination of technological and Biological Science that target to enhance the agricultural conditions of the land with the help of equipments, machinery and structures. They develop ways to conserve soil and water and to improve the processing of agricultural products. It not only targets land cultivation techniques but also involves marketing, selling and servicing of agricultural equipments and machinery, designing and construction of farms and product planning.
As the occupation is related to applying the knowledge of engineering technology and science to agriculture and biological resources, they are known as biological and agricultural engineers. They are responsible to design agricultural equipments and machinery, sensors, processes and structures related to food storage. Agricultural engineers can also specialize in areas like power systems and machinery design, environmental and structural engineering and food and bioprocess engineering.
- Biotechnology: Biotechnology covers the subjects of zoology, immunology and pharmacology. Popularity of this discipline is increasing day by day especially in terms of medicines or processed foods that we consume.
- Biomedical: Bioengineering is the combination of medicine and technology. Bioengineering will help you to enhance the life of millions of people in the whole world. For being a bioengineer you should have the knowledge of statistics, medicine, computers, physics and chemistry.
Biomedical engineers study focuses to develop procedures and devices to solve health related medical problems with the combination of their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering principles and practices. They are often involved in research with medical scientists to innovate, develop and evaluate products and systems such as artificial organs, instrumentation, prostheses, medical information systems and healthcare management delivery systems. They are also involved in designing medical procedures, imaging systems (MRI), automating devices for insulin injections or controlling body functions. Some of the other specialty in biomedical engineering is biomechanics, biomaterials, medical imaging, orthopedic engineering and rehabilitation engineering.
- Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineers do the work of development in medicinal products, therapies and various chemical products which are used in homes and factories. Chemical engineering are basically applying principles of chemistry, mathematics, physics and mechanical and electrical engineering.
The study of chemical engineering includes applying the principles of chemistry to focus on the using chemicals and solving problems related to it. They are responsible to design processes and equipment for large-scale chemical manufacturing industries, planning and testing methods of manufacturing products and treating by products and supervision of the production. Chemical engineers should be fully aware of various aspects of chemical manufacturing and how the manufacturing process affects the environment and safety of workers and consumers. Chemical engineers are also involved variety of manufacturing industries producing energy, food, textile and clothing, paper and electronics. They are often found working in healthcare and pharmacy industry, biotechnology and business services.
- Civil Engineering: Civil engineering is the field that focuses on societal and environment hazards that are related to construction. A person who is involved in designing, structuring and supervising construction is known as civil engineer. It is the one of the oldest engineering disciplines. Civil engineers are responsible to design and supervise the construction work buildings, roads, tunnels, dams, bridges, airports including various features involved in construction business like water supply, sanitation and sewage system. They should also consider various factors like expected lifetime, estimated cost of the construction project. They are the entities which check that the project is under the accordance of government regulations and capable to sustain in hazardous situations like hurricane and earthquakes. Civil engineering includes various other specialty like construction, structural, transportation, water resources and geotechnical engineering. Civil engineers may hold supervisory or administrative position at the construction site or work in design, construction, teaching and research.
- Computer Engineering: Computer engineering is the combination of both electrical engineering and computer science. Computer engineers are concerned with different aspects related with computers. It is one of the most demanding courses in the field of engineering.
A person who is involved in design, develop, test, research and oversee the manufacturing and installation of computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems and other computer hardware such as keyboards, mouse, routers, printers are known as computer hardware engineer. On other hand, a person who is involved in design, develop, test computer software systems that operate and control computers are known as computer software engineers.
The computer hardware engineers work is related to that of designing and testing circuits and other electronic equipment that are used to assemble and prepare the computer systems and their supportive equipments. On the other hand computer software engineer’s work is related to developing software programs that helps computer system to work to give the desired output. The rapid technological advancements in computer technology are the result of design, development and research of both computer hardware and software engineers. Both these engineers have equal scope of career in their respective fields.
- Environmental Engineering: Environmental engineering is all about studying the principles of biology, chemistry, hydrology and environmental systems to identify environmental problems and work towards its solution. They work in the environmental areas like air and water pollution control and its recycling, waste disposal and public health issues.
In-depth, environmental engineers are the study related to hazardous waste management making them capable to evaluate the importance of hazard, develop regulations to prevent hazards and advice of its treatment and containment. They are responsible to design water supply, industrial water wastage treatment systems, research environmental impact of proposed construction projects, perform quality control checks and analyze scientific data. They are not only responsible to look after local environment issues but are also concerned about the worldwide environmental issues. Some of the interesting specialty of this field is effects of global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, automobile emissions and protecting wildlife.
- Electrical engineering: Initially, electrical engineering just targeted the subjects like electronics and electromagnetism. But now it also covers subjects like telecommunications, control systems, and signal processing etc.
A person who is involved in power generation, control and transmission in manufacturing various electrical devices are known as electrical engineers. Basically they are the engineers who design, develop and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipments like lighting, electric motors, machinery controls, wiring in buildings, setting communication systems, radar and navigation systems. They are also involved in designing the electrical systems of aircrafts and automobiles.
It is seen that electrical and electronics engineering are often used interchangeably in this field. Traditionally electrical engineers work is focused on generation and supply of power, while electronics engineers work is focused on applications of electricity to control systems or signal processing.
- Industrial Engineering: The basic factors and principles that determine the effective way of manufacturing comes under industrial engineering. Manufacturing engineers play an immense role in making a product and providing service that may be related to people, materials, machinery, information or energy.
Industrial engineers are responsible to increase productivity through technology, management of people and methods of business organization. Industrial engineering study includes product requirements, design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements based on mathematical methods and models to deliver the product in most efficient way. They are involved in designing production planning, control systems to coordinate activities and ensure quality product and developing management control systems to aid financial planning and cost analysis.
- Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical Engineering is the study based on using key concepts in mechanics, energy, thermodynamics and kinematics. If you are interested in building engines and are dealing in power plants, heating and cooling systems, aircrafts and industrial equipments, then mechanical engineering will be suitable for you.
Mechanical engineer research, design, develops, manufacture, and test tools, engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is the widest discipline in engineering. Mechanical engineers work on power-producing machines such as electric generators, steam and gas turbines and internal combustion engines. They also work on power-using machines such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material-handling systems, elevators and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing. Some mechanical engineers design tools that other engineers need for their work. In addition, mechanical engineers work in manufacturing or agriculture production, maintenance, or technical sales; many become administrators or managers
- Metallurgical Engineering: Metallurgical Engineering covers the areas of inter-metallic compounds and their alloys. Metallurgy is related with the production of metallic compounds used in making consumer and engineering products.
Metallurgical Engineering find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities. They design open-pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants. Mining engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines. They are engaged working with metallurgical engineers and geologists to trace and evaluate new mining deposits. Some of them are also engaged in developing new mining equipment and some are engaged in direct mineral-processing operations that separate minerals from the dirt, rock, and other materials with which they are mixed. Mining engineers frequently specialize in the mining of one mineral or metal, such as coal or gold. With increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mining engineers are working to solve problems related to land reclamation and to water and air pollution. Mining safety engineers use their knowledge of mine design and practices to ensure the safety of workers and to comply with State and Federal safety regulations. They inspect the surfaces of walls and roofs, monitor air quality, and examine mining equipment for compliance with safety practices
- Materials Science and Engineering: Material Science and Engineering deal with different materials such as ceramics, electronic materials, metals, and biomaterials. The study is about the reaction of different materials under different conditions like pressure, temperature etc.
Materials engineers are involved in the development, processing, and testing of the materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, plastics, ceramics, semiconductors and composites to develop new materials that meet definite electrical, mechanical and chemical requirements. They also are involved in selecting materials for new applications. Materials engineers have developed the ability to create and then study materials at an atomic level, using advanced processes to replicate the characteristics of those materials and their components with computers. Most materials engineers specialize in a particular material.
- Marine/Naval Engineers: Marine Engineers are employed as officers in the merchant navy. Apart from this; they are also employed in Port and Harbor authorities, dockyard for repairing the ships, etc.
Marine engineers and naval architects are involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, boats, and related equipment. They design and control the construction of all naval means of transports right from sailboats to tankers and from aircraft carriers to submarines. They work on the basic designing of the ships that includes the form and stability of hulls. Marine engineers work on the propulsion, steering, and other systems of ships. Marine engineers and naval architects apply knowledge from a range of fields to the entire process by which water vehicles are designed and produced. Other workers who operate or supervise the operation of marine machinery on ships and other vessels sometimes may be called marine engineers or, more frequently, ship engineers, but they do different work and are covered under water transportation occupations elsewhere in the Handbook
- Nuclear Engineering: Nuclear engineering deals with the subjects of nuclear physics along with nuclear safety, nuclear fusion, nuclear fuels technology and effects of radioactivity in the environment.
Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. They design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear plants to generate power. They may work on the nuclear fuel cycle—the production, handling, and use of nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of waste produced by the generation of nuclear energy—or on the development of fusion energy. Some specialize in the development of nuclear power sources for naval vessels or spacecraft; others find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used to diagnose and treat medical problems
- Optical Sciences: Optical science is comparatively new field in engineering. It covers the study of transmission, utilization and detection of light. An optical engineer get large amount of opportunities in industries like manufacturing, communications technology, life sciences and defense.
- Petroleum Engineering: petroleum engineers do the work of extracting oil through unfeasible places and conditions. It covers group of topics like economics, geology, geochemistry, aeromechanics, geophysics, oil drilling, and production of oil and gas production.
Petroleum engineers design methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the earth. Once these resources have been discovered, petroleum engineers work with geologists and other specialists to understand the geologic formation and properties of the rock containing the reservoir, to determine the drilling methods to be used, and to monitor drilling and production operations. They design equipment and processes to achieve the maximum profitable recovery of oil and gas. Because only a small proportion of oil and gas in a reservoir flows out under natural forces, petroleum engineers develop and use various enhanced recovery methods. The recovery methods includes doing computerized drilling; fracturing to connect large area of oil pool to a single well; injecting water, gases, steam or chemical into oil pool to force out oil. Because even the best techniques in use today recover only a portion of the oil and gas in a reservoir, petroleum engineers research and develop technology and methods for increasing the recovery of these resources and lowering the cost of drilling and production operations
- Telecommunication Engineering: Telecommunication Engineering is the fastest growing profession area in the field of engineering. Telecommunication engineers covers the subjects of network security, internet, computer network security, and computer network systems
