Which engineering major do I choose?

[Jeff No.1617970]

Hey /sci/, Jeff here,

I could use some help deciding between engineering, mechanical, and computer engineering...

Anyone know which is best?

[Anonymous No.1617978]

None is best. Pick the one you want to do.

[Anonymous No.1618001]

Engineering as in general engineering?
Faggot, go with EE, AE, CE; god tier engineering majors

[Jeff No.1618026]

oh, i meant to say electrical there

[Anonymous No.1618281]

Mechanical Engineer myself, I chose it because it was the broadest of all Engineering fields. So my experience with other fields is based around my mech degree. Note: Difficulty is a subjective opinion. Also, these statements are based on how my University treats these engineering fields, these aren't universal.

Mechanical Engineering - Broadest field (usually schools offer a specialized sub-degree, such as Aerospace, Robotics, Control Systems, Thermal, Materials Science, etc...[I chose Control Systems]) A Mech isn't going to be as good at circuit design as an Elec, but he'll be able to do it as well possess a number of other skills Elec's aren't privy to. Such as thermal system design, dynamics analysis, aerospace design, etc... Mechs are prone to serving as mediators between the different engineering teams on a project, as they can best understand each team's decisions. Difficulty depends on your specialization (if any).

Electrical Engineer - Like a Control System Mech, but with an emphasis on electrical systems (and possibly robotics) and circuitry design. In building a robot, expect Electrical Engineers to bridge the gap between Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering (physical), or in the absence of Computer Scientists, they'll be responsible for all software implementation. Often considered the most difficult and specialized major.

Civil Engineering - Like a Materials Science Mech, with an emphasis on buildings and macroconstruction. Expect to get into arguments with Architects who want to build unrealistic or unsafe buildings. Resist the urge to accept bribes to call a building safe when it's not, if it fails, your career is over. Often considered the 'easiest' of the engineering majors, despite arguably shouldering the most professional responsibility.

[Anonymous No.1618291]

Engineering, eh?

Anal Spelunkers are in high demand.

[Anonymous No.1618312]

hey. my name is jeff too, and im a ME, so there's your answer.

[Anonymous No.1618316]

Want money?

>Chemical Engineering.

Want more money?

>Petroleum Engineering.

[None !TPWlrPZQIg No.1618322]

Aether Aether Aether "Who is your god now?!

[Anonymous No.1618323]

Aether Aether Aether "Who is your god now?!

[Anonymous No.1618329]

>>1617970

>Mechanical Engineer
If you enjoy "giving" the cock to other men

>Computer Engineering
If you enjoy swallowing semen

>Electrical Engineering
If you enjoy taking the cock

[Anonymous No.1618360]

Don't be a pussy. Do Engineering Physics.

[Anonymous No.1618371]

>>1618360
The University of Kansas has a program which is a combination of all three of those plus some physics courses. It will turn you into a nerd super star.

This class requires
Intelligence: 80+
Charisma: 30+
Endurance: 50+
Dexterity: 80+
Strength: 10+
Willpower: 90+

[Anonymous No.1618381]

BioEngineering
This field can mean many things, so me describing to you what this field entails is worthless. The best thing you can do is look up how your specific university treats BioEngineering. Generally used to make practical aspects of Biology. Generally a major of Pre-Meds. Expect to be made fun of as a pre-med, even if you're not. Expect to make relatively low grades in your classes, because they'll be swamped by anal-retentive perfectionist pre-meds. Can be difficult, for reasons mentioned earlier.

Computer Science
I'll say this once, but you need to repeat it to yourself ten times: I WILL NOT CONFUSE THE TERM "Computer Scientists" WITH "Code Monkey". Just because you know a programming language or four does not mean you're a computer scientists. A Computer Scientists is a Practical Mathematician (Repeat this ten times, too). You solve ABSTRACT MATHEMATICAL problems using technology and figure out how to make your solutions useful. CompSci's will NEVER be used in a robotics project unless the robot is expected to do something very complicated. If needed, a CompSci is expected to build a complete operating system and dedicated programming language from scratch based on the shitty hardware provided them by the Elec team. CompSci is often considered not a 'real' engineering school as it's methods and practices are more abstract than most 'real' engineering. With this in mind, expect to bridge the gap between pure mathematics and engineering. Difficulty (like Mathematics) depends on your university, and how much you apply yourself.

[Anonymous No.1618382]

All real men are in nuclear.
Unless you're a Bush, then you're a superman and you're in nucular.

[Anonymous No.1618503]

>>1618382
Nuclear Engineering is actually quite boring. Most of it is procedural and memorization (even by engineering standards!). The responsibilities are high and the pay is great, but don't expect to have alot of fun at work. Most nuclear engineering jobs are safety jobs, Uncle Sam turns to Physicists when he wants a new style of bomb or reactor.

Chemical Engineering
Like BioEngineering, it's a broad field that seeks to add practicality to a pure science. Examine your school's Chemical Engineering Dept. carefully.

Petroleum Engineer
Like nuclear engineer, expect most of your work to be boring safety checks and stuff. Also like a nuclear engineer, expect to make bank.

*note for females in engineering only*
If you are attractive you MUST be a bio or chemical engineer, the more attractive you are, the more likely you are to be a pre-med (you won't be attractive for very long though, take pictures.) If you are fat, ugly, or psychotic you MUST be a computer scientists. If you are 'homely' or 'plain' and professional you may be a Civil Engineer. If you dress like a butch dyke and focus on your profession at all costs you may be a Mech (also I want your contact info).

*Most Profitable Engineer*
For most of you this is what's most important. It's also the most. boring. job. EVER.
But here it is...

Pre-Law Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Patent Law.
Your broad understanding of engineering concepts means you can understand every case presented to you. Your professional expertise is also heavily sought after by law-firms across the globe. Expect to spend the rest of your life at your desk reading 200+ page tiny-print contracts and actually digesting the material. Also expect to be able to personally pay off the National Debt if you wanted to.

[Anonymous No.1618538]

>>1618503

I liked your explanations, could you also give an opinion about Aeronautical engineering please?

[Anonymous No.1618645]

>>1618538
Certainly. At my school, Aerospace (or Aeronautical) Engineering is treated as a specialization for Mechanical Engineers. The focus is on the design and construction of ANY object intended to fly at any time in it's duration. The reason it's not given it's own branch of engineering (at my school anyway) is because much of it's subject matter is necessary for good Mechanical Engineering anyway. A strong background in Materials Science, Fluid Dynamics (semantic note: any non-solid is treated as a 'fluid'), Heat Transfer, Vibrations, and Control Systems are necessary for mechanical engineering. Add a few courses in Aerodynamics, as well as some specialist courses in Finite Element Analysis and Advanced Fluids and you've got yourself an Aerospace Engineer. Aerospace can be difficult depending on how good you want to be. From what I hear from my friends, I personally would consider it easier than Elec, but that's just me.

I want to stress that all this time I've been neglecting 'the basics' of engineering. For essentially every engineering degree (except maybe Computer Science) Expect to take courses in physics, chemistry, biology and Mathematics (Calculus, (Partial) Differential Equations, Finite Element Analysis, Linear Algebra, Matrix Analysis, Vector Calculus, etc...)

Don't be intimidated by the math though, we're not physicist after all. Everything we need is in a book, the point of engineering courses is to tell you which book to refer when presented with a problem. You're not expected to know it all at once. MATLAB and SolidWorks are God's gift to engineers (mechanical engineers, anyway).

[Anonymous No.1618650]

Is genetic engineering also fagtier?

[Anonymous No.1618664]

>>1618645

Thanks, in return,

<--joke :D

[Anonymous No.1618668]

>>1618381

[Anonymous No.1618697]

>>1618645

thanks for postan, this is all highly relevant to my interests. Any geotechnical engineers at your school?

[Anonymous No.1618719]

EE here

>I could use some help deciding between engineering, mechanical, and computer engineering...

you would use "among" instead of "between" in the case because you are giving more than 3 choices. hope that helps, always happy to help out a fellow engineer :)

[Anonymous No.1618731]

genetic engineering

[Anonymous No.1618741]

EE here too.

If you want to be an EE, get good at programming too. Most "Senior Projects" will more likely have you programming for some thing.

Also, I picked EE because I hate macro dynamics so much. Electrons are all I need!

[Anonymous No.1618767]

>>1618381
BMEfag here, just saying that, as far as I can tell, what you posted for BE is pretty much the same for BME, despite them actually being different enough degrees.

[Anonymous No.1619233]

>>1618650
>>1618731
I don't personally know any 'Genetic Engineers', they usually play in the bioE and chemE buildings because I think my school treats Genetics as a specialization of Bio or BioE, though in truth I'm not sure exactly. But I do know this: Don't expect to get into 'Genetic Engineering' and play Marvel mad scientist. Our understanding of cellular rules (and the regulations we're under) means we're veeeery restricted in what we're actually capable of. Genetic Engineering is also a -very- slow and expensive process, expect to spend your entire life under the employ of a rich corporation trying to find the most profitable change to an existing organism. You'll likely spend your entire life on one modification. Also because the U.S. allows life itself to be patented, expect the company you work for to be evil. (read: Monsanto Corporation) Bottom line, 'Genetic Engineering' takes so much time and money, and requires so much expertise to pull off, expect to spend your entire life on MAYBE one achievement. Although, that one achievement could be something like making bacteria mass-produce medicines.

[Anonymous No.1619271]

[Anonymous No.1619424]

>>1619271
Interesting Theory, now would you care to enlighten us as to your value and criteria upon which these judgments are based? Or are we to assume you're a console fanboy from /v/ who wandered in on the wrong board and is trying your best to 'fit in' the only way you know how?

Your value is obviously not 'Money' as Electrical Engineering is at the top. It's not 'Difficulty' as you have Nuclear above Aerospace. It's not 'Easiness' because you have Elec up top. It's not 'Independent Potential' because you didn't put Mech first and Genetic last. It's not 'Usefulness' because you have Mech and Civil on the bottom while Elec and Chem are up top, it's not 'Uselessness' because then no field would qualify for a spot.

May I remind you, sir, the very concept of "tiering" engineering is antithetical to the concept. Engineering is not about 'winning' or proving that one field is the proverbial equivalent to your 'Meta-Knight'. Engineering is about pragmatic combination of disciplines to a whole greater than it's parts.

I contend, sir, you are in truth a High-Schooler or drop out with no idea what you're talking about. ANY engineering major can be an 'Industrial Systems Engineer' in their field, 'Materials Science' shares a very close personal relationship with Mechanical Engineering, to the point where they're often combined programs. As I mentioned earlier, Aerospace and Mech are practically identical. And you put BioMed as a useless degree? Wow, Ignorant much?

I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but this thread is kind of directed at high-schoolers and I don't want them to think of you as a source worth paying attention to.

[Anonymous No.1619426]

Nuclear Engineer here,
I disagree with >>1618503

Ya, if you have a bachelors, the work is going to be a bit mundane, but with more advanced degrees you reach into some surprising areas. Physicists aren't designing shit, believe me. Private corporations that make things like reactors and nuclear imaging technology (GE, Polywell, General Atomics) and to a lesser extent, national laboratories, are way more likely to hire a nuke engineer before hiring physicists to design something. And if you have a PhD, there are tons of opportunities working on monopolized foreign power industries and even commissions of foreign governments concerning power. At least three of the professors I've had have worked for foreign governments (2 for France and 1 for Jordan). If you're willing to go the extra mile for an advanced degree (and if you don't, you're a dipshit) the opportunities are endless.

[Anonymous No.1619461]

Biomedical Engineering is fail. You will get passed over in favor for other engineering major in applying for jobs and all your course are watered down versions of other majors.

Civil Engineering is legos for grown ups. Most people want to build structures for fun and too frequently accept low paying job just to work.

Mechanical engineering is the world most power magnet for idiots. Sounds fun but the work is dull and repetitive. Solved for the forces on a spinning axial once you done it a million time.

Aerospace could be awesome if the planet invested more in space and air travel but oh well ...

Petroleum engineering highest paying job for the next 10-20 years. Enjoy permanent unemployment after that.

Chemical engineering is the hardest engineering. If you survive to get a degree, you get a high paying job and great job security. Just don't fall into a vat of acid.

Electrical & Computer Engineering is on par with chemical in difficulty and salary. Should be fine as long as you stay current with technology.

Computer Science is full of faggots that think solving for x in the equation "7x+3=5" makes them on par with Mathematicians. If all you need or want is in Calc I&II, Intro Linear Algebra (no abstract vector spaces), a watered down probability and intro to proofs/discrete math courses (possibly containing some of the very basic set, graph, group, and/or combinatorics theories) then go for it. If you are looking for or want to do something that uses Multivariate-Multidimensional-Vector Calculus, Ordinary or Partial differential equations, Abstract Algebra, Real or Complex Analysis, Differential Geometry, non-Euclidean geometries, or Linear Algebra then look else where.

Mathematics is very hard to get a job unless you get a PhD in something(Math/science/engineering)

Physics majors need a masters or better to do anything other than be an engineers whipping boy.

[Anonymous No.1619490]

>>1619461
>Computer Science is full of faggots that think solving for x in the equation "7x+3=5" makes them on par with Mathematicians.
Yes because /algebra/ is so definitive of computer science. You could have at least mentioned graph theory or combinatorics or something, if you knew what you were talking about.

[Anonymous No.1619510]

>>1619461

you couldn't possibly know enough about those fields to give a fair opinion of each one

[Anonymous No.1619569]

>>1619461
Is that at your school specifically or are you making generalizations based on a sample size of one (or less).

There is a place for BioMeds. That place is the hospital or research division.

Civies are almost always in demand, those who accept low paying jobs just to work clearly aren't looking hard enough. Example: Foreign Countries are always, ALWAYS, looking for civies.

>world most power magnet for idiots.
wtfamireading.gif
Perhaps of you've taken any one of the BILLIONS of stress/strain analysis jobs out there. Of course for every stress/strain job there's another, more interesting one. Like I said earlier, I'm a Control Sys mech myself. Though I will admit stress/strain analysis jobs are the most prevalent engineering occupation known to man.

Aerospace: Yeah, I sure wish the world had turned powered flight into some kind of international industry with hundreds if not thousands of heavier than air craft launching and landing each day. That would be pretty sweet, huh? You know what would be more awesome? If the nations of the world sought to make some kind devices to fly in space, or if the nation's military decided to build these long-range projectiles that carry a payload to their target. Man, we really dropped the ball on that one.

Petroleum: [citation needed]

Chemical Engineering: 'Hardest' Well, I suppose that could be your subjective opinion.

CompSci: You clearly don't know anything at all. AT. ALL. So I'll just skip this one.

[Anonymous No.1619924]

ITT: Mad engineers that know CompSci is the most rapidly growing field while engineering fields have stagnated.

Enjoy busting your ass for 4 years for a degree that makes the same money I make.

[Anonymous No.1619954]

>Your value is obviously not 'Money' as Electrical Engineering is at the top.

lol wut?

[æ No.1619973]

[Anonymous No.1619988]

>>1619924
>>1619954
For better or for worse. Pic Related for the both of you.

source: http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/24/news/economy/highest_starting_salaries/index.htm

[Anonymous No.1619993]

>>1619461
Is chemical engineering really that hard? As long as you study alot and actually take the effort to learn things it shouldn't be too bad, right?

[Anonymous No.1619999]

>>1619271
I don't see how environmental engineering is a waste of life

You can get paid 80k coming straight out of college with it, which is pretty good

[Anonymous No.1620014]

[Anonymous No.1620021]

Don't go for the engineering field that gives the most money. Go for what you want.

If you're looking to make money, you're looking at the wrong field.

Go to Health and make double or even quadruple the money. However, if you have no interest in Biology/Chemistry or whatever, you'll be in a hell of horrid memorization I'd imagine.

But seriously going to engineering for money? It gives you a comfortable life, but you can get a comfortable life with a good apprenticeship as well.

[Anonymous No.1620022]

>>1618645

Do you have any knowledge of Mechatronics engineering? Or is it still a bit too new to have an accurate picture of?

[Anonymous No.1620023]

>>1619999
>environmental anything
>not a waste of life

go back to Amsterdam you dirty pothead hippie

[Anonymous No.1620030]

>>1620023
no youre a towel

[Anonymous No.1620039]

>>1620030
you're a towel

[Anonymous No.1620047]

Chemical Engineering so you can go towards Medical School at some point?

[Anonymous No.1620058]

mechanical engineering is a dying field. Things are becoming more and more software based and deals less with hardware.

[Anonymous No.1620135]

>>1619988
and? Outside of petroleum(lol dying field) CompSci pays roughly the same as everything else and is a much faster growing field.

[Anonymous No.1620142]

>>1620058

The fuck?

[Anonymous No.1620155]

>>1620135
being paid in bananas != paid in cash money; //sorry

[Anonymous No.1620156]

>>1620022
Refer to my first post's picture >>1618281.
Mechatronics is a Mechanical Engineer's final form. Electrical Engineers also have such potential, but they'll have to make sure they acquire materials science and thermal design knowledge. 'Mechatronics' covers so many fields in such depth it's ridiculous. A good Mechatronics engineer is simply a damn good Mechanical Engineer-Electrical Engineer double major with a focus on control systems and programming respectively. You could argue that Modern Mechanical Engineering IS Mechatronics as Modern Mechanical Engineering focuses more on breadth of knowledge as opposed to old Mech which focused on stress analysis.

>>1620058
Millions of Stress-Analysis jobs across the globe disagree. Every firm in existence that produces a physical object has need of a Mechanical Engineer.

As far as research goes, Mechanical Engineering stays afloat by assuming the responsibility of control schemes and the development of Nanofabrication. (Of course, at my school EVERY department is involved in NanoTech somewhere.) I point out Mechanical Engineering specifically because I can name five professors (and their Grad Students) off the top of my head who's research specifically involves mass production of nanomachinery. (Note 'Machinery' is a bit of a generous word at this point, we can barely get the damn things to form right, let alone perform a viable function) I'm afraid I can't go into more detail on this topic as it might lead to my identification.

[Anonymous No.1620169]

>Of course for every stress/strain job there's another, more interesting one
>stress/strain job
>interesting

you're still an undergrad student aren't you?

[Anonymous No.1620176]

If you live outside the US, computer science (information)
And enjoy stealing jobs from american nerds.
Seriously though, is the market for software designers so bad in America? My country had a huge growth in that area and salaries are good, but still smaller than what american programmer earns

[Anonymous No.1620177]

>>1620155
u mad all my classes are easy A's, internships jump into my lap, and I have 3 job offers and I'm just going into my senior year?

[Anonymous No.1620183]

>>1620155
What if I have an analytical mind and really enjoy coding?

[Anonymous No.1620193]

>>1620135
The total number of engineers employed in the U.S. in 2009 was roughly 1.6 million. Of these, 239,000 were mechanical engineers (14.9%), the second largest discipline by size behind civil (278,000). The total number of mechanical engineering jobs in 2009 was projected to grow 6% over the next decade, with average starting salaries being $58,800 with a bachelor's degree.[19] The median annual income of mechanical engineers in the U.S. workforce was roughly $74,900. This number was highest when working for the government ($86,250), and lowest in education ($63,050).[20]

The latest department of labor statistics show that domestic computer programming jobs are decreasing at the rate of 3 percent a year and are being permanently offshored. They project that the 3 percent decrease in computer programming jobs will continue for the next decade

Source: Wiki

[Anonymous No.1620200]

>>1620183
GBT >>>/prog/

[Anonymous No.1620226]

>>1620193
From that same source:
>Although employment of computer programmers is projected to decline, numerous job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations.

Additionally, these are statistics only for computer programmers. Other computer-related jobs such as PhD level computer scientists are projected to increase.

[Anonymous No.1620228]

>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos304.htm#outlook
idk what you folks are talking about

[Anonymous No.1620351]

CS != computer programming

Projected job growth: 24%

Fag Status: [X] FUCKING TOLD

[Anonymous No.1620359]

>>1620351
0/10

[Anonymous No.1620365]

Mechatronics master race here. All of them, OP. All of them.

[Anonymous No.1620369]

>>1620359
>0/10
0/10

[Anonymous No.1620371]

>>1620369
>0/10
0/10

[Anonymous No.1620381]

>>1620369
(sqrt(0%10)) / 10

[Anonymous No.1620383]

>>1620371

[Anonymous No.1620389]

Computer Engineers > computer scientist

[Anonymous No.1620395]

>>1620381
So now you're giving me a higher score than what I gave you?

[Anonymous No.1620396]

>>1617970

start electrical
specialize with something medical
make robot arms for the next generation of armless people

[Anonymous No.1620404]

>>1620395
0%10 = 0
sqrt(0) = 0
>0/10

[Anonymous No.1620408]

>>1620395
that's why he's mad

[Anonymous No.1620409]

Aspiring nuclear engineering here. What's your opinion on it, other than "pretty boring but makes a lot of money unless you get a phd"?

[Anonymous No.1620425]

>>1620409
Not particularly exciting. You can, however, make a good profit if you get a phd.

[Anonymous No.1620428]

>>1620404
But that still doesn't make your post about computer science != computer programming correct.

[Anonymous No.1620431]

>>1620428
FYI: Hes not the one who said that, I am.

[Anonymous No.1620434]

>>1620431
Then state some reasons why.

[Anonymous No.1620435]

>>1620428
I wasn't the guy who posted that. Yeah they expect you to learn programming mostly on your own in CS after the first year, so they teach a lot more theory. That doesn't mean you don't write software when you graduate.

[Anonymous No.1620440]

>>1620434
According to the BLS CS/Computer Programmer/Software Engineer are all different.

SE is projected to grow by 32%
CS is growing by 24%
Programming decreasing by -3%

My only guess is the latter are self educated tards who only know programming syntax.

[Anonymous No.1620451]

>>1620440
If people with degrees in CS or SE don't do programming, then who does?

[Anonymous No.1620455]

>>1620451
Its probably based on Job Titles, the truth is they all "program" but the field is anything but shrinking.