Here Are The Engineering Disciplines You Should Study 

The fact that you want to be an engineer speaks volumes about you. Engineering is one of the oldest professions in the world and has been responsible for most advancements in society. 

The world is littered with longstanding structures and infrastructure that are a testament to the beauty and virtues of engineering. But engineering is more than just Math, Science, and, of course, building stuff. 

It’s an exciting career path where each day is unique, and you’ll always know everything about your work serves to support and advance society.  

There are also many engineering disciplines, and despite having similar core principles, each field serves a different purpose, requires specific skills, and appeals to different people.  

If you’re wondering what are the types of engineering you should study, this article should help simplify your dilemma; read on! 

The Different Engineering Disciplines 

Generally, engineering has five broad branches, the top three being civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering; you can find many other classifications out of these. The choice of which engineering field is best to study depends on your interests, strengths, and career goals. Here’s a quick overview of each: 

Civil Engineering 

Arguably the oldest engineering discipline, civil engineering deals with the planning, designing, and developing of society’s supporting infrastructure. Civil engineers are concerned with the design and construction of roads, bridges, buildings, water supply systems, airports, railways, and tunnels, to name a few. 

This vital branch of engineering also involves work in environmental restoration projects such as dam removal or relocating streams to prevent flooding in natural areas due to erosion from heavy rains or snowmelt runoff from winter storms. 

Mechanical Engineering 

Mechanical engineering is another field of engineering that has been around for the longest time. In its basic form, mechanical engineering involves designing, building, and maintaining physical machines which exert force or involve motion. 

A degree in mechanical engineering opens up countless career options. Disciplines under mechanical engineering include aerospace engineering, acoustics, robotics, structural/stress analysis, nanotechnology, and automation, among others. 

Electrical Engineering 

This discipline primarily concerns designing and developing electric power systems, components, and devices. 

Regarding the confusion between electrical and electronics engineering, the former is focused on designing, developing, and maintaining power (electricity) generating infrastructure. The latter deals mainly with power systems on a much smaller scale (read electrical and electronic components and devices). 

Chemical Engineering 

This branch of engineering is involved in studying material properties and chemical processes and how they could be helpful to society. Despite being less known than other branches, chemical engineering is highly demanding, and you’ll need to have or nurture critical and analytical thinking as part of your skill set. 

A chemical engineering degree can lead to a career in academics, pioneering research, or industry application. 

Industrial Engineering 

This relatively new branch of engineering involves designing processes to integrate people, ideas, and materials to produce products or achieve service delivery at the desired cost and with maximum efficiency. 

With a degree in industrial engineering, you can be certain of finding a job in almost any field. 

Additional Engineering Disciplines 

Out of the five main engineering branches, there are many other disciplines you can choose to pursue. Most of these sub-branches are still evolving, but they still retain the core principles of engineering. Here’s a quick rundown: 

• Computer engineering 
• Aerospace engineering 
• Audio engineering 
• Environmental engineering 
• Health and safety engineering 
• Nuclear engineering 
• Mining engineering 

Which Engineering Field Is Right for You? 

Engineering is a broad field of study that includes a variety of disciplines, from traditional mechanical and civil engineering to the more modern aerospace and computer engineering, and the list keeps growing. 

Given the many options choosing the right engineering discipline can be challenging. Consider these factors when making your decision: 

Your Interests 

What nobody talks about in any career fair is how a wrong interest vs. career match can be detrimental down the line. 

The reality about any job is that you’ll be doing certain things repeatedly for years on end, and if you’re not that interested, you’ll end up more than just bored. Midlife and career crises are a thing. 

One day you’re excited about your job, and the next (5-10 years or so), it turns into a soul-crushing exercise. 

The other less talked about thing is the time and effort it takes to build and make something meaningful out of a career. It might seem simple to hop in and out of roles or even fall into the fallacy that you can always switch careers. 

It happens, and it’s possible to switch careers much later in life, but you can be sure it won’t be easy, not to mention years wasted in the wrong profession. Harsh, but it’s the truth. 

Civil or mechanical engineering might be a great fit if you have always been interested in building things or working with technology. On the other hand, if you like problem-solving and possess analytical skills, chemical or electrical engineering might be appropriate. 

To avoid falling for illusions, make networking a habit. Endeavor to talk to working professionals in the engineering discipline you wish to take up. Some companies also offer job-shadowing opportunities, and you can use this to confirm whether an engineering discipline is right for you. 

Academic and Skill Requirements 

Although most engineering programs teach everything from the ground up, it helps to know what you’re capable of and what you’re highly skilled in. 

If you’re proficient with or have a knack for everything computer-related, you might be best suited for a computer science or engineering career. Similarly, a great analytical mind and a love for discovering or reinventing processes would do good in chemical, electrical, or civil engineering. 

Some engineering schools have specific academic requirements for anyone who wishes to study, and these prerequisites vary depending on the engineering discipline. However, not having a good college GPA score shouldn’t intimidate you. If your previous GPA scores don’t match the requirements, you can always try bridging or foundational programs.  

Job Market Prospects 

As you choose an engineering discipline, you might want to look at job market statistics and related data before settling on one. 

If you’re wondering why this is important, remember it takes an average of 4-5 years to complete an undergraduate engineering degree. Even with conservative estimates, the investment you’ll have to make is on the higher end. 

Ideally, you should pick an engineering discipline that pays a competitive salary, considering market factors and one that’s likely to be relevant in the future. With the future edging towards computing and sustainability, a computer science/ engineering degree or electrical engineering would be ideal in the coming years. 

Final Thoughts 

Engineering has been integral to the development of our society. Whether it’s monumental achievements like landing on the moon or seemingly little achievements like the pneumatic tire still in use today, engineering has played a key role. 

Like any career choosing the right engineering discipline is integral to your success. 

Contrary to what you may have heard, there isn’t such a thing as the hardest type of engineering since they’re all based on the same principles. However, what may be misconstrued as hard has to do with a few extra course units and probably a career choice mismatch. 

Nevertheless, engineering is a highly rewarding career and one you’ll never run out of interesting things to do. 

Interested in an engineering career? UoPeople has affordable and flexible online programs to get you started.  

All programs are American-credited and tuition-free. Access high-quality education conveniently and at a fraction of the cost. What are you waiting for? Apply today and begin working towards your Computer Science degree.