What is Engineering?

Engineering requires the combination of mathematics and science to design and build mechanisms, structures, and machines to improve our world. There are many specializations within the engineering degree – the most popular specializations are Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer engineering. Beyond that, there is Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Industrial, Software, Manufacturing, Environmental, Agricultural, Architectural, Nuclear engineering, among other smaller disciplines. General Engineering is also a degree, but tends to be less popular among engineering students abroad.

To study engineering, one must be well-grounded in Mathematics and Statistics, as well as Physics and Chemistry.  Calculus is an excellent starter subject to work on in high school, if you think engineering may be a field of interest to you. Each specialization in university will then require a further set of specific courses.

What can one do with a degree in Engineering?

Engineers tend to develop excellent analytical and technical skills during their training – which, aside from enabling one to go on to develop all sorts of unique and wonderful mechanisms that enables humans to function better on earth, also makes this a great profession from which to launch into many different types of careers. There are many company CEOs in the financial and technical fields who are qualified engineers; and there is always the possibility of going on to graduate school in a different subject. Engineers have been known to become bankers, lawyers and even full-time Hollywood stars and Politicians!

Some famous Engineers:

Practicing Engineers:

Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish engineer – most famously known as being the inventor of the telephone & Founder of the National Geographic Society (University College London)

Neil Armstrong, American astronaut - most famous for being the first man to walk on the moon (BSc; Aerospace engineering, Purdue University)

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, most famous for being former President of India (Physics, St. Joseph's College Tiruchirappalli; Aerospace engineering, Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) Chennai)

Non-Practicing Engineers:

Alfred Hitchcock, English film-maker - most famous for his psychological thrillers (BA; London County Council School of Engineering & Navigation)

Michael Bloomberg, American businessman & Politician - most famous for his financial services company: Bloomberg LP (BSc; Electrical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University; MBA Harvard Business School)

Tags: Engineering, Degree, Abdul Kalam, Michael Bloomberg, Neil Armstrong