The Best Engineering Majors

Top Engineering Majors

The classification of engineering majors based on their desirability remains somewhat subjective; however, various attempts have been made to categorize these disciplines according to their projected contributions to society in the coming years. Below is a ranking of these specialties, highlighting the most prominent ones for the year 2019.

Cartography

The role of cartography involves creating meaningful visuals that convey ideas for better understanding. According to Buckingham, Assistant Director of the Cartography Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this field has significantly evolved over the past decade. Factors such as advancements in mapping tools and data storage have contributed to the prominence of this career among the top engineering fields.

Civil Engineering

The scope of civil engineering, as summarized by the American Society of Civil Engineers, encompasses the design and maintenance of public works like roads, bridges, water systems, and energy infrastructure. Civil engineers participate in every phase of a project, from initial designs to construction oversight. Key responsibilities of civil engineers include:

  • Analyzing survey reports and maps during the planning stage.
  • Reducing construction costs.
  • Evaluating potential environmental risks by conducting tests, such as soil analysis.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering focuses on turning concepts into practical, observable, and tangible realities by applying the principles of motion, force, and energy. This discipline emphasizes enhancing analytical and problem-solving skills in students, equipping them to tackle diverse engineering challenges. Students can specialize in one of several areas, including:

  • Acoustics.
  • Energy.
  • Robotics.
  • Nano-technology, among other fields.

Additional Engineering Fields

Beyond the aforementioned specialties, several other engineering disciplines rank highly, including:

  • Environmental Engineering: Environmental engineers focus on preventing, controlling, or mitigating potential environmental issues. Their work involves areas such as air and water pollution, soil erosion, and waste management.
  • Environmental Technicians: These technicians collaborate with engineers to implement safety plans designed by environmental engineers. They often work in labs, testing water samples and documenting their observations, or they may conduct field tests on air or water samples.
  • Biomedical Engineering: This diverse engineering specialty opens various career opportunities in fields ranging from medical equipment to pharmaceuticals and scientific research.
  • Architectural Engineering: Architectural engineers are the main custodians of the construction process, engaging in all phases from design inception to project completion.
  • Petroleum Engineering: Petroleum engineers are responsible for designing tools used in oil extraction, analyzing collected data to maximize efficiency in resource extraction.

The Most In-Demand Engineering Specialties

The diverse range of engineering majors has been evaluated based on market demand for the year 2019, yielding the following findings:

  • Data Science and Machine Learning: This field, a branch of software engineering, has seen immense growth recently. Data science involves using historical data to predict future trends through algorithms.
  • Automation and Robotics Engineering: Automation engineers are involved in the design, implementation, testing, and development of automated systems that perform routine tasks without requiring finesse. They also work to enhance these systems, similar to the innovations seen with Boston Dynamics robots.
  • Petroleum Engineering: Anticipated demand for petroleum engineers is expected to persist throughout the next decade, given the ongoing importance of oil across various sectors.
  • Civil Engineering: The myriad branches of civil engineering make it challenging to satisfy market demands, covering areas like structural, environmental, transportation, and geotechnical engineering.
  • Electrical Engineering: Despite being a traditional field, electrical engineering continues to experience steady demand, encompassing numerous specializations such as power, devices, and electronics.
  • Alternative Energy Engineering: Growing environmental awareness is driving the need for renewable and clean energy sources, providing engineers in this field with increasing opportunities.
  • Mining Engineering: Mining engineers focus on designing open-pit mines and overseeing the drilling and construction operations necessary for extracting raw materials used in various industries.

The Highest Paying Engineering Fields

The prospective salary is a key factor for students considering engineering majors. Below is a ranked list of engineering fields by annual salary for the year 2019:

  • Petroleum Engineering: The salary for a petroleum engineer with 15 years of experience is estimated at $160,000 annually.
  • Nuclear Engineering: Graduates in nuclear engineering start with salaries around $67,000, which can increase to $117,000 with 15 years of experience.
  • Chemical Engineering: Chemical engineering graduates earn starting salaries of approximately $68,000, rising to $115,000 after 15 years in the field.
  • Aerospace Engineering: Aerospace engineers begin their careers with salaries around $62,000, increasing to $109,000 after 15 years of work experience.

Top Global Universities for Engineering Studies

The following universities have been ranked according to the global university ranking table for higher education in engineering disciplines, which involved assessing 309 universities worldwide, with the top ten listed below:

  • University of Oxford, USA
  • Stanford University, USA
  • Harvard University, USA
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
  • University of Cambridge, UK
  • National University of Singapore, Singapore
  • ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
  • Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
  • University of California, Berkeley, USA
  • Imperial College London, UK

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