Computer Engineering Degrees

Most people own or have ready access to a personal computer. These marvels of modern technology have revolutionized everything from the way we get our news to how we communicate with friends and relatives to how we entertain ourselves. However, the traditional PC or laptop is only one type of computer. Virtually every modern machine and process is computer-controlled. Some computers are tiny, as in the smallest cell phones and MP3 players.

Other computers are actually massive networks of thinking machines, working on terabytes of data and cranking out billions of calculations per second. The common factor making these machines possible is the Computer Engineer. Computer Engineering differs from Software Engineering and Computer Science in that it focuses on the actual hardware that’s responsible for performing the work. Software is the set of instructions used by a computer to get work done.

Without Computer Engineers designing the hardware platform it runs on, software would be so many useless bits of data. While they need to know the principles of software operation, Computer Engineers are responsible for designing the components of a computing system. Whether that computer is in the Stealth Bomber or under your car’s hood, all computers have similar components and functions, varying mostly in size, shape and application.

Computer Engineers design everything from the Central Processing Unit to primary and secondary memory storage to input and output methods. Even if they are using off-the-shelf components, they’re responsible for making sure the integration works flawlessly.

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How Much Does a Civil Engineer Earn?

Bureau of Labor Statistics for Occupational Employment and Wages (BLS) shows civil engineers as those who perform planning, designing of building structures and facilities and overseeing their construction and maintenance. These structures include water and sewage systems, roads and railroads, airports and harbors, bridges and tunnels, channels and dams, irrigation projects and pipelines, and power plants. The Bureau's data include engineers for geo-technical, architectural, structural, traffic and ocean expertise. Hydrologists are not included. The mean annual wage for civil engineers in 2011 was $82,710 according to the BLS.

There are countless associations for those who have attained their degrees. Professional organizations offer career resources, resources for employers, research opportunities, databases, libraries, web resources, professional networking, and many other opportunities for those with a degree in civil engineering.

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Automotive Engineering Degree

Automotive engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering that concerns the design, development and manufacture of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles. Automotive engineers also design and test the many subsystems or components that comprise a motorized vehicle.

Very few universities offer a bachelor's degree in automotive engineering. Consequently, many prospective automotive engineers earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from a university that also offers specialized courses in automotive engineering. However, there are plenty of universities offer master's degrees in automotive engineering.

High school students aspiring to become automotive engineers should develop a solid foundation in algebra, geometry, trigonometry and pre-calculus, physics and chemistry. These subjects are central to understanding the core concepts of any engineering discipline. Automotive engineering students need effective oral and written communications skills. Therefore, high school students should strive to do well in language arts classes, such as writing and speech. High school students should take available advanced placement or college classes to help prepare them for university engineering coursework and get a head start on building college credits.

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Automotive Engineering Master’s Degree

 

Master’s Degree

A master's degree in automotive engineering is not necessary to work in the field, but such a degree will give students specialized automotive engineering knowledge and skills. Moreover, master's degree programs offer research opportunities for students. It takes about two years to complete a master's degree program in automotive engineering.

Studies include:

• Design and manufacturing
• Energy and environment
• Materials
• Noise and vibration
• Powertrain
• Dynamics and control
• Electronics and computer software
• Ergonomics

To earn a master's degree, the student must satisfy the university's thesis requirements and/or complete a final project.

Online Degree

The few universities that offer online automotive engineering degrees do so only at the master’s degree level. The student gains only theoretical knowledge from an online master's degree. The student does not receive any hands-on experience, which can be important to landing a job in automotive engineering. The online programs assume that the student received hands-on experience while obtaining the bachelor's degree. Therefore, online master's degree programs in automotive engineering are meant for the working automotive engineer.

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Audio Engineering Degree

Audio engineering is an intricate blend of science and creativity. It involves technical aspects of equipment set-up and operation, but also requires a creative side to enhance and blend the sounds to produce the desired effects.

Often called sound engineers, these professionals are highly sought after in all areas of the entertainment industry. Musicians depend on audio engineers in the studio and in live performances to polish their sound and to keep it consistent throughout each recording or performance. Audio engineers mix the music and enhance the balance to provide the best final product. In television and movies, audio engineers are responsible for all of the sound effects, music, and sound levels heard in the video productions. Even radio depends on sound engineers to keep their stations operating properly. There are other careers available to audio engineers, but the entertainment industry provides the most opportunity.

For those interested in pursuing a career in the audio engineering field, there are three different levels of degrees available. An Associate in Applied Science will teach the basics of working in the industry. The Bachelor of Science degree goes more in depth in both the music and technical aspects of the business. The Master's degree programs focus on very specific aspects of audio engineering.

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Real Life Example of an Applied Engineer

As a project engineer for Applied Engineering, Mike Jamieson daily exhibits the range of skills a practitioner in the field must master to excel. He interfaces with internal and external team members and associates in-person and over e-mail every morning. He then focusses on business activities such as speaking with various suppliers on product inventory, consulting with clients on budget requirements and researching options on the internet. In the afternoon, he often leaves the office to visit clients and ongoing projects. He enjoys the opportunity to get out of the office and into the field to interact live with people. For example, on one project he consulted with one of the managers on an HVAC system for a residential structure, specifically the ductwork and air flow systems. Later in the afternoon, he returns to the office to revisit projects he initially tacked in the morning. He may attend more meetings to deliver presentations on status or negotiate with suppliers to acquire the best pricing for a client project. Demonstrating his commitment to continuous education, Jamieson in the evenings attends functions featuring industry thought leaders who make presentations on recent development in technology and best practices. In the past he attended a dinner featuring a presentation by a professor at Purdue University who presented a talk on refrigeration concepts and developing compressor innovations. Ultimately, each day presents him with a range of challenges and learning experiences that enrich him.

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Agricultural Engineering Education Requirements

 Graduate students are eligible to pursue a number of advanced degrees, including the Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Master of Agriculture, Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Engineering. These students can major in bioacoustics, biomaterials science, bioprocess engineering, environmental and natural resource engineering, food engineering; food, feed and fiber processing; machine and energy systems; and systems analysis.

Typical of all B.S. degrees, agricultural engineering studies begin with English, math, political science, chemistry, humanities, economics and other basics. Gradually, students are introduced to their majors, and this one begins in the freshman year with an introduction to agricultural systems management. Agriculture courses that follow can include:

• Farm Tractors and Power Units
• Systems Analysis in Agriculture
• Operations Research and Systems Theory
• Agricultural Machinery Management
• Food Process Engineering Technology
• Agri-Industrial Applications of Electricity
• Water and Soil Management
• Technology for Environmental and Natural Resource Engineering
• Occupational Safety Management
• Processing and Storage of Agricultural Products
• Spatial Technology for Precision Agriculture
• Management of Agricultural Systems
• Geographic Information Systems for Resource Management
• Advanced GIS Analysis for Natural Resource Management
• Agricultural Electronics and Control
• IT for Agricultural Systems

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Master of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Graduate students seeking a master's or doctorate degrees to augment their undergraduate or graduate education can take advanced courses in:

• Aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • The study of air flow over a body, such as the wings on an aircraft or spacecraft.

• Aeroelasticity and structural dynamics
  • The study of how inertial, elastic and aerodynamic forces interact.

• Flight mechanics and control
  • The study of how forces affect a flight vehicle, how it responds to those forces and how to modify the vehicle to achieve the desired goals.

• Propulsion and combustion
  • The study of creating mechanical power using internal combustion engines, jet engines, turbomachinery, propellers, wings, fins, and wheel and axles to generate force causing motion.

• Structural mechanics and materials behavior
  • The study of the stress and strain on the components of a flight vehicle.

• System design and optimization
• The study of the application of algorithms to improve the performance, weight, reliability and/or cost of aircraft and spacecraft systems.

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Acoustic Engineering Education Requirements

These types of professionals may be asked to perform a variety of duties based on the industry they choose to employ their skills and knowledge. In the construction industry, engineers may execute sound and environmental evaluations on a building to ensure it meets codes and regulations. They may examine how alterations in the design of a structure may impact sound quality. In an industrial setting, these professionals utilize digital hardware and software to determine means for lessening sound disruptions in a work facility, while inquiring into how vibrations impact factory equipment or transportation structures such as a bridge or automobile. In the entertainment sphere, these professionals often work to optimize sound quality in recording studios and in live performance venues, evaluating how structures, materials and digital equipment and software enhance sound quality. Often, bioengineering firms seek these professionals to address how ultrasound and other forms of technology provide the best treatment options for patients under a medical professional’s care. Firms across the world like Sony, LA Live, the NFL, Bose, and Honda are a few of the huge companies seeking the services of these acoustic experts.

Not many U.S. universities offer official degrees in acoustic studies, so most professionals complete a Bachelor’s Degree in electrical engineering or a comparable course of study. Most employers do require at least a Bachelor’s as a minimum qualification for entry into the workforce. Many students integrate related acoustic theory courses into their degrees by taking classes in statics, circuits, thermodynamics, sound control, and vibrations, among others. A Master’s Degree may be required to qualify for some positions with a given company. At this level, students complete classes in wave propagation, optics and nonlinear acoustics. The Ph.D. level opens further management opportunities in the field, whereby students will have completed a rigorous academic training rooted in statistical analysis. This level of training opens the door to teaching at universities as well. With an eye to business, students should seek to refine their interpersonal and communication skills as well as their leadership capacities in managing a team of engineers and professionals. They may be asked to negotiate and consult with outside suppliers in managing the lifecycle of a development project.

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Professional Outlook and Salary for Vehicle Engineers

Professionals in this field have been integral in developing the hybrid electric car technology that has transformed the automotive industry. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) provides a bevy of resources for current and aspiring engineers in the field. Moreover, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), furnish professionals and students with transformative knowledge and tools to embolden their ability to thrive as technology and techniques evolve. There are regular updates on news in the industry, events, seminars and educational conferences to enhance and develop the skills of the community. In addition, professionals capitalize on networking and mentoring opportunities as well as recruiting efforts from major corporations like Ford Motor Co. and General Electric. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment opportunities for these engineers is expected to grow through the year 2020 by 9 percent. The U.S. cities with the most opportunities and highest salaries for these professionals are Detroit and Auburn Hills, Michigan. The states of California and Texas are the next two locations with the greatest career prospects. According to statistics at O*Net salary data, these engineers earned a median salary of $82,100.

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Transport Engineering

Transportation engineering focuses on the design and development of public transportation infrastructure and systems. As a discipline of civil engineering, practitioners endeavor to create roads, bridges, mass transit systems and other modes of transport to enhance society. In this capacity, these practitioners may design, operate and repair any of these assets with the aim of producing fast, efficient, safe, cost-effective, and sustainable forms of transport. Airport, highway, railroad and port engineering are all subsets of the discipline.

Learn more about becoming a transport engineer by contacting the schools below to request information about their programs! On a daily basis, transport engineers juggle a medley of tasks from interfacing with clients and suppliers in-person and over e-mail to meeting with their teams to receive project status updates and to address any complications in a project lifecycle. More business-oriented professionals may attend strategy sessions with their executive teams and/or meet with current and potential investors to discuss prospective opportunities in the market place. In the evenings, many professionals engage in continuing education initiatives, whereby they may take a course on new technological advances and/or attend a presentation by an academic or industry practitioner to receive insight on best practices or solutions to existing problems.

National and local governments, as well as private firms, seek to employ these professionals for global projects, where they are given the responsibility to ensure safety and efficiency, whereby they are entrusted to ensure public safety by meeting building codes and standards through computer hardware and software applications.

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Real Life Impact of Thermal Engineers

Thermal engineers have been instrumental in changing the way people find and use energy throughout the world as well as in pushing space exploration into new realms. Most people think of Google as an Internet search engine company, but the firm has expanded its resources into creating better energy solutions for the planet. The firm actively recruits thermal engineers to work on its project for developing clean and affordable power grids. Their Energy Access team endeavors to recruit and nurture engineers to its efforts, underscoring its conviction in its identity as an engineering firm.

Moreover, the University College London (UCL) Mullard Space Science Laboratory considers the work of its thermal engineers as vital for enhancing space exploration initiatives. One of their professionals, Christine Brockley-Blatt, has exemplified the seamless transition these practitioners make from the classroom to real world applications. After completing her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and Physics, Brockley-Blatt completed an internship with an aerospace firm, whereby she trained on a project dealing with the landing gear and propeller technology for a medley of aircraft models. She then applied more of her thermal engineering training to an automotive firm. With UCL she currently works as a project manager on cooling technology in outer space exploration solutions. On a daily basis, she employs calculations in mechanical and thermal capacities, performs project management duties, and demonstrates oral and written communications. Her rich educational background and professional experience illuminate the depth and versatility the field requires of its practitioners to excel.

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Structural Engineering Career Outlook

Structural Engineering focuses on the support integrity of large developments such as buildings, bridges and stadiums. Structural engineers are responsible for some of the most import constructions in history, including Washington Roebling who built the Brooklyn Bridge in New York and Gustave Eiffel who completed The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Structural engineers traditionally collaborate with a team of professionals including architects, urban planners and civil engineers, among others, to realize the completion of a project.

Federal and local governments as well as private enterprises contract these practitioners for work throughout the world, whereby they are entrusted to ensure public safety by meeting building codes and standards. For buildings, these professionals achieve this by developing the components such as roof framing columns and foundations. In bridges, they develop the piers, deck and/or stringers. In addition, they select the most appropriate materials including wood, concrete, steel and/or aluminum, thereby protecting the structure and surrounding communities in the case of natural disasters, weather, collisions or explosions. To determine the best materials, structural engineers rely on digital hardware and software applications for modeling and analysis.

If you want to pursue a career in structural engineering, use the list of schools below to learn more about programs that can help you get started!

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Software Engineering Professional Associations

 

Professional Associations

There are numerous professional associations where Software Engineers can network and share information. One of the largest and oldest is the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The ACM boasts membership of more than 100,000 professionals as of 2011.

Another major association is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). While IEEE’s title might not sound like it would be fruitful for Software Engineers, the IEEE Computer Society has teamed with the ACM on numerous projects to enhance the professionalism of the Software Engineering field.

Like any degree in engineering, a Software Engineering degree is a demanding course of study. It requires an aptitude for math and science and favors those who love to think logically and methodically. The rewards for pursuing this degree are numerous and tangible: great salary, a growing job market, and a career working with like-minded professionals building the future. Check out the many programs available and see if one is right for you.

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Main Focus of Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering deals with the production of hydrocarbons—the products of crude oil and natural gas. This above-ground field focuses on recovering fossil fuels from below ground in the most economical and environmentally friendly ways.

Trained to understand the physical behavior of oil, water, and gas deep in porous rock and under high pressure, these skilled engineers make reliable estimations of the volume of a resource's reservoir.

They form teams with geologists to determine the best methods for depleting reservoirs. Related disciplines include drilling, reservoir simulation, well engineering, petroleum geology, and geophysics.

Since the beginning of petroleum engineering, in the early 20th century, many easily accessed deposits have been depleted. Fuel harvesting has become more dependent on fresh technologies incorporating horizontal drilling and computer modeling.

Drilling in deserts and in deep waters requires today's engineers to have expertise in intelligent systems, geomechanics, and hydraulics, naming only a few things on their growing list of knowledge bases.

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Nuclear Engineering Degree Online Education

 

A number of colleges and universities offer online nuclear engineering studies toward master's and doctoral degrees. Some of these universities include, but are not limited to, Penn State, MIT, and Ohio State.

Online nuclear engineering degrees open a wide range of opportunities for students, at both graduate and postgraduate levels. A graduate degree in nuclear engineering opens doors to better job opportunities.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering is a basic four-year course, but a specialized five-year course can incorporate a master's degree. The Ph.D. degree generally adds two years of study beyond the master's.

Because nuclear science and engineering has such a broad range, graduates can be prepared for a wide variety of careers. Today's graduates enjoy research and teaching jobs at universities; they work at power plants and in government and industrial laboratories. They have launched LED lighting companies. They manage hedge funds, create interactive science and art displays, design new reactors, improve aircraft components, attend medical school, and design domestic energy policies.

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Discover the World of Nanoengineering

 

Nanoengineering encompasses the practice of the profession on a nanoscale, which stems from the nanometer unit of measure, equivalent to one billionth of a meter. Within the industry, nanoengineering is synonymous with practices of nanotechnology, whereby it focuses on the engineering component of a given technology rather than the scientific side. Nanotechnology professionals have become prized professionals in the current marketplace for their skills and training dealing with microscopic applications.

From the automobile and energy industry to healthcare and technology firms, companies around the world eagerly seek to attract and develop these professionals. Within these realms, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are the dominant techniques of the field used to solve problems and originate new technologies. Both techniques pivot on generating microscopic probes to manipulate and track the movement of atoms with the idea of capturing something significant to translate into real world applications such as revolutionary manufacturing materials or new pharmaceutical products.

To learn more about becoming a nanoengineer, contact the schools below to request more information. We recommend contacting multiple schools to compare programs.

Professionals in this field often perform a medley of duties depending on the industry they work in and/or their educational backgrounds. In biosciences, nanoengineers dedicate their time to developing new medical device products and ways to enhance existing ones. From a construction viewpoint, these experts investigate and evaluate the development of new materials to develop more sustainable and durable building products and materials. Automotive companies employ these engineers to develop more efficient processes within an engine system and materials to build and pad vehicle systems and interiors. Regardless of the field, these engineers choose to employ their skills and talents, the field requires immense patience and attention to detail. Refining the effective use of STMs and AFMs, critical to the development of new technologies and breakthroughs, often proves to be challenging for most practitioners in the field. Powerful microscopes with exceptionally fine silicon tips are employed to monitor the nano activity harnessed to develop new applications. Establishing a suitable tip, though, can sometimes take seven days alone. Nevertheless, global firms like Abbott Laboratories, Tesla, Exxon-Mobil, and Sony are a few of the global firms capitalizing on the potential of nanotechnology.

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