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Engineering combines intellectual problem solving with physical construction. Using the laws of science and mathematics as their primary tools, engineers design, construct, operate and perform maintenance on hardware. This hardware can be a structure or a machine, and can be as minute as a microchip or as massive as the Hoover Dam; as simple as a road or as complicated as the ship that took mankind to the moon.

Essentially, engineers create the physical infrastructure of the world, finding practical solutions to problems presented by the material world, then building structures, objects or devices to further the needs of humanity and the goals of society. Engineers make things that work, and they make things work.

Engineering Degrees
Virtually all entry-level positions in the engineering industry require at least a bachelor's degree, and an advanced degree is mandatory for many research and teaching positions. At this time, more than 360 colleges in the U.S. have accredited programs leading to a B.S. in an engineering discipline. In addition, approximately 230 colleges currently offer associate degrees in engineering technology, which is oriented more toward practical application than theory. As in any profession, the more advanced and specific the degree, the higher the potential salary and the greater the chances for success.

In addition to a degree, all states require that engineers be licensed. This licensing is accomplished by meeting specific requirements which usually include a significant term of on-the-job experience (often as long as four years) and passing a detailed exam administered by the relevant state department. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the engineer is formally recognized by the state as a licensed Professional Engineer.

Degree Programs and Careers in Engineering
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 1.4 million people are currently employed as engineers in the U.S. Engineers can be found in any number of industries and work environments, including the manufacturing, transportation, oil, aerospace and telecom industries; in research laboratories and on college faculties; and at all levels of government, mostly in public works, public utilities and transportation departments.

The engineering industry can be roughly divided into four main divisions: civil, electrical, environmental, and mechanical. (Information on computer engineering can be found under Technology). Most engineering degrees fall under one of these major divisions, but most engineers find a specialty within one of these divisions.

Civil Engineering
Civil engineers are builders. They are often involved in big projects which involve the movement of massive amounts of material: streets and freeways; bridges and tunnels; dams and power generating plants; air, sea and rail terminals; water and sewage transportation systems; and similar large-scale structures. Specialties within the field of civil engineering include structural engineering, hydrology, and transportation.

Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineers, as their name implies, specialize in the electrical and electronic components integrated into mechanical systems. This equipment can include large scale systems such as power generators and energy transmission devices operated by utility companies; control systems for operating machinery; the electrical components of car, boat and airplane motors; or the design and installation of wiring and lighting for homes and buildings.

Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineers draw from additional scientific disciplines, such as chemistry and biology, to develop solutions to manage society's needs from, and impact on, the environment. This can include such diverse activities as conducting studies detailing the potential impact to the environment of an engineering or development project; supervising the water supply or sewage treatment for a city; or managing the disposal of hazardous materials or the reclamation of contaminated land.

Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineers deal with virtually any equipment that functions mechanically. This covers a very wide range of territory, often overlapping the provinces of other engineering fields. Mechanical engineers might cooperate with electrical engineers, for example, in the design, testing or maintenance of machinery that generates electrical power, or with electrical and civil engineers in designing and constructing a seaport or an airport, or to determine the requirements for elevators, gas, water, and heating and air conditioning in a skyscraper. The most unique aspect of this branch of engineering is that the mechanical engineer often designs the tools used by other engineering functions.

Financial Outlook for Careers in Engineering
The U.S. Department of Labor indicates that, overall, engineering jobs will grow at a rate comparable with all other industries over the next decade, but that job prospects will be especially good for a few specialties, including electrical and environmental engineering.

Salaries and wages for engineers can differ widely depending on such factors as the branch of engineering, location, the state of the economy, and the education level of the jobholder. As an occupation, however, engineers generally benefit from some of the highest starting salaries of any profession. A civil engineer with a B.S. degree, for example, can command an average starting salary of about $44,000; a mechanical engineer with a B.S., about $52,000; an environmental engineer, about $48,000; and an electrical engineer with a bachelor's degree can potentially command a starting salary of over $50,000. An engineer in any category with a PhD and several years' experience has the potential to earn a salary of over $100,000 a year