Engineering is a difficult major. It requires a considerable amount of time and energy...but the rewards are worth it.
A bachelor's degree in engineering is available through:
- A four- or five-year accredited college or university program;
- Two years in a community college engineering transfer program plus two or three years in an engineering program;
- Three years in a science or mathematics major and two years in engineering;
- Five to six years in an engineering co-op program. (A co-op program allows students to attend classes for a portion of the year and then work in an engineering-related job for the remainder of the year. They graduate with valuable work experience sought by employers.)
- Eight to ten years as an evening engineering student.
To begin their careers, engineers receive a bachelor's degree in engineering. The engineering technologist's bachelor's degree is in engineering technology; and the engineering technician usually completes two years of study to earn an associate's degree after high school.
How Do I Pay for College?
...through a combination of:
- Part-time employment and summer jobs
- Scholarships and grants
- Loans from the school, a bank, or family
- Special programs such as ROTC or veteran's benefits
- Co-op and work-study programs
An engineering degree can also open doors to other professions such as medicine, business administration, law, computer development or others. Or you may also wish to pursue further education and obtain a master's or doctoral degree in engineering.
Your Career and the Future
There will be many jobs for engineers during the next decade. However, your engineering specialization may determine such things as the geographic area where work may be found, salaries, job conditions, and tasks that will challenge you.
Engineers earn considerably more than other people who enter a career path with just a bachelor's degree. Sometimes this can be as much as 75-100% more per month depending on geographic location and engineering specialty.
Engineering is a rewarding career option that will make you feel good about contributing to a healthier, safer, and more enjoyable life for your fellow citizens. As you plan your future, consider becoming an engineer, a shaper of the 21st century.
For information about specific engineering and technology fields and an order form for JETS-Guidance products, send a stamped, self-addressed business envelope to the:
1420 King Street, Suite 405
Alexandria, VA 22314-2794
After High School -- What?
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