An Introduction to Engineering

The objectives of this chapter are to

Introduce the engineering profession and its various branches Provide some answers to

Do I really want to study engineering? What is engineering and what do engineers do? What are some of the areas of specialization in engineering? Which disciplinary area of engineering do I want to pursue? How will I know that I have picked the best field for me? Will the demand for my area of specialization be high when I graduate, and beyond that?

Engineering is the practice and method of applying scientific and empirical knowledge to the service of humanity. It is distinct from the physical sciences, which are studies of the natural universe.

Engineers are problem solvers. Successful engineers possess good communication skills and are team players. They have a good grasp of fundamental physical laws and mathematics. Engineers apply physical and chemical laws and mathematics to design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of millions of products and services. They consider important factors such as sustainability, efficiency, cost, reliability, and safety when designing products. Engineers are dedicated to lifelong learning and service to others.

What Do Engineers Do?

Engineers apply physical and chemical laws and principles and mathematics to design millions of products and services that we use in our everyday lives

Engineers consider factors such as cost, efficiency, sustainability, reliability, and safety in their designs Engineers perform tests to ensure their designs can withstand the loads and conditions prescribed Engineers continue to seek ways to improve existing products and services Engineers continue to develop new, advanced materials to make products lighter and stronger for different applications

 Engineers

design, maintain, and supervise construction of buildings, dams, bridges, highways, power plants, and other components of our infrastructure system Engineers are responsible for extracting petroleum, natural gas, and other materials from earth Engineers are responsible for the production and the processing of crops, fruit, vegetable, and food

Traits of successful engineers

Engineers

are problem solvers

have firm grasp of fundamental principles of engineering are analytical, detailed oriented, and creative have desire to be lifelong learners

have ability to work outside their area of specialization in other related fields

Good Engineers

have good communication and time management skills

have good people skills

are good team player

have ability to use modern tools to solve various engineering problems or to solve problems in various ways are active in the profession and community

 Be

proud of the decision you have made to become an engineer. Soon you will become one of those whose behind-thescenes efforts will be taken for granted by billions of people around the world. But you will accept that fact gladly, knowing that what you do will make peoples lives better.

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to learn more about what engineers do.

Mechanical Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Civil Engineering

ABET stands for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology ABET is the only organization in U.S. that can accredit engineering and technology programs ABET examines the credentials of the engineering programs faculty, curricular content, facilities, and admission and graduation standards before granting accreditation

Many states require engineers to be graduates of an ABET accredited engineering program before they are eligible to take the Professional Engineer (PE) exam Visit your states licensing board to learn about their engineering licensing requirements Visit http://www.abet.org to see the list of all accredited programs and learn more

ABET, accredited engineering programs must demonstrate that their graduates, by the time of graduations, have: an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering; an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs; an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams; an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems; an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; an ability to communicate effectively; the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context; a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning; a knowledge of contemporary issues; and an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Civil Engineers design and supervise,

among others, the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, water supply, and water and wastewater treatment systems. Civil engineering is concerned with providing public infrastructure and services.

Electrical Engineers design, develop,

test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, including lighting and wiring for buildings, cars, buses, trains, ships, and aircraft; power generation and transmission equipment for utility companies; electric motors found in various products; control devices; and radar equipment.

 Electronic

develop, test, and supervise the production of electronic equipment, including computer hardware; computer network hardware; communication devices such as cellular phone, television, and audio and video equipment; as well as measuring instruments.

Engineers design,

Mechanical Engineers are involved in

the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of machines, robots, tools, power generating equipment such as steam and gas turbines, heating, cooling, and refrigerating equipment, and internal combustion engines.

 Aerospace

develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of commercial and military aircraft, helicopters, spacecraft, and missiles. They may work with projects dealing with research and development of guidance, navigation, and control systems.

Engineers design,

Biomedical Engineers apply the laws and the

principles of chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering to design artificial limbs, organs, imaging systems, and devices used in medical procedures. They also perform research alongside of medical doctors, chemists, and biologists to better understand various aspects of biological systems and the human body.

Chemical Engineers use the principles

of chemistry and basic engineering sciences to solve a variety of problems related to the production of chemicals and their use in various industries, including the pharmaceutical, electronic, and photographic industries.

Environmental Engineers apply the laws and

principles of chemistry, biology, and engineering to address issues related to water and air pollution control, hazardous waste, waste disposal, and recycling. They also get involved with the development of local, national, and international environmental policies and regulations.

Manufacturing Engineers develop,

coordinate, and supervise the process of manufacturing all types of products. They are concerned with making products efficiently and at minimum cost. They are involved in all aspects of production, including scheduling and materials handling and the design, development, supervision, and control of assembly lines.

Petroleum Engineers specialize in the

discovery and production of oil and natural gas. In collaboration with geologists, petroleum engineers search the world for underground oil or natural gas reservoirs. Petroleum engineers are also involved in monitoring and supervising drilling and oil extraction operation.

Nuclear Engineers design, develop, monitor,

and operate nuclear power equipment that drives its power from nuclear energy. They are involved in the design, development, and operation of nuclear power plants to generate electricity or to power Navy ships and submarines. They are also involved in the design and development of industrial and diagnostic medical equipment.

 Mining

geologists and metallurgical engineers, find, extract, and prepare coal for use by utility companies; they also look for metals and minerals to extract from the earth for use by various manufacturing industries. Mining engineers design and supervise the construction of aboveground and underground mines.

Engineers, in collaboration with

Materials Engineers research, develop, and

test new materials for various products and engineering applications. They manipulate the atomic and molecular structure of materials in order to create materials that are lighter, stronger, and more durable. They create materials with specific mechanical, electrical, magnetic, chemical, and heat-transfer properties such as graphite racquets and stealth military planes.

Education accredited program, BS and/or MS level Professional registration Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Professional Engineering Exam Professional organizations Life-long learning

You should have a good understanding of the significant role that engineers play in our everyday lives in providing water, food, shelter, and other essential needs. You should have a good idea of common traits and activities of good engineers. You should be familiar with the differences among various engineering disciplines.

Making the transition from high school to college requires extra effort: you must start studying and preparing from the rst day of class. attend class regularly. get help right away. take good notes. select a good study place. form study groups. consider the time management ideas.

You belong to an elite group of students now: across the United States 5% of students who graduate with a B.S. degree are engineers. You will learn how to ask questions to nd out how things are made, how things work, how to improve things, how to design something from scratch, and how to take an idea from paper to reality and actually build something. what you do for the next ve years will affect you for the rest of your life. You must take the responsibility for learning.

Many of us need approximately 8 hours of sleep every night. we all need to have some time for work, friends and family, studying, and relaxation. With 24 hours in a given day, we have, for a oneweek period, 168 hours available. Numbers in the following table are meant only to give you a reasonable starting point to help you budget your time on a weekly basis. You may prefer to spend an hour a day relaxing during the week and use the additional social hours on weekends. Even with generous relaxation and social time, this sample allows 68 hours a week to devote to your education.

you need to learn to manage your time wisely if you want to be successful in life.

You start studying and preparing from the very rst day of class! It is always a good idea to read the material that your professor is planning to cover in class ahead of time.

Attend Your Classes Regularly: Your professor may offer additional explanations and discussion of some material that may not be well presented in your textbook. Get Help Right Away: If for some reason you cannot see your professor during the designated office hours, ask for an appointment.

Take Good Notes: listen carefully during the lectures so you can identify and record the important ideas and concepts. Some students may not realize that they should also take notes when reading the textbook. Select a Good Study Place:

Form Study Groups: the best way to learn something is to teach it. You need to study on your own rst and then get together with your classmates to discuss and explain key ideas and concepts to each other.
Prepare for Examinations: Dont wait until the night before the exam to study!. Spend a few hours reviewing your notes and sample problems. Ask your instructor ahead of time what type of exam it will be, how many questions there will be. Consider timing yourself when doing your homework problems

There are many good reasons to join an engineering organization. Networking, participating, listening to technical guest speakers, attending social events, taking advantage of learning opportunities through short courses, seminars, and conferences, and obtaining student loans and scholarships are a few of the common benets of belonging to an engineering organization.

You should use the ideas discussed in this chapter to make your transition from high school to college smoothly. You should also consider the time management ideas discussed in this chapter to arrive at a reasonable weekly schedule. You should realize that you must start studying and preparing from the rst day of class, attend classes regularly, get help right away, take good notes, select a good study place, and form study groups. You should know the importance of joining an engineering organization, and become an active participant.