Selected Engineering Field - Article Example

MME 101 Paper Engineering Majors Submitted by: ID# Submitted Dr. Covey via D2L Drop Box Submitted on: Define the selected engineering field including areas of expertise in the field and types of work done. 1/5 Engineering is a field that integrates the wide areas of mathematics and science in the process of offering tangible solutions to the many technical problems that face civilization(Grisham, 2009). In that respect, it is therefore a wide field that has myriad components, each dealing with different subjects. Engineering seeks to link the gap between scientific realizations and the commercial uses that can be derived from such discoveries. It therefore goes without doubt that in an increasingly dynamic and technological world, advances in engineering continue to be the order of the day. This is achieved by providing solutions for both consumer and commercial applications. Civil engineering is one of the oldest fields in engineering that arose out of the many challenges that humanity experienced in the early days. Civil engineers are concerned with overseeing the construction of tunnels, roads, bridges, airports and many other infrastructures. In the course of their job, civil engineers take account of several factors just to ensure that the final product meets the standards expected. This is done taking account of the fact that the products are normally expected to last for several years and withstand many environmental challenges. In that regard, the engineers will normally consider factors such as the best design to use, the environmental conditions, the lifetime expected from the infrastructure and even government regulations. Civil engineering itself incorporates many different specializations that are in one way or another related to one another. These disciplines have gradually evolved over time as new realities forced engineers to seek better ways to cope. Some of the major components of civil engineering include structural, environmental, geotechnical water, construction and urban planning. Normally in practice these fields relate to each other as engineers do their work. The most conspicuous field that comes to mind whenever someone talks about civil engineering is structural engineering. Here, engineers are faced with the difficult task of designing enduring structures that will resist all the environmental confrontations. They must use the appropriate materials to ensure the work is properly done. On the other hand, the knowledge of environmental engineers become almost indispensable as we try conserve the few resources that continue to diminish as the world’s population continue to surge. Their main concern is to provide a safe environment for humanity despite the pollution, to provide better ways of disposing our hazardous waste and how to manage the world’s water resources for us and for the posterity. Geotechnical engineering is concerned with those infrastructural facilities that are below the ground or dealing with the soil. A geotechnical engineer will therefore analyze such aspects as the type of soil, the stability of the ground, slopes and the quality of the rocks in a given area to determine whether they can support structures like tunnels, sewage systems, dam embankments and other infrastructure. A construction engineer on the other hand is concerned about all forms of transport infrastructure like roads, highways, railroads, airports etc. All these areas will no doubt require the best of minds given that quality should never be compromised in engineering. The most important aspect to note is that engineering is never a solitary venture. It is all about interdependence of different disciplines like architecture, survey and other areas all of which combine to give the knowledge that we seek in advancing humanity forward. List specific core (junior and/or senior) courses which are of the most interest to you and why. Also include three schools which offer the program. As a student aspiring to venture into this field of engineering, I must admit that I was fascinated by its magnificence from as early as possible. As a child I grew up admiring the highways and the airports that were part and parcel of our daily lives. I would think about the existence of such infrastructure and who really accounted for them. As a result, I made enquiries and always got the same reply. It basically boils down to enjoying and mastering mathematics, sciences and having a sharp aptitude. I have therefore always tried to be smart as possible in these fields. I am most fascinated by geotechnical, transportation and environmental engineering. I believe these fields are very real in the current civilization as we face new realities within and outside our borders. I dream of a world that is interconnected with the best of roads and airports. A world that cares to prudently use the meager resources and preserve them for the posterity. Most importantly, I dream of a time when social infrastructure will inundate the whole world. All these can only be made possible by sound engineering advancement and availability of resources. This need has always made me to study hard so as to enable me gain entrance to one of the best engineering school. I aspire to pursue my studies at Purdue University, Ohio state university or the University of Michigan. These schools have good engineering centers that can assist me further my course. They are also well ranked with some of the best engineering courses not only in the United States but even beyond. The typical salaries and three different position descriptions including education/experience requirements for selected engineering field The earnings of engineers will normally vary considerably depending on various issues such as educational level, the industry an engineer is engaged in, specialization and several other factors. However it must be admitted that the earnings of most engineers substantially commensurate with the kind of work they perform. Most engineers who work for the Federal government earn a salary of between $80,000 and $125,000.This however depends on the specialization of the civil engineer. For instance, statistics have shown that geochemical engineers earn more than their counterparts in the field of civil engineering. It therefore shows that amongst bachelor degree holders, engineers will in most cases earn higher starting salaries. It must however be noted that civil engineers undergo myriad challenges and risks in the course of their work and it is therefore imperative to compensate them accordingly. For Master degree holders, the starting salary is normally about $50,000 while PhD holders will receive starting salaries of $60,000 and above. In civil engineering, education and experience are key to everything. The work of most engineers is basically supervisory and the more experienced one is and their educational background, the more they are better placed in the market. In most fields of civil engineering, the objective is to build structures that are used by people all over the world. It therefore remains upon the engineer to seek ways of advancing themselves so that they are on track with any new developments. This is only achieved by furthering education and engaging in very stimulating engineering endeavors. With such a mindset, no goal can be unreachable for any engineer. Currently, I am civil engineer with a strong bias in transportation. I basically concern myself with the design and the supervision of the construction of the various transportation infrastructures such as roads, airports, bridges and railroads. I am employed by the federal government as a graduate engineer working in the state of Arizona. Above all I do a lot of consultancy services not only in transportation but in other civil engineering areas as well. I have been an engineer for the last 6 years of which I have gained valuable experience in the field and through education and other forms of personal advancement. My normal day begins with a dash to the construction site to replace the overnight engineer. I supervise construction work for a continuous six hours before I retire to my consulting firm where I find a bunch of other assignments. I answer hundreds of phone calls in a day all of which seek to make me address an issue in my field. It is therefore very stimulating as I go through my duties and see the products thereof. The worst part of my work comes when my expertise comes under question. This happens for instance when a bridge I constructed collapses or when a road fails to meet the required standards for one reason or another. In most cases however, it is never the fault of the engineer contrary to what people know. To any freshman engineering student, this is a field that requires hard work, dedication and perseverance. Above all respect is paramount and one must have that willingness and zeal to face the challenges ad realities that will present themselves in the course of time Works Cited Grisham, John. Engineering Today:Information for All. 12 May 2009. 6 October 2011 . Read More