Mechanical vs. Civil engineering

ddelaiarro

Do you mean is ME more suited for an aeronautical engineering career than CE? Not being an AE, I can't speak 100% to that, but my initial impression would be YES. You will learn all the physics, statics and dynamics that are the basis of flight in an ME cirriculum, but you most likely will not be exposed to pure aeronautic design practice and principles.

I would love to know why you were told that CE is much more "complete and broad?" You're really comparing apples and oranges. It's the same as comparing ME and EE - you have the same base skills (physics, chemistry, advanced math, etc) but your areas of expertise are vastly different. To be honest with you, I think the EE's I have met have the broadest depth of knowledge (especially when it comes to part design) as they understand electronics and circuitry and also have a handle on mechanical traits such as stress/strain and heat transfer.

You mention that, in your country, there is no AE. Where do you live (if you don't mind me asking)? The reason I ask is because if you live in a developing nation where roads and infrastructure and emerging and growing fields, a CE degree may have been suggested due to the fact that there may be more demand for that skill set...

pizzapop

I am Canadian, graduating with a Bachelors in Environmental Science this semester. I decided the life of a scientist isn't for me. I worked at an environmental consulting company and worked with a petroleum, 2 environmental, and a biomedical engineer. It was a strange collection of people but I envied their jobs. In September I am starting a second bachelors in engineering (skipping straight to an engineering masters wouldn't really work for me because of the courses I took in my first degree.) I was planning to take civil, but am sensing some negativity here. Landfill / waste water / remediation / environmental engineering all seem like a totally decent backup for me but I really would love to work in renewable energy development (I come from an extremely windy and sunny city and see so much potential there), failing renewable energy I have big dreams about water desalination... Anyways, any comments or ideas about someone like me going into civil, or would you recommend another field like mechanical? I'm not in the world of engineering yet so I'd like to hear some opinions from those who are.

Tex0219

As someone who has been in the work force for an extended period of time, I would recommend that you get a degree in something you enjoy first and worry about the job market second. You can get a good job with any engineering degree. I started out in electrical engineering and hated it. I moved into chemical engineering and hated it. I graduated with BS and MS degrees in civil Engineering and love it. By the way, don't let anyone tell you the money isn't good in civil engineering. I make over $200K a year as a civil (geotechnical) engineer. I know plenty of other civil engineers that make plenty good money. My point is to do something you're passionate about no matter what major your choose. If you make a decision based on what you perceive the income potential to be, you will regret it. You will be working for a very long time and you better do something you enjoy. By the way, people tend to do a better job at something they enjoy.

galib20

What are the prospects for entrepreneurship in either field?
I feel opportunities will increase cyclically for CE. But off course, I think you can pursue infrastructure/construction projects as ME also.

mtthwmck

Hi all

I am studying civil engineering.

I choose civil engineering so i can do a major in structural engineering and also like designing structures and buildings etc.

so my suggestion is that do degree in a field that u like doing. if u don't want to be civil engineer then do a ME . just follow your dreams.

timsea81

This is terrible advice.

Translation: If you're too stupid to spell, major in Civil Engineering.

cake of doom

I resemble that remark!

You are right though, that post was awful.

Both M.E. and C.E. will provide good travel opportunities; depends which sector you end up working within.

Within Civils there is rail, geotechnical, marine, infrastructure, surveying and temporary works just to list a few areas and all of these are desirable world wide. Some areas pay better than others but you wont be poor by any means. So its not all digging a big hole and filling it with concrete or you could even get into forensic engineering or demolitions.

I can't imagine Mech. Eng. differs a lot in the available areas of work but as posted before, pay is a bit better. What attracted you to Mech. Eng. over Civils (or any other degree) in the first place?

vlee05

Hey all,

I'm currently a sophomore as well as a ME major and I'm having the same problem deciding. I know that in the end its still my choice but I just want to make sure my decision is correct. Over the summer, I volunteered at an architecture firm changing up some floor plans according to customer preferences but that is the most "engineering" involvement i have (besides school projects).

However, i decided to pick ME major because of the broad field it promises. I am currently starting to take my major classes such as material science and i absolutely hate it. I took an intro course for ME and barely passed. I thought about changing majors a lot of times but according to some of my friends and family, the stuff we learn in school doesnt really apply to our jobs later on so i was planning to just stick with it for 2 more years. I just wanna know... is it worth it?

The only thing i find interesting about ME is the CAD drawings. I absolutely love it when i can spend time to draw a part on Solid Works ( im only taking the intro course to SolidWorks but I enjoy it... frustrating at times but i enjoy it when the part comes out as shown in the drawing). Civil Engineering seems pretty interesting too (well based on the stuff i learned at the firm). I played with a few programs before which allows me to try to balance forces to create a bridge and other structures an these structures are tested with loads to see if they are safe etc etc. I enjoyed it.

-Note- My designs are rather poor.... Im not the type of guy to create a beautiful model of something but I can create a sturdy one.

MathINTJ

This shouldn't even be a question. NOBODY respects Civil at the jobs I internshiped at. You will be stuck doing menial consultant work. You can stop this now, this decision can effect the rest of your life.

Mathmat

Have you considered working for an oil company as mechanical engineer? For sure plenty international travel opportunities ( to exotic locations) and for sure interactive offshore projects.

rosemorrison

well mechanical engineering is more preferrable nowadays as there are lot of opportunities now in that course.