Engineering
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Engineering is the use of science and math to design or make things. People who do engineering are called engineers. They learn engineering by studying at university. Engineers usually design or build things that are sold or given to people. Some engineers also use their skills to solve technical problems. There are different types of engineers that design everything from computers and buildings to watches and websites.
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[change] What is it?
Engineering is a big subject. Here are a few of the many types of engineers:
- Biomedical engineers design and work with medical equipment.
- Civil engineers work on roads, bridges, buildings and other public structures.
- Mechanical engineers design machines or things that move, like cars and trains. A mechanical engineer also might help design electricity generating stations, oil refineries, and factories.
- Chemical engineers use chemicals to make products like drugs and medicines or fertilizers for crops.
- Electrical engineers work with electricity and design electrical equipment, from small things like radios and computers to large things like the wires that carry electricity across the country.
- Computer engineers design and build computers and the parts that computers are made of.
- Software engineers design and write programs for computers.
- Aerospace engineers design space vehicles or airplanes.
- Manufacturing engineers design and improve the machines and assembly lines that make things. They work with robots, hydraulics and air-operated devices to help companies work faster and better with fewer mistakes.
- Nuclear engineers design and build nuclear plants. They also study the characteristic behaviors of certain radioactive or unstable elements.
- Systems engineers look at how complicated things work and try to make them faster and smarter.
- Mechatronics Engineers build robots and things that are like robots, but not exactly. They do things that are robotic-like.
- Nanotechnology engineers study very small things, like strings of atoms and how they are put together.
Engineers do not only work with machines. They also work a lot with other people.[needs proving] Many engineering projects are large and very complicated. Often different kinds of engineers work together and help each other. As an example, computer engineers need help from electrical engineers to build a computer. The computer needs programs written by software engineers. The computer could be used by aerospace engineers to control an airplane. An airplane is a big mechanical system with many parts, so a mechanical engineer and a systems engineer are also needed.
[change] Study
Most (but not all) engineers are trained to be very clever. Much of their training involves working within a limited budget and materials.
[change] American Courses
In the United States, most engineers go to a college or university to get an engineering degree. Most people go to school for four years to get a Bachelor's degree in engineering. A Master's Degree is an advanced degree, usually requiring two more years of study after the Bachelors. A person with a Master's degree is eligible to enter a Doctoral program in engineering. A graduate of a Doctoral program is awarded a Doctor of Philosophy degree, which is commonly called a PhD. A PhD in engineering requires three or four years of study after a Master's degree, and includes the completion of a long research report called a dissertation. After having gained enough work experience, one can sit for their Professional Engineer's (PE) License, reinforcing their demonstrated proficiency in their speciality.
[change] British Courses
In the United Kingdom, engineering degrees at universities are either three year BEng (Bachelor of Engineering) or four year MEng (Master of Engineering). In many universities it is common to take only one engineering discipline (e.g. aeronautical or civil engineering) although some universities have a general engineering degree. British universities may also offer Doctoral programs as a doctor of philosophy (PhD) or a doctor of engineering (EngD). Engineers can also get additional recognition in the form of Chartership. A chartered engineer is one who has his degree or doctorate has been recognised by a group of professionals such as the IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology).
[change] French Courses
The best way to become an engineer in France is to take the CPGE (Classe Preparatoire pour les Grandes Ecoles is the French class for engineer's school) for two years and then study for three years in an "Ecole d'Ingénieur" (Engineer's school). You can also study in an IUT (Institut universitaire technologique) for three years, and then study three years in an "Ecole d'Ingénieur".
