Aerospace Engineering Degree

Aerospace engineers research, analyze, design, synthesize, develop and test aircraft, spacecraft and weapons. Aerospace engineers who focus on aircraft are called aeronautical engineers; those who concentrate on spacecraft are called astronautical engineers.

They are essentially concerned with the aerodynamic properties of flight vehicles, such as airfoil, control surfaces, lift and drag.

An aerospace engineers can specialize in areas such as structural design, propulsion, navigation, guidance and control systems, communications or defense systems.

They may also specialize in a particular type of equipment, including commercial and military planes and jets, helicopters, space shuttles, satellites, space vehicles, missiles or or combat aerial vehicles.

Aerospace engineers can develop a special expertise in aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, avionics or guidance and control systems.

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Acoustic Engineering Success Story

The Bose company is a prime example of a firm that relies heavily on the expertise of sound engineers. Founded by Amar G. Bose, an engineer himself, who studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the firm built its reputation on developing and marketing audio equipment and systems of impeccable quality. The company’s products are popular among consumers, automobile manufactures and performing arts venues. The equipment developed by their sound engineers strives to simulate the quality experienced at a live concert hall. Bose has chosen to engage in long-term, higher-risk projects requiring immense research and development instead of providing cheaper products to its customers. This approach has paid off with the creation of noise-canceling audio equipment such as headphones as well as ingenious suspension systems for the automobile industry.

As a teacher at MIT for nearly 50 years, Bose instructed a course on acoustics that transcended mere technical matters into larger life lessons. Bose stressed to his students the importance of personal responsibility and having high standards for work and integrity. Many students attributed to Dr. Bose their resolve to take on more risky endeavors as well as the technical and critical-thinking skills to achieve success in their careers. The life of Bose and the success of his company serves as a model for all practitioners in the field, underscoring the importance of developing a well-rounded education and approach to successfully tackling both technical and more abstract challenges that they may encounter both in their personal and professional arenas.

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Vehicle Engineering Career

Vehicle engineers dedicate themselves to the design, creation and functionality of vehicles and their components, including automobiles, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. Traditionally, they work in the entire product life cycle from the initial design through production, distribution and marketing, though often specialize in design, research and development or manufacturing. Take some time to request information from schools in our directory that can help you become a vehicle engineer. We recommend contacting multiple schools to be sure you start out on the right track!

Vehicle engineers are professionals who integrate engineering and business acumen to ensure vehicles are developed within cost requirements. Engineers in this field utilize a bevy of scientific principles including thermodynamic and mechanical inquiry to enhance operation and developing solutions for design flaws. Upon realizing a specialty, a vehicle engineer may be asked to execute a bevy of duties and responsibilities. Some undertake the design and creation of visual models for various vehicles and their accompanying parts and features with the assistance of digital applications, enabling them to determine the best source materials to employ.

A medley of companies compete for the expertise and skills of these scientific professionals. Producers of automobiles and commercial vehicles as well as component manufacturers employ these types of engineers to work on luxury, sport and utility vehicles and their supporting parts. In addition to the auto industry, design firms, industrial equipment manufacturers, energy firms, and competitive racing teams endeavor to secure the services of vehicle engineers. With these types of firms, these professionals dedicate their efforts to constructing prototypes and models of parts, the application of evaluation processes, computer software, and physical integrity measurements. Along these lines, professionals may endeavor in developing equipment and parts that meet evolving market conditions, customer tastes, and government safety and health requirements. In addition, they may refine design specifications, examine the environmental implications of a project, oversee the installation of new or enhanced assets into production facility, and/or investigate realized or potential failures in an engineering system. From a business executive perspective, vehicle engineers may negotiate with suppliers in managing contracts, delivery schedules, and logistics as well as track project budgets. Global companies such as General Motors, Tesla, Chevron, Johnson Controls, and Toyota serve as a sample of the firms in the market for these types of employees.

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Real-life Example of a Transport Engineer Career

Based on the experience of several young practitioners in the profession, the field of transport engineering offers a rich professional experience. Scott Sorensen, an engineer from the University of Nebraska, developed an after school education program to teach principles of engineering to high school students, whereby they designed buildings and created electrical applications for Christmas lights. Matthew Arnold, an engineer from Kansas State University, finds the hands-on nature of the field most engaging. He thrives performing outdoors, enabling him the experience the vitality absent from working in an office. Both Sorensen and Arnold enjoy the state-of-the-art technology they employ on a daily basis such as self-driving vehicles. New challenges encountered have made the field particularly rewarding for Tomas Lindheimer, an engineer from the University of Kansas. He enjoys the broad concepts and intellectual curiosity the industry demands. He believes he’s constantly learning new concepts that compel him to rethink his preconceived notions.

The direct impact the field has on people’s lives serves as the most attractive part of the profession for these young professionals. Instead of sitting in an office, detached from their fellow man, these engineers see the influence their work has on the daily lives of the people they serve. Many professors and industry executives encourage aspiring students and candidates to carefully consider the impact their work has on society as a whole. It is one of a few industries where practitioners see first-hand the results their technical backgrounds have on the ways people experience their daily lives.

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Thermal Engineering Career Outlook

 

Thermal Engineering

Professionals in the field of thermal engineering strive to develop more efficient means for transferring energy into more practical means, drawing on their expertise in heat transfer. Within an industrial context, these engineers work on solutions for fuels, exploring forms of chemical, electrical and mechanical energy. These professionals find specialization in the fields of high technology, solar power, oil and gas, power companies, as well as temperature control systems. Transforming power grids to create more affordable electricity has become one of the most popular fields utilizing the expertise of thermal engineers.

If you want to know more about becoming a thermal engineer, contact the schools listed here to learn more. It’s important to talk to as many schools as you can to determine the best way forward.

Thermal engineers dedicate their efforts to refining electronics systems and safety applications. They collaborate extensively with groups of hardware and software experts at all stages of the product cycle from initial design through the manufacturing and installation of products and systems. In this capacity, they may develop models for industrial assets rooted in computer projects for optimizing source materials and functionality.

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Real Life Example of a Structural Engineer

John Shmerykowsky , an experienced structural engineer, has witnessed first-hand the rewards of the career as well as the technological transformations that are reshaping the industry. As a principal of his own firm, he spearheaded the work completed at the Phillip Morris building in New York City at 120 Park Avenue. He works primarily as a consultant to architects, while he completed his education at Fountainbleu in Paris. Shmerykowsky has developed his reputation by completing projects that feature unique challenges. For example, the Phillip Morris project possessed a structure that was one quarter positioned over functioning subway tracks that were employed to transport garbage. His team had to develop an approach that would enable them to complete work on the building, while enabling the tracks to run without interruption. He also developed sustainable features in the building including windows conducive to harnessing natural light. Over time, he has seen how vital digital applications have become to the industry, whereby he encourages all aspiring professionals to become comfortable with the technology as well as current ones to reman vigilant in keeping current on computer-based trends. His firm Shmerykowsky Consulting Engineers currently seeks structural engineers to add to their team to help realize current projects for their portfolio of clients. Like the company’s founder, the firm seeks engineering professionals that possess a diverse range of technical, business, interpersonal and communication skills that are tantamount to executing current and future structures throughout the world.

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Software Engineering Degrees

Most people are familiar with older, more traditional engineering fields such as mechanical, civil, or electrical. Software Engineering is a relatively new discipline, but in today’s increasingly interconnected world, it is becoming more and more important.

Software Engineering differs from Computer Science or Web Design in that you are formulating how the overall software system functions, and how it works within its intended hardware environment.

Software Engineers are responsible for every phase of a development project, not just for writing the computer code. Upon the initiation of a project, they make sure requirements are documented and validated.

This assures the entire project is working toward the correct goal. They then move on to system design, often overseeing the creation of software prototypes to present to clients for additional validation.

Once the design is solid, Software Engineers manage the overall development effort to make sure the pieces are coming together as planned. Finally, they create and oversee test cases which assure system functionality is complete and traceable to the requirements generated at the time of project initiation.

Software Engineering is the discipline that makes sure computer systems are developed methodically and result in building the right product with quality built in from the beginning.

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The Life of a Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineers typically design equipment to extract oil and gas, and develop ways to force oil out of wells through injection of water, chemicals, gases, or steam.

They develop drilling plans, survey, evaluate, and test wells. They use computer-controlled drilling to connect separated deposits to a single well. They ensure proper installation, maintenance, and operation of oil field equipment.

Reservoir engineers optimize production with proper well placement and enhanced recovery techniques. Drilling engineers oversee the technical aspects of drilling exploration, production, and injection wells. Production and subsurface engineers direct connections between reservoirs and wells, overseeing downhole monitoring equipment and flow control, sand control, and perforations.

They select surface equipment to separate fluids (oil, natural gas, and water), and they evaluate artificial lift methods.

Emerging career choices involve pollution cleanup, hydrology, and underground waste disposal (the subsurface injection of carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases). Petroleum engineers are also educated in geothermal energy production, in situ uranium leaching, and coal gasification.

The known worldwide oil and gas reserves are larger than ever. Found in diverse areas, these resources provide opportunities for assignments in the Middle East, Asia, South America, Australia, and beyond.

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Main Focus of a Nuclear Engineering Degree

 

Nuclear engineering is the most integrated of the engineering disciplines. The many components of nuclear systems (medical imaging, nuclear fission reactors, ultrasensitive contraband detectors, and fusion reactors) must all be understood as well as how they relate to one another. Nuclear engineers must be experts in their primary field, as well as knowledgeable in other fields such as electronics, thermodynamics, physics, and materials science. The fundamentals of one science are often the same tools used in solving problems in the other disciplines.

An undergraduate degree in nuclear science and engineering develops the fundamentals of nuclear processes—their production, interactions, and radiation measurements. These studies bring the student all the way to the design phase of nuclear-based systems, stressing social, health, and energy and security impacts.

Studies also incorporate computer methods, thermal-fluid engineering, and electronics—critical tools for a nuclear engineering career.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering prepares students for careers in the application and engineering of low-energy nuclear physics. This includes design, analysis, and operation of radiation systems and their applications, such as fission reactors and accelerators, and biomedical uses. Students are also prepared for graduate study in a wide range of engineering and physical sciences.

A five-year program offers an opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nuclear Science and Engineering simultaneously.

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Real Life Nanoengineers Making an Impact

Nanoengineers not only impact the way people live and think on Earth, but also may provide the key to further space exploration. As both the European Space Agency and NASA strive to execute manned missions to other planets like Mars as well as develop more advanced spacesuits and micro-shuttles, nanotechnology will serve an essential role in pushing these endeavors into reality. Nanoengineers will be called upon to reduce the weight and sheer volume of components needed to explore other worlds, thereby reducing the costs associated with such expeditions. This may well enable countries with smaller economies to venture into space. For example, nano engineers at NASA have created sensors rooted in nanotechnology for use on the International Space Station (ISS). The sensor is the size of a postage stamp, yet has the capacity to detect impurities in an astronaut’s air supply, and may well be utilized on potential roving explorations on Mars to gather samples from the red planet. Furthermore, technology companies like Apple have used nanotechnology and professionals to develop their tablet hardware products and musical devices like the iPad mini and iPod nano. The iPod nano, for instance, features a compact, design that clips onto a person’s lapel making it easy for customers to listen to music while being unencumbered by a weighty product. The sleek, minimalist design associated with Apple products illuminates how the field of study bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and providing useful and lucrative consumer products. As nanotechnology grows with the expertise of its practitioners, its impact will be seen throughout all spheres of human life.

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Molecular Engineering Career

Molecular engineering entails the creation of molecules and the development of new products from them. Often these molecules do not exist naturally and may not be stable enough to employ beyond a narrow of parameter of uses. It is quite difficult to create these particles, as it requires the manual use of sensitive equipment such as a scanning tunneling microscope. The technology has the capacity to take entire libraries of books and condense their contents into a digital storage device the size of a single cube of sugar. This is an interesting field of engineering, with limitless potential. If you want to learn more about working towards a career in this area, search for schools in your area by using our list below. The work of molecular engineers is present in every industry, including robotics, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, materials, fashion and entertainment. In addition, the agricultural industry and medical devices field is expected to be transformed by innovations in molecular engineering, thereby forging new markets and employment opportunities for trained professionals.

The field is particularly important for scientific materials research and pharmaceuticals, as it is employed as a sophisticated form of chemical engineering. A potential application of molecular engineering would include a minute device that navigates seamlessly through a human body eradicating cancerous cells thereby precluding them from spreading. Duties of professional in the field may well include using statistics and computer models to predict molecular manipulation outcomes; employ business acumen in marketing applications; demonstrate leadership capabilities in managing a team of engineers and researchers; as well as manage the entire life cycle of product development. 

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Real-World of Mining Engineers

The working and academic lives of a mining and geological engineer is one of constant problem solving, exploration, attention to detail and communication. As one of, if not the primary coordinator for digging and mining operations, the engineer is charged with the planning, logistics, safety assurance and contingency/emergency management of their projects. In addition to the technical engineering skills required for the surveying, planning, digging and extraction or study of materials, the project engineers are quite often also required to maintain strong lines of communication with the crews of professional miners or students they are working with. As such, and especially in respect to safety or emergency management, the numbers of women entering the fields has been steadily increasing.

Former University of Arizona mining student and captain of the women’s mine rescue team, Allison Hagerman was interviewed by the school news site UANews.org in 2013, during one of its mining and geological engineering drilling competitions at the school’s San Xavier underground mine. Speaking about her experiences, she highlighted that safety in the field was not only paramount, but also presented a specialization. One which, following her graduation in May of 2013, inspired her to take the reigns as the captain of the women’s rescue team at the San Xavier Mining Laboratory. While talking to UANews about her studies of the mining and geological sciences, Hagerman eagerly pointed out that along with a 100% program graduation rate, her skills and studies allowed her to transition directly out of school into a stable, high paying position in the private sector.

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Mechatronic Engineering Career

 

Mechatronic Engineering

Mechatronics engineering revolves around the design, construction and operation of intelligent products and systems, stemming from the integration of hardware and software applications. The Japanese engineer Tetsuro Mori developed the name for the field in 1969, while working as an executive engineer at the firm Yaskawa. The field is still evolving and sometimes is still referred to as Asset Management in the industry. Professionals in this arena develop approaches to industrial problems employing mechanical and electronic solutions and computer applications. They develop products through the integration of diverse technologies for streamlining processes and applications in endeavors like underwater exploration. These engineers create and evaluate factory production lines blending manufacturing and technologies to enhance efficiency. In addition, they preserve and augment manufacturing designs and processes in applications such as robot floor cleaners.
If you are looking for information about Mechatronics and want to speak with colleges and universities about earning your engineering degree, we can help. We work with schools across the nation to inform students of their options for education. Use our directory of schools to request more information today about their programs.

Mechatronic engineers traditionally work in a laboratory, processing plant or engineering office setting, especially among product developers, manufacturing firms, mining or forestry industries, aerospace and defense, government and industry research groups, as well as electrical power facilities. In addition, the skill set is highly desired by prominent global enterprises in the automotive, aerospace and consumer products sectors and in innovative technology firms that manufacture and supply software components and equipment. Often graduates will establish their own firms or capitalize on research opportunities in the fields of bioengineering or nanotechnology. The demand for mechatronic specialists will continue to grow as more institutions seek to integrate technological innovations in the computer, electronic and sensor areas to enhance product processes and services. Institutions across the globe that have capitalized on mechatronics technology include Bosch, Royal Dutch Shell, FOX Racing, and Keurig Green Mountain.

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Mechanical Engineering Career Outlook

Careers

A mechanical engineer can work in industries such as aerospace, automobile, combustion engines and fuels, fluid machinery, manufacturing and construction and building sciences. A postgraduate of mechanical engineering has a host of career opportunities in other fields, such as law, business and medicine. A lawyer with a mechanical engineering degree can have a very lucrative career in patent or products liability law.

Employment opportunities in management are more available for the mechanical engineer who has a master's degree in engineering or business administration. Additionally, mechanical engineers with a postgraduate degree in biomedical engineering might work for private medical companies or hospitals developing hip replacements, prosthetics, robotic surgical equipment or diagnostic and treatment equipment.

Salary

According to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in May, 2011, mechanical engineers earned an average annual income of $83,550.

The industries with the highest concentration of mechanical engineers were:

• Engine, turbine and power transmission equipment manufacturing
• Industrial machinery manufacturing
• Motor vehicle manufacturing
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Railroad rolling stock manufacturing
• The industries with the highest levels of employment were:
• Architectural, engineering and related services
• Federal executive branch (Occupation Employment Statistics (OES) designation)
• Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
• Navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing

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Materials Science Engineering

Earning your Materials Science and Engineering Degree

Few studies are as vital to the advancement of industry as Materials Science and Engineering. Focused on the study, discovery and creation of new physical materials for use in everything from medicine, automotive and aerospace engineering and consumer goods, to rocketry and space exploration, careers in Materials Science and Engineering maintain a heavy focus on attention to detail, critical thinking and problem solving skills. As an “interdisciplinary science,” Materials Science and Engineering combines a variety of specific skills and studies, varying upon the professional or scientific objectives of the student. With strong emphasis in areas such as mathematics, thermodynamics, chemistry, bio-chemistry and materials properties (mechanical, transitional, chemical,) Materials Science and Engineering is a study which focuses on the physical materials used in given applications, for the purposes of research, safety, quality control and in certain professional areas, forensic engineering and investigation.

If you are ready to learn more about this area of engineering, contact the schools in our directory to learn more about their degree programs. We work with these schools directly and do not charge for our services. We simply want to help students like you understand your options!

Classically referred to as “metallurgy” in many schools and training programs, Materials Science and Engineering is generally regarded as a relatively new field of study, combining older metallurgic arts and understanding with newer studies of things such as atomic structure, applied physics and the creation and study of newer synthetic materials. Professional opportunities in the field cover a broad spectrum of industrial and scientific sectors, ranging from basic scientific research and discovery to applicable industry specific occupations in fields such as bio-technology, defense and consumer product engineering.

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Marine Engineering degree through online study?

Many schools offer online marine engineering degrees. When making your selection, ensure that your school of choice offers programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

A four-year bachelor of science degree is sufficient to cover the basic concepts of marine engineering. Those wishing to learn more about a specific facet of the profession are advised to earn a masters (one to two more years), and possibly later a PhD (time varies widely). Certain colleges offer combined masters to PhD programs that help students earn post-graduate education degrees faster.

It should be noted that after finishing a bachelor’s degree, marine engineers typically take several U.S. Coast Guard licensing exams. After successfully passing the Third Assistant License Exam, engineers gain more experience before taking the Second Assistant license. After even more time in the field, marine engineers take the First Assistant license, followed by the Chief Assistant license.

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Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering is actually a far-ranging profession that focuses on optimizing complex processes or systems by reducing wastefulness in production. It focuses on systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, and materials and may address mathematical, physical and social science concerns. It brings to bear the principles and techniques of engineering design on many facets of life and seeks to specify, predict, and evaluate the results derived from these systems or processes.

Industrial engineering is one of the oldest branches of engineering taught in engineering schools, and generally requires that practitioners hold a professional engineering license in order to practice. If you want to learn more about this field, and how to pursue a career in this direction, contact the schools in our directory to receive detailed information you can use to make a decision.

The entry-level qualification needed to work as an industrial engineer is typically a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. It is not uncommon, however, for practicing industrial engineers to have degrees in related fields such as mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering technology, or general engineering. Many universities that offer degrees in the field offer advanced degrees: master’s and doctoral level program, as well. US News and World Report ranks industrial engineering programs in the United States. In 2012, the top ranked US program was at the Georgia Institute of Technology. As of 2012, it had held this ranking for twenty-two consecutive years. The program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and University of California, Berkeley, have been ranked second and third in the United States for many years.

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Environmental Engineering Education Requirements

 

First and Second years

• Students take courses in English composition, mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, and introductory engineering.

Third year

• Introduces advanced engineering courses, including solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and laboratories in engineering materials, hydraulic engineering, and environmental monitoring and process engineering.

Fourth-year

• Primarily these studies are based on students' electives and if they are laying the foundation for a graduate level degree.

Graduate Level

Students specializing in environmental engineering can pursue four graduate degrees. The master of engineering (M.Eng.) degree is for those who seek careers that do not include research. The master of science (M.S.) degree requires students to conduct a thesis research project and expand their knowledge.

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is awarded for expertise in research, and the doctor of engineering (D.Eng.) degree is designed to combine technical expertise with management skills.

There are online schools for B.S. degrees in engineering, but they are not reviewed here. The many laboratory components of engineering studies may not be available online; careful attention should be given to selecting an institution.

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What is an Electrical Engineer?

 

Electrical engineers study electronics, electromagnetism, and the application of electricity. The products they develop are used in medical technology, game systems, cell phones, robotics, cars, green technologies, and navigation systems, just touching lightly on the list.

Nearly everything that defines modern civilization is linked to electrical engineering. These engineers work in labs, offices, and industries. They develop systems for power generation, transmission, and distribution—have you heard about "the grid?"

In addition to the subjects mentioned above (and still touching only briefly on the scope), this expertise covers power switches (solar, wind, geothermal), design of power systems, and architectural planning. Electrical engineering is behind the development of every electronic thing within your grasp.

Electrical engineers focus on computer systems design, components, and processes. They incorporate research or management using specialized, hands-on knowledge and dealing with public, private, and academic sectors. They are dedicated to continuing education, on-the-job learning, leadership, and applying new techniques to new situations.

The sciences of physics and mathematics are fundamental to this profession, but technical focus accounts for only a fraction of this work. Making proposals to clients, preparing budgets, and calculating project schedules consumes much of these engineers' time. Senior-level engineers often manage a team, so project management skills and strong communication skills are vital.

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Computer Engineering Career Outlook and Salary

 

Just like their educational background, the job market for Computer Engineers is very broad. Rewarding careers are found in many areas. Robotic manufacturing, security equipment, medical diagnostic devices, and personal electronics virtually all have some sort of computer in them.

The breadth of this industry means there are many opportunities to expand your skills as well as move up in responsibility and compensation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer Hardware Engineers make a median annual salary of $98,610. Jobs in Computer Engineering are, like many other high-paying careers, most available in the Northeast and Southwest. Jobs in Computer Engineering are expected to increase by 9% annually. The job market is expanding, and average salaries in the field are respectable.

Studying Computer Engineering can lead to a very rewarding career at the cutting edge of technology. Since virtually every modern device you own has some form of the microprocessor in it, there is a growing need for Computer Engineers to design and integrate them. The job market is expanding, and average salaries in the field are respectable.

If you love math and science and want to be a part of the growing technology world, look into one of the many available Computer Engineering college degrees and get started in a rewarding career.

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