Should I choose an engineering major based on the jobs I want later?
Using the kind of work you may want in the future as a guide is useful, but it should not be the only basis for your decision. After identifying fields and departments related to your target occupations, compare what you want to study, your strengths and interests, the way you prefer to learn—such as experiments or design—and the range of options after graduation. In engineering, a department name does not always correspond to one specific career, so also review the curriculum and examples of progression while allowing for your interests to change.
Key points
- Compare the knowledge and skills associated with your preferred occupations with each department’s curriculum.
- Look beyond the department name and consider learning styles such as experiments, design, and programming, along with your interests and strengths.
- An engineering department may lead to several types of work, so examine the breadth of possible paths as well.
Things to check
- Curricula, course requirements, and typical progression vary by university, faculty, department, and academic year; check the prospective institution’s official information.