Michigan Engineering | Choosing a Major

Engineering in General

An Overview of Engineering Disciplines (ASEE) Presented by the American Society for Engineering Education
Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Engineers apply the theories and principles of science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between perceived social needs and commercial applications..."

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) Aerospace engineers are responsible for developing extraordinary machines, from airplanes that weigh over a half a million pounds to spacecraft that travel over 17,000 miles an hour....
Aeronautical & Astronautics Engineering (Purdue) "Since 1903, it has grown into one of the most complex, exacting and advanced technologies known.."
University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department "Aerospace technology has grown out of the problems of design, construction, and operation of vehicles that maneuver above the Earth's surface- vehicles ranging.."

Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences

Atmospheric Science "Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere—the blanket of air covering the Earth..."
University of Michigan AOSS Department "Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences (AOSS) is concerned with the description and explanation of phenomena in the atmospheres and oceans of the Earth and other planets. Both theoretical and applied problems are treated.."

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "By combining biology and medicine with engineering, biomedical engineers develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems..."
University of Michigan Biomedical Engineering Department "The Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Michigan is one of the finest graduate and undergraduate programs of its kind. The program benefits from its location in the midst of a world class.."

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Civil Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and water supply and sewage systems. Civil engineering, considered one of the oldest engineering disciplines, encompasses many specialties..."
Civil Engineering (Purdue) "Civil engineers work with structures. They design and supervise the construction of bridges, highways, dams, building, airports, harbors, flood control systems and vast array of projects that affect the quality of life for millions of people worldwide..."
University of Michigan Civil and Environmental Engineering Department

Chemical Engineering

Chemical Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry and engineering to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, building a bridge between science and manufacturing..."
Chemical Engineering (Purdue) "Chemistry has to do with the composition and changes in composition of substances and with the preparation, separation, and analysis of substances. Chemical engineering is concerned with the manufacture on an industrial scale of substances from raw materials through controlled chemical and physical changes..."
University of Michigan Chemical Engineering Department

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Electrical and Electronics Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "From geographical information systems that can continuously provide the location of a vehicle to giant electric power generators, electrical and electronics engineers are responsible for a wide range of technologies..."
Computer Science (US Dept. of Labor) "The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies..."
Computer Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer hardware and supervise its manufacture and installation. Hardware refers to computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers...."
Electrical & Computer Engineering (Purdue) "Electrical engineering deals with electricity - man's most versatile servant. It is a broad field with two major stems - electrical and electronics engineering..."
University of Michigan Computer Engineering Description "Computers have become ubiquitous in our lives, and Computer Engineering/Computer Science majors, upon graduation, have careers.."
University of Michigan Electrical Engineering Description "Electrical Engineering is pervasive in our lives. Daily, we see and use applications of electrical engineering from.."
University of Michigan Computer Science Description "Computers are everywhere, from inside our cars to on our desktops, and are affecting almost all aspects of our lives.."

Industrial and Operations Engineering

Computer Science (US Dept. of Labor) "The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies..."
Industrial Engineering (Purdue) "..the traditional role of the industrial engineers has to been to integrate human, material, equipment, and financial resources into productive systems, the current emphasis is on the integration of computers, information, and technology to operate and control complex systems..."
University of Michigan Industrial and Operations Engineering Department

Interdisciplinary Engineering

Interdisciplinary Engineering Program Interdisciplinary Engineering allows the most flexible curriculum in the College of Engineering. It can be used to combine curriculum in two or more engineering departments, or to allow more courses to be taken outside of engineering. As such, it is often taken by students considering a profession outside engineering, such as pre-law, pre-medicine, education or business.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Mechanical engineers work in many industries, and their work varies by industry and function. Some specialties include applied mechanics; computer-aided design and manufacturing; energy systems; pressure vessels and piping; and heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines...."
Mechanical Engineering (Purdue) "Mechanical engineers work with many other technical people to solve the complex problems that society faces. The designers will utilize analytical calculations, scientific theory, and experimental studies with different models and prototypes to verify the workability, safety, and reliability of the design..."
University of Michigan Mechanical Engineering Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering Career Resource Center For those interested in a career in Materials Science & Engineering or just wanting to learn more about the field
Discovering Materials Science and Engineering (Cornell) "In this booklet, you will find descriptions of established areas of materials science and also of emerging fields yielding new materials that will impact your life in the very near future."
Materials Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Materials engineers are involved in the extraction, development, processing, and testing of the materials used to create a diversity of products, from computer chips and television screens to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, semiconductors, and combinations of materials called composites to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements...."
Materials Engineering (Purdue) "Materials engineering deals with the chemistry and physics of matter. It is a broad concept that includes just about everything, even the kitchen sink!..."
University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering Description "Over the course of human civilization technology has been driven by the desire to meet human needs and desires more effectively and efficiently. This.."

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Careers in the Maritime Industry "Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, and Ocean Engineers design, build, operate, and maintain ships and other waterborne vehicles and ocean structures as diverse as aircraft carriers, submarines, sailboats, tankers, tugboats, yachts, underwater robots, and oil rigs..."
Naval Engineering "As a naval engineer, you can design, build, operate or maintain ships as diverse as Navy aircraft carriers and submarines, Coast Guard cutters, or commercial passenger and cargo vessels. A choice to become a naval engineer will lead you to a broad variety of engineering and physical science skills..."
University of Michigan Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Science

Nuclear Engineering (US Dept. of Labor) "Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation...."
Nuclear Engineering (Purdue) "Nuclear engineers design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear power plants used to generate electricity and power Navy ships. They also conduct research on nuclear energy and radiation..."
University of Michigan Nuclear Engineering Description "You may ask: "What is this field all about? What do people do with a degree in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences?".."

Access Keys:

Choosing a Major

Engineering in General

Aerospace Engineering

Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences

Biomedical Engineering

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Industrial and Operations Engineering

Interdisciplinary Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Science