1. The Engineering Profession
Chapter 2
The Engineering Profession

2. Chapter Overview What is Engineering? The Engineering Process
Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century
Rewards and Opportunities of an Engineering Career
Engineering Disciplines
Engineering Job Functions
Employment Opportunities
Important Fields for the Future
Engineering as a Profession

3. What is Engineering?
If someone (father, grandmother, aunt, friend, fellow student) asked you the question: “What is engineering?”
How would you respond?
“Engineering is the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of humankind.”

4. Learning More about Engineering
Study Chapter 2 of Studying Engineering
Search the web
Talk to engineering professionals
Attend career days
Other?

5. The Engineering Design Process
It is a step-by-step process to produce a device or a system
Customer need or opportunity
Problem definition/Specifications
Data and information collection
Development of alternative solutions
Evaluation of design/selection of optimal design
Implementation of optimal design

6. Greatest Engineering Achievements of 20th Century
(Neil Armstrong, National Press Club, February 22, 2000, Washington)
20. High performance materials
19. Nuclear technologies
18. Laser and fiber optics
17. Petroleum and gas technologies
16. Health technologies
15. Household appliances
14. Imaging technologies
13. Internet
12. Space exploration
11. Interstate highways

7. Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century (continued)
10. Air-conditioning and refrigeration
9. Telephone
8. Computers
7. Agricultural mechanization
6. Radio and television
5. Electronics
4. Safe and abundant water
3. Airplane
2. Automobile
1. Electrification

8. Rewards and Opportunities of an Engineering Career
Job satisfaction (success key in your career)
Varied opportunities
Challenging work
Intellectual development
Social impact
Financial security
Prestige
Professional environment (you will be treated with respect)
Understanding how things work
Creative thinking

9. 2005/06 Starting Salaries Discipline Avg. Salary Engineering $51,465
Computer Science ,680
Engineering Technology ,514
Nursing ,347
Business ,900
Mathematics and Sciences 38,217
Agriculture & Natural Resources 33,716
Education ,438
Humanities & Social Sciences 31,290
Communications ,110

10. Engineering Disciplines
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Other (Aerospace, Biomedical, etc)

11. Engineering Job Functions
Analysis
Design
Test
Development
Sales
Research
Management
Consulting
Teaching

12. Industry Sectors (Non-manufacturing)
Professional, scientific, and technical services
Information
Construction
Wholesale trade
Administrative and support
Management of companies and enterprises
Utilities
Mining

13. Industry Sectors (Manufacturing)
Computer and electronic product
Transportation equipment
Machinery
Fabricated metal product
Chemical
Electronic equipment, appliance, and component

14. Major Changes Affecting the Future
The fall of the Berlin Wall
Advances in computer technology
Advances in communications
The knowledge and information explosion
Globalization (outsourcing, off-shoring)
Increased focus on the environment
Events of September 11, 2001
World population explosion

15. Important Fields for the Future
Manufacturing frontiers
Information and communication systems
Smart and engineered materials
Bioengineering
Critical infrastructure systems
Homeland security
Improved health care delivery
Nanotechnology
Advanced environmental technology
Sensors and control systems

16. Engineering as a Profession
Professional registration
Graduation from ABET-accredited engineering program
Pass Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (FE)
Complete four years of acceptable engineering practice
Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) Exam
Professional societies

17. Group Discussion Exercise Motorized Beach Wheelchair
Working in your group, develop a list of specifications for a motorized wheel chair that could be used on a sandy beach.
Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic and a recorder to record and report what you come up with

18. Alternative Group Discussion Learning More About Engineering
In your group, “brainstorm” a list of tangible things you can do to learn more about engineering. Be bold and creative!
Appoint a leader to keep the discussion on topic and a recorder to record and report what you come up with