Oh, The Places You Can Go with an Engineering Degree
When exploring the option of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, many often assume that means working in industry for an indefinite amount of time after those four years of college. However, an engineering degree is an amazing gateway to a multitude of different careers. Of course, working in industry is a common and great choice for many, but there are other potential career paths, including a higher education in research (i.e. PhD), professional careers in medicine and law, and working in more business-related roles that engineering students follow.
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| Me and fellow LT Madeleine walking through Engineering Mall |
Kat Kerr, a junior studying Biomedical Engineering, chose engineering as a route to pursue a higher education in research, and has been participating in undergraduate research since her freshman year. She says, “I chose BME for graduate school because of the abundance of interesting research being conducted. Being able to take classes as an undergrad and seeing the concepts being applied in research has helped me both in the classroom and in the lab.” With this higher education, one can even teach as a professor in addition to completing research with a university.
Allison Galitz, an Industrial Engineering student, has completed summer internships in various industries and roles. As a junior, she has gained exposure from working in industry and can see herself shifting to a management/business role later in her career. In fact, Allison is interested in pursuing in receiving a master’s in business administration (MBA) in the future, and says, “Engineering has set me up with a solid foundation in problem solving, analytical/quantitative skills, critical thinking, and teamwork abilities in order to be successful in the business world. Beyond that, having a technical background allows me to solve a wider breadth of problems and leverage creativity learned in engineering to do so!” It is not uncommon for new graduates to work with a company for a few years and return to school for a master’s degree in business or engineering to develop more knowledge and advance to a higher role within the company. Some companies will even offer to pay for this higher education!
Finally, students will choose engineering as a route to professional school, whether it be law, medicine, veterinary, or dental. Maansi Asthana, a junior in Biological Engineering, chose engineering as her path to medical school. She stated that, "When you think about medicine and healthcare from a more generalized perspective, you realize that engineering and medicine actually have a lot in common. As an engineer, it is your responsibility to identify the cause of problems and solve them, which is similar to situations a doctor may face. Engineering gives me relevant problem solving skills and helps me practice these skills in preparation for medicine, just in a different context right now."
Another direction for professional school is law school. I personally hope to attend law school in the future and work as a patent attorney long-term. I did not foresee this career interest prior to choosing engineering, however, the degree will be extremely beneficial in the patent law field. For example, engineering provides me with a unique skill set that will allow me to quickly understand new technologies and translate these innovations to a patent application. I hope these testimonials opened your eyes to the many places an engineering degree can take you. If you have any questions, email or direct message us using the links below!
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