Engineering Aesthetics: A Snapshot of the Purdue Engineering Majors

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Purdue has seventeen undergraduate engineering majors, which might be overwhelming when trying to decide which one you want to go into or are interested in. We put together a list of the most popular engineering majors here at Purdue and explain the type of classes you may take, possible industry options you can go into after you graduate, and any other fun facts about the majors. We also included a nine-square “mood-board” of each of the majors as a fun and creative way to show off the aesthetics sometimes associated with each major! Please note that specific majors may have different concentrations and industry opportunities, so not all concentrations or industry options are exemplified in the mood-boards. We encourage you to dive deeper into the majors you might also be interested in to learn more!

Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (AAE):

“That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” First man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, not only said that famous phrase, but he also received his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (AAE) in 1955 from Purdue University. Purdue AAE grants 5.3% of all engineering degrees in Aerospace Engineering in the US, more than anyone else and Purdue AAE is #3 in the nation in undergraduate aerospace engineering. From Purdue, AAE students learn skills in aerodynamics, rocket and jet propulsion, aircraft structures, autonomous systems, and space mission planning. This allows graduates to have hands in thousands of projects in the industry including human missions to the Moon and Mars, self-flying air taxis, defense technologies, satellite design, launch, and tracking, hydrogen-fueled jet engines, and much more.

Learn more about AAE here.


Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE):

Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) offer many different career paths such as production agriculture, equipment research and design, and even lab work. During their time at Purdue, ABE students enroll in electives like computer-aided engineering, natural resource conservation, and food sciences to earn their degree. Some other things to note about this major: Purdue ABE has been named #1 Undergrad Program by US News & World Report for the past 10 years and the program has many applied research programs dealing with air quality and digestion technology among others.

Learn more about ABE here. 


Biomedical Engineering (BME):

Biomedical Engineering weaves biology and engineering concepts together to teach undergraduates how to create the next generation of products to advance health care. Biomedical Engineering research was made possible at Purdue by a then anonymous donation from William Hillenbrand. The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering now has over 100 patents and directly helps over 6 million patients worldwide. Undergraduates majoring in Biomedical engineering can expect courses centered around life sciences to prepare them for health care-centered and research careers. At Purdue, biomedical engineers often apply their education through extracurriculars like MEDLIFE where students can volunteer abroad to provide medical help and education.

Learn more about BME here.


Chemical Engineering (ChE):

Students of the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering have a chemistry-focused curriculum alongside concepts of engineering. All Chemical Engineering undergraduates take three fundamentals labs, including 12 experiments that give students hands-on experience with chemical engineering concepts. They can mainly be found in the Chaney-Hale Hall of Science or in the Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering. After graduation, chemical engineers can be seen working in a vast array of industries including materials, pharmaceuticals, energy and fuels, and food.

Learn more about ChE here.


Civil Engineering (CE) and Construction Engineering and Management (CEM):

The engineering discipline that deals with design, construction, and maintenance of the built environment including roads, bridges, canals, airports, pipelines, and more. Purdue is ranked #4 in the nation for the best undergraduate Civil Engineering (CE) Program. At Purdue, CE students can concentrate in one of nine concentrations including: environmental, construction, structural, and transportation engineering along with geomatics, hydraulics, and more. Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) is very similar to CE at Purdue, but it is a smaller program that focuses more on Construction Management. CE students focus on more designs, CEM students focus on the construction. With CEM at Purdue, students must complete three (3) required paid internships, with the help of the CEM Program. The curriculum is 80% engineering courses and 20% management courses.

Learn more about CEM here.
Learn more about CE here. 


Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE):

Established in 1888 and ranked in the top 8 undergraduate programs in the US, Purdue has the largest Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Program in the United States. The ECE program has a record setting $54+ million annual research awards and Purdue’s College of Electrical and Computer Engineering is home to the NanoHub which is a scientific cloud computing resource. Though Electrical and Computer Engineering overlap in the areas of architecture and circuits, Electrical Engineering (EE) focuses on transistors and antennas with applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and math. Computer Engineering (CompE) expands into designing and developing computer systems, hardware, and software. Top employers of Purdue ECE graduates include Apple, Amazon, Dell, Google, and more.

Learn more about CompE here.
Learn more about EE here. 


Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE):

50% female engineers, the highest percentage of women engineering students in the College of Engineering at Purdue— that’s Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering (EEE). Unlike other universities, EEE focuses on the modern approach to Environmental Engineering. Instead of just focusing on water emission treatment, EEE considers both environmental and ecological perspectives. Possible areas for research include a more classical Environmental Engineering route which focuses on water quality engineering, air quality engineering, watershed engineering and management, and environmental remediation. Other areas of research focused under Industrial Sustainability include sustainable energy systems and impacts, greening the built environment, life cycle engineering, and reducing impacts of chemicals and materials.

Learn more about EEE here. 


Industrial Engineering (IE):

Industrial engineers commonly work in manufacturing but entertainment industries, shipping and logistics businesses, and healthcare organizations require the skills of industrial engineers as well. At Purdue, industrial engineers use their knowledge in both business and engineering concepts in organizations like PurdueTHINK where they can practice advising in the West Lafayette community. Purdue is ranked #2 in the nation for best undergraduate Industrial Engineering (IE) Programs. Top employers of Purdue IE alumni include Eli Lilly, Accenture, and Amazon.

Learn more about IE here.


Materials Engineering (MSE):

Materials Engineers don’t make things— they make what things are made of. At Purdue, MSE has a lot of emphasis on undergraduate research (70% of all students take part in it at some point) and a low student to faculty ratio (2:1). MSE at Purdue has an interesting approach to learning, teaching students how the basic structure of what things are made of affects how not only things are made but why they appear a certain way and perform certain functions!! Students have the opportunity to participate in projects with companies like IBM, Rolls-Royce, and Allison. While most graduating students have post-graduate plans, top employers of MSE graduates include Aerojet Rocketdyne, John Deere, and Caterpillar.

Learn more about MSE here.


Mechanical Engineering (ME):

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is the broadest of all engineering majors where classes can include a range of physics, electronics, 3D printing, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, controls, and more. Many students also learn outside the classroom where they join a motorsports team or even design rockets. Purdue is the number 6 Mechanical Engineering (ME) Program in the country where 34% of students study abroad during their academic career. Some top employers for Purdue ME students include GM, Caterpillar, Honda, Boeing, and more. The top industries Purdue ME graduates work in can include aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, biomedical, engineering consulting, and heavy equipment.

Learn more about ME here. 


Nuclear Engineering (NE):

The first and only operating Nuclear Reactor in the state of Indiana is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and its name is PUR-1, or the Purdue University Reactor Number One. In addition to its educational uses, the reactor is a neutron source supporting other departments such as engineering, health science, chemistry, pharmacy, nanotechnology, and more. Purdue is ranked #11 best Nuclear Engineering (NE) Program in the US. Nuclear Energy has been one of the most sustainable energy options over the past six decades as it provides reliable, safe, and affordable electricity. Nuclear Engineers can work in the energy, government, medicine, agriculture, or space industries.

Learn more about NE here.


Multi-Disciplinary Engineering (MDE):

Multi-disciplinary engineering is somewhat of a wild card. Students who choose to pursue a major in MDE customize their degree by involving several academic disciplines and construct their own individual plan of study. Due to the nature of this major, students will have a wide variety of interests, ambitions, goals, and career paths open to them.

Learn more about MDE here.


This is just a snapshot of the most popular engineering majors Purdue has to offer. If you have any specific questions about any of them, please feel free to reach out to Purdue Women in Engineering!

Morgan Lehmkuhl CE ‘25 and Madison Meunier ChE ‘27

Recruitment Project Committee


Stay Connected With Purdue WiE Program!

Facebook: Purdue Women in Engineering

Instagram: @purduewiep

Blog: purduewiep.blogspot.com

Email: welink@purdue.edu




Purdue Women in Engineering

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