| When you start an online engineering degree | | | | engineering to qualify for management or leadership |
| program, you position yourself for exciting career | | | | roles in research or teaching. |
| options--not to mention some extremely interesting | | | | Engineering Career Outlook |
| engineering courses. Engineers work across most of | | | | The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts |
| the employment spectrum, offering their services in | | | | that engineering employment will grow by 11 percent |
| design and implementation of solutions that make for | | | | during the 2006-2016 decade, with a large spike of 21 |
| a more efficient world. Depending on their specialties, | | | | percent of the new jobs created in the booming field |
| engineers work in high technology, business, finance, | | | | of biomedical engineering. Jobs for environmental |
| science, healthcare, civil engineering and infrastructure, | | | | engineers also look especially good, according to the |
| healthcare, education, manufacturing, and the | | | | BLS, with a 25 percent rise in employment predicted |
| government. | | | | for the 2006-2016 decade. |
| Earning an Engineering Degree Online | | | | Double-digit employment increases are also predicted |
| Students who are drawn to the engineering | | | | for engineers in marine sciences, mining, aerospace, |
| professions are often inquisitive, love to solve | | | | civil engineering, and health and safety professions. |
| problems, and have a keen interest in computers. | | | | Fields in materials, electrical, computer hardware, and |
| They like to research solutions, test their findings, | | | | chemical engineering should undergo growth, too, but |
| and trouble-shoot technology as it is applied. If you | | | | at less than 10 percent over the 2006-2016 decade. |
| don't think engineering is a diverse field that attracts | | | | Earnings in Engineering |
| a wide range of thinkers, consider this: There are 17 | | | | Starting salaries for engineering grads, the BLS |
| different engineering specialties listed in the Standard | | | | reports, are traditionally higher than entry level pay |
| Occupational Classification (SOC) system maintained | | | | for most other professions. However, most |
| by the Federal Government. | | | | engineers are expected to continue their educations |
| Admissions requirements and pre-requisites for | | | | to remain competitive in the workplace as systems |
| engineering programs may include previous | | | | and software continues to evolve. |
| coursework in mathematics (through calculus), hard | | | | Here are the median, 2008 annual earnings for |
| science (chemistry, biology, physics), and general | | | | engineers by discipline as reported by the BLS: |
| education in the liberal arts and humanities. | | | | - Aerospace Engineers, $92,520 |
| Most engineers find their way into their profession by | | | | - Agricultural Engineers, $68,730 |
| completing a bachelor's degree. Online engineering | | | | - Biomedical Engineers, $77,400 |
| courses at the undergraduate level prepare students | | | | - Chemical Engineers, $84,680 |
| with a foundation in physical science, mathematics, | | | | - Civil Engineers, $74,600 |
| and life sciences, while additional engineering courses | | | | - Computer Hardware Engineers, $97,400 |
| expose undergrads to a range of disciplines, including: | | | | - Electrical Engineers, $82,160 |
| - Aerospace | | | | - Environmental Engineers, $74,020 |
| - Agriculture | | | | - Health and Safety Engineers, $72,490 |
| - Biomedical Technology | | | | - Industrial Engineers, $73,820 |
| - Chemistry | | | | - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, $74,140 |
| - Civil Engineering | | | | - Mechanical Engineers, $74,920 |
| - Computer Science (Software and Hardware | | | | - Mining and Geological Engineers, $75,960 |
| Development) | | | | - Nuclear Engineers, $97,080 |
| - Electrical Engineering | | | | - Petroleum Engineers, $108,020 |
| - Mechanical Engineering | | | | Even with slowdowns in the economy, the BLS |
| - Mining | | | | reports, engineers are indispensable employees within |
| - Nuclear Technology | | | | companies, schools, and laboratories, undertaking |
| - Petroleum science | | | | long-term research and development, making |
| Depending on your chosen discipline, you can also | | | | engineering a powerful career choice. Choose your |
| pursue post-graduate work in an applied field within | | | | online engineering courses wisely. |