I know you all are early in the series but something I’m trying to figure out is what type of engineering I want to go into (specifically mechanical or materials science). So it would be really interesting to have a comparison of the biggest class focuses (I know that’s a bit more school specific but broadly) and career advantages/paths for each. Which get you more into research, more into design, manufacturing etc, more desk jobs or hands on. It’s sometimes hard to figure out from individuals because they can only speak to their specific path.
Agreed! Just wanted to share that Crash Course Engineering can also help you decide that - it covers the major fields and concepts of engineering, all with the aim of helping you know more about it all, and decide which one is best for you!
I studied Biomedical and Mechanical engineering. I'm not an expert but I had to take some matsci classes for both. In my opinion matsci focuses on mechanics at the atomic level which makes it a bit chemistry-like. You often focus on quite "small" things like at the nano level. Mechanical engineering, on the other hand, has very little chemistry usually beyond combustion and a few other niche topics, I'd say. Just my two cents. I'm generalizing a bit of course.
Depending on the school materials science may fall within mechanical engineering or be a separate major. Materials science is definitely a bit more chemistry focused but if you get a mechanical engineering degree it won’t exclude you from many materials science positions if you pursue jobs in that field early in your career. I studied mechanical engineering and am now doing my PhD in a group that has both materials scientists, chemical engineers and mechanical engineers.
I’m a mechanical engineer with 10+ years experience working. I’ve done heavy industry, energy & petrochemical. I would say deciding which type of Engineering starts with deciding what you’re interested in / good at. If science is more your thing, look into Chemical Engineering, if you’re more into moving parts and finding out how things work, Mechanical Engineering may be for you, if you’re into technology then Mechatronic & Elec may be for you, if you like large structures Civil engineering could be for you! Once you’ve picked the Major then you will start to find out what parts of the course you enjoy most, for me I really enjoyed problem solving; the more detail orientated design aspects didn’t appeal to me as much, so I went into construction and then Plant Engineering. Good luck!
I would say the main differences in coursework is that Mechanical Engineering study just subjects relevant to mechanics: statics/dynamics/fluids/thermodynamics, though of course at most schools you can specialize in a more diverse engineering field with electives like robotics and mechatronics. Materials science on the other hand has more physics, and more chemistry, as it deals with things on the atomic scale rather than only looking at macro level mechanical systems where such things are irrelevant. Mat sci also bleeds a little bit more into Computer Engineering and electrical engineering like circuit and microcomputer design. Based on my knowledge I think Mat Sci lends better to research though you have strong opportunities in industry or research either way.
Something important to note about all engineering fields is that all ABET accredited degree programs will have roughly the same course material! Because of the standardization, the only real difference between schools is HOW they teach the material, so try to get a feel for if courses are generally hands-on and lab based or only lecture or problems based before you choose a school.
Could you please do a video on Urban Studies and Planning? This is a major that I’m interested in but seems like a big concept, like mixing engineering and social studies.
Mechanical Engineering overlaps with other engineering fields such as electrical, chemical, civil, and computer science. I graduated in Mechanical Engineering, but I am in I&C field. Controls requires understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and electro-mechanical. There is PLC programming.
Omg this couldn't be more perfect timing. I want to go back to college and have been debating between electronic and mechanical engineering so hoping this video helps!
@@JoshStoller Thanks! I'll look into that. I did actually see one college with Robotics Engineering but haven't seen it anywhere else but it does sound interesting
I got into engineering because my local library had 3d printers, and offered free classes to teach us how to use them. I took a few, then took some mechanical drafting classes at community college since I enjoyed it so much. I figured I'd go on for Mechanical Engineering at the time. Then, I took a few electrical classes, and it was a piece of cake for me, especially compared to Mechanical Engineering. 3 associates degrees, 3 certificates, and a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering later, I am now working as an Electrical Engineer!
@@biyakikeya2116 tbh, if you know Autocad or Revit, alot of companies use those to design things, so I think that knowledge gave me a competitive edge against other entry level candidates Try learning it, study for at least 6 months (once a week, for 6 hours per week), then you should have some good basic knowledge of the program. If you can afford it, take a class on it. It will more than pay for itself in the end
I watched this because I'm curious what you had to say about my field. I generally agree except on one point - licensing. That REALLY depends on what you're going into. If you want to go into structural engineering, HVAC, civil related fields, aerospace, automotive - getting licensed is very important. You won't really be able to advance further than grunt work without a PE license because it's required to stamp drawings and get government approval. However, if you intend to work in product engineering, robotics, manufacturing... generally no one will care if you're licensed or not. It's never a bad thing to have the FE exam on your resume, so it's generally recommended to go ahead and take it, but to be honest... I didn't. I work in product design for radiation detectors and imaging devices and I don't think anyone I work with is licensed. And if they are... Clearly it doesn't really matter.
I’ve been super interested in Environmental Engineering lately: solving climate change with new technologies and plans. Will there be a video on that? Or is that a subset of Mechanical Engineering?
Environmental engineering is a subset of Civil engineering (at my Canadian University), they tend to focus on processes that analyzed and clean up soil, air and water. That's why many work in wastewater treatment facilities/sewers or sampling air quality data and removing pollutants from factory processes
If you're thinking about renewable energy, that's more mechanical/electrical engineering, and designing more efficient housing takes architectural engineering expertise
BIology is on the list! BTW Khan Academy's NGSS Creative Biology course is free and exciting! Try it out if you haven't done so already, and pair it with Crash Course for best results!
At a buffet, I personally sneak corn into the buffet so others can enjoy them. I hide 6 boiled corn ears in my jacket pockets. It is a joy for me to see other patrons of the establishment eat my corn thinking they were part of the buffet.
Just a couple notes here - most Mechanical Engineers do not need to be licensed. I have met very few PE's in my career and it is certainly not required for the majority of jobs. Many people do choose to take the FE exam right after college to leave that avenue open for themselves down the line, but it is not needed for most career paths in the mechanical field. Also, it would have been nice to see more of an array of salaries represented at the end. I'd love to say we all make $90k but realistically, straight out of school you can probably expect $60-70k, with many breaking 6 figures later on in their careers. But there's a big difference between manufacturing engineering and design engineering and what industry you're in, etc.
Is there a specialty in engineering that would allow me to work with my hands? I like building computers, doing puzzles, and sculpting with clay. My dream job would be to learn why and how the parts I'm working with do what they do and then create a tangible and useable item from them. I know mechanical engineering would be good for understanding the "why and how", but I'm worried I won't find fulfillment working only with theoretical problems or software. I want to actually make something you can touch.
She's so beautiful the only problem I have for this video I can't stop thinking about her beauty ♥️ I love the way she expresses her self you can see a strong black queen right there.
I think it's important to mention that mechanical engineering has three main pillars: 1) dynamics and control theory (physics of rigid bodies) 2) fluid dynamics (physics of air, water) 3) structural mechanics (physics of deformable solids) And that these three disciplines are applicable in a really wide variety of fields. It's not just air conditioners and tractors 🤣 Think about biomedical devices like artificial hearts, and natural processes like ocean currents. There can be lots of overlap with fields like biology and ecology. Also computer science and electrical engineering. Everything is digital nowadays. Edit: source - bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
