According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), architecture and engineering occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations by 2032, resulting in an average of 188,000 job openings yearly.
Employees in engineering occupations include aerospace engineers, agricultural engineers, biomedical engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineering technicians and technologists, environmental engineers, and more.
The types of engineering careers are vast, as are the different engineering programs and engineering graduate school programs available to aspiring engineers.
In today’s blog, we’ll cover the types of Engineering degrees and programs available, with a particular focus on the Engineering programs offered at University of Bridgeport.
What is an Engineering Program?
Engineering is the science behind design, technology, and innovation used to create many modern conveniences, like our phones, cars, computers, and even the air conditioning and heating units that keep us cool and warm, respectively.
Engineers are talented, trained, skilled, and qualified professionals who use specialized knowledge bases in their specific fields to solve problems. As such, aspiring engineers attend colleges and universities with various engineering degree programs.
Engineering programs and engineering schools at colleges and universities provide interdisciplinary, professional, and comprehensive education and research opportunities in engineering sciences as well as the application and management of technology.
Students can enroll in programs in various engineering disciplines that will prepare them for leadership and technology positions in industry, government, and academia, as well as enable them to contribute to the engineering profession and community on a local, national, and global scale.
Wondering if UB’s School of Engineering is the best fit for you? Check out this video to hear from real students and get a sneak peak at life as an Engineering major at UB!
Five Types of Engineering Programs
The best undergraduate and graduate programs alike offer many different types and varieties of engineering programs. Students should look for programs that provide distinctive education in fundamental and emerging disciplines with an application-oriented approach to interdisciplinary issues and opportunities through theory and real-world state-of-the-art practices.
Every college and university’s engineering degrees vary depending on the institution, but five of the most common types of graduate Engineering degree programs, also offered by University of Bridgeport, include Master’s in Electrical Engineering, Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Master’s in Computer Engineering, Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, and Master’s in Technology Management.
1. Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering
A Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) provides students with the knowledge and skills to pursue many different career paths, including electronic designers, information technology troubleshooters, forensic lab analysts, government procedural analysts, and more.
At University of Bridgeport, our Master’s in Electrical Engineering degree program utilizes a state-of-the-art electronics design program with an emphasis on large-scale integrated circuits design as well as a strong concentration in signal analysis. Students also have access to our programmable logic control (PLC) lab, where they can build assembly lines to move products and program the lab to do things with these products.
Our students pick their own concentration in this thirty semester-hour program based on their interests and career goals by choosing electrical engineering courses that cover a variety of topics, such as:
- Pure electronics
- Fiber optics and networks
- Medical machines
- Wireless (cellular) communications
- Renewable energy
- Machine automation
- Power plant fundamentals
2. Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering
The Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering program ensures students are ready for a successful, professional career through advanced study in mechanical systems design, development, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance.
Programs combine core mechanical engineering courses with technical electives so students increase their knowledge and competence in essential skills and gain an in-depth understanding of both traditional and contemporary curriculum tracks and emerging interdisciplinary areas. In addition to the core curriculum, twenty-two elective courses, and their thesis, Master’s in Mechanical Engineering students choose four courses from four additional areas for a total of thirty-one semester hours. These areas are:
- Solid mechanics and mechanical design
- Manufacturing engineering and management
- Thermal fluid systems and sustainable energy
- Mechatronics and automation
Upon graduating from a graduate Mechanical Engineering program, students are prepared for a wide range of industries, such as transportation, automation, medical, energy general, electronics, sports, and even aerospace.
3. Master’s in Computer Engineering
Individuals with backgrounds and degrees in computer or electrical engineering interested in advanced professional work and for further doctoral studies should consider a Master’s of Science in Computer Engineering degree.
Students in these graduate-level programs take a more in-depth look at how the electrical engineering and computer science fields come together in the technology we use today through computer engineering master’s courses like:
- Introduction to computer architecture
- Data and computer communication
- Introduction to VLSI design
- Applied digital signal processing
- Object-oriented programming using software design patterns using C++
4. Master’s in Biomedical Engineering
The best Master’s in Biomedical Engineering programs take an integrated and interdisciplinary approach in order to advance graduates’ knowledge and further their understanding of fundamental issues at the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine.
Interested students should look for programs that cover the evolutionary process, how living things function, and how several branches of engineering and science are interconnected. In this thirty-four credit program, students should look for courses like Biosensors, Bioelectrics, Medical Machines, Pathology in Bioengineering, and more.
Biomedical engineering has the potential to improve human health through its cross-disciplinary research and application, and graduates of these programs are prepared to further new discoveries in tissue regeneration, biomaterials, biomechanics, biorobotics, and communications in cells.
5. Master’s of Science in Technology Management
Enterprises must continually develop, source, and/or apply the latest relevant technology in their products, services, and systems to support critical business functions and processes. Functions such as research and development (R&D), marketing, sales, customer service engineering, manufacturing, operations, and others are essential to an enterprise’s success.
As such, enterprises need trained and skilled leaders adept at managing technological change and establishing and maintaining a superior competitive advantage for their respective enterprises or new ventures.
These leaders often earn their Master’s of Science (MS) in Technology Management to gain these skills and further specialize in a number of concentrations for maximum career choices and flexibility. These areas of concentration can include:
- Global program and project management
- Manufacturing management
- Biotechnology management
- Information technology and big data
- Innovation in technology management and engineering
The types of engineering programs and degrees are as vast and wide as the industry itself.
Thus, it’s essential for students to consider their interests, passions, and goals for themselves and their careers when determining the graduate engineering degree program that is right for them.
At University of Bridgeport, our expert faculty, staff, and comprehensive support services are ready to help you get through your graduate education and into a great career.
Contact us to find out more information about all our Master’s in Engineering programs, and start your future today!