• Aerospace Engineering
  Aerospace engineers are the intellectual descendents of the Wright Brothers, who made aviation history in 1903 with the first powered airplane flight. Today, aerospace engineers design and develop some of the most exciting machines imaginable.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field
  • Products created by aerospace engineers include: aircraft, spacecraft, rockets
     
• Electrical Engineering
  There is very little that touches us in our daily lives that an electrical engineer did not have something to do with-from the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power, to computer hardware and consumer electronics.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field
  • Products created by electrical engineers include: communications satellites, speakers, TVs, microwaves
     
• Mechanical Engineering
  If it's a machine-anything from the engine in a supersonic jet fighter to the toaster in your kitchen-a mechanical engineer was involved. In addition, almost anything that is mass-produced-from your pencil to your favorite candy bar-is made by machines that were designed by mechanical engineers.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related field
  • Products created by mechanical engineers include: machines, engines, cars, snowmobiles
     
• Nuclear Engineering
  Nuclear engineers work on practical applications that harness the power of nuclear energy and radiation. They work in nuclear power plants; they develop the fuels and components that power aircraft carriers and submarines, and they work with X-ray machines and other imaging equipment in medical centers.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related field
  • Products created by nuclear engineers include: power plants, reactors, MRI machines, X-ray machines
     
• Software Engineering
  Software engineers deal with all aspects of computer systems. They design them, build them and operate them. They also develop the software systems that operate computers.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in software or electrical engineering or a related field
  • Products created by software engineers include: computer programs that control automated robotic systems, aircraft and spacecraft guidance systems, video games, iPod®s
     
• Systems Engineering
  Systems engineers look at the big picture. They're the people who have to think about how all the components of a project will work together as a system. They work in teams with engineers from all the
  different disciplines involved in a project and deal with cost, scheduling, design, function, and even a project's social impact.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in systems engineering or a related field
  • Products created by systems engineers include: water treatment systems, telecommunications systems, weather/environment systems

*From Career Opportunities in Engineering, by Susan Echaore-McDavid and Richard A. McDavid (Checkmark Books, 2006)