Increasing College & Career Readiness by Supporting STEM Courses
STEM CAREER DAY Resource Guide - Goodyear.com · 2017-12-14 · STEM CAREER DAY Resource Guide . 2...
Transcript of STEM CAREER DAY Resource Guide - Goodyear.com · 2017-12-14 · STEM CAREER DAY Resource Guide . 2...
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STEM CAREER DAY
Resource Guide
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Index
Overview of Engineering Disciplines……………………………… 3
College Preparatory Information Sheet…………………………... 6
Aerospace Engineering Information Sheet……………………..… 9
Biomedical Information Sheet……………………………………... 11
Chemical Engineering Information Sheet………………………… 14
Civil Engineering Information Sheet……………………………… 17
Computer Engineering/Science Information Sheet……………… 19
Electrical Engineering Information Sheet………………………… 21
Environmental Engineering Information Sheet………………….. 23
Industrial Engineering Information Sheet……………………….. 24
Material Science & Engineering Information Sheet……………... 25
Mechanical Engineering Information Sheet……………………… 27
Applied Mathematics Information Sheet…………………………. 28
Useful Website Resources………………………………………….. 29
Overview of STEM Disciplines
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WHAT IS STEM?
STEM is an acronym that denotes the academic disciplines of Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math.
When people think about STEM, they often think of products like automobiles,
scientists in a lab or mathematicians working at a University. But STEM has
played an integral part in making our lives easier, cheaper and better. By studying
a STEM field you can help solve problems that are important to society. You could
be controlling and preventing pollution, developing new medicines, creating
advanced technologies, or even exploring new worlds.
Examples of STEM Disciplines
Aerospace Engineers are responsible for developing extraordinary machines, from
airplanes that weigh over a half a million pounds to spacecraft that travel over
17,000 miles an hour. They design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and
missiles and supervise the manufacturing of these products. Aerospace engineers
who work with aircraft are considered aeronautical engineers, and those working
specifically with spacecraft are considered astronautical engineers.
Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering combines biology and engineering.
Some of these engineers work closely with biologists and medical doctors to
develop medical instruments, artificial organs, and prosthetic devices. Others
investigate questions that involve the interaction between technology and humans
such as how does working with computers all day affect one's health?
Chemical Engineers are involved in the processing and treating of liquids and
gases. They help to discover and manufacture better plastics, paints, fuels, fibers,
medicines, fertilizers, semiconductors, paper, and all other kinds of chemicals.
They rely on their knowledge of mathematics and science-particularly chemistry-
to overcome technical problems safely, economically, and in an environmentally
friendly way.
Civil Engineers belong to one of the largest branches of engineering. They deal
with buildings, bridges, dams, tunnels, airports, roads, and other structures. Civil
engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of facilities such as high-rise
buildings, airports, water treatment centers, and sanitation plants. Civil engineers
will be called upon to design the special rail beds for the magnetic levitation trains
of tomorrow.
Computer/Software Engineering/Science:
Computer engineers are involved in the design, construction, and operation of
computers, communication systems, and computing technologies. They study
ways to store information, perform rapid, complex calculations, correlating
Overview of STEM Disciplines
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selected data to support automation. Specialized areas include Application
systems, Database systems, Networks, Web applications, Operating Systems
(Microsoft, UNIX, Linux...). Computer skills are needed in numerous occupations
(Medical - diagnostic equipment; Manufacturing -machine control programming;
Defense - aircraft, flight/weapon systems, satellites, simulation; Education;
Business - payroll, accounting systems).
Electrical Engineers cover everything related to electrical devices, systems, and
the use of electricity. Electrical engineers work on power plants, computer
systems, hardware circuit design, electrical/network wiring, and the design of
electrical power for machines/devices. Electrical engineers are designing the
dashboard computers that will monitor engine functions on automobiles of the
future.
Environmental Engineers study and develop methods to protect the environment.
They develop water distribution systems, recycling methods, sewage treatment
plants, and other pollution prevention and control systems for the water, air, and
land. Environmental engineers work closely with the EPA and regional/local
environmental regulatory agencies to ensure that environmental standards are met.
Industrial Engineers organize people, information, energy, materials, and
machines involved in the production process. They are concerned with plant
design and management, quality control, and the human factors of engineering.
Industrial engineers perform tasks such as finding the best location for a high-tech
company’s new plant.
Materials Science & Engineering professionals deal with the science and
technology of producing materials that have properties and shapes suitable for
practical use. These materials include metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), and
semiconductors. The activities of these engineers range from primary materials
production through the design and development of new materials to the processing
and manufacturing of a final product.
Mechanical Engineers work in many industries, and their work varies by industry
and function. Some specialties include applied mechanics; computer-aided design
and manufacturing; energy systems; pressure vessels and piping; and heating,
refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineering is one of the
broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may work in production
operations in manufacturing or agriculture, maintenance, or technical sales; many
are administrators or managers.
Applied Mathematics:
Applied Mathematics is becoming more prevalent in a vast number of industries
because of their ability to solve real world problems using advanced numerical
methods. They are helping companies make improved business decisions through
forecasting and statistical techniques, and helping social media sites improve user
experiences through data mining to name a few. Due to its vast appeal across
Overview of STEM Disciplines
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industries an applied mathematician could find themselves working on a cross-
functional team of engineers, scientists, or investment bankers.
Beyond STEM:
STEM education provides a foundation that can be applied to many other
professions. Not many other disciplines give individuals the depth and breadth of
knowledge that STEM does, as you will have one of the most useful and
transferable traits available: you will know how to approach problems logically
and have strong problem-solving skills in general. An undergraduate degree in
STEM has proved to be an excellent stepping-stone to the fields of medicine, law,
and business.
College Preparatory Information Sheet
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What type of courses will I have to take for an STEM degree?
Algebra, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Statics, Computer Programming,
etc.
2) Will I need an advanced degree to progress in my career?
Not necessarily, but in some cases it is helpful. For example, to progress in a
business-oriented career, an MBA would be helpful, to progress in a Research field
an advanced technical degree would certainly help. Often, an employer will pay
the course fees for their employees to get advanced degrees. Some employers such
as consulting firms require an engineer to obtain a Professional Engineering (PE)
License. Employers often pay higher salaries to those with a PE license. To obtain
a PE license you must have a BS degree in engineering, some practical work
experience and pass a technical test.
3) What types of skills are needed in a STEM Career?
Problem solving, communication, ability to work on a team, integrity, initiative,
adaptability, drive for excellence, and drive for results.
4) What is the average starting salary for graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in STEM? (chart sourced from naceweb.org)
College Preparatory Information Sheet
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5) What might influence a higher salary?
Factors include high grades, practical work experience such as through a Co-op
program, specialties in your field of expertise, or an advanced degree.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What should I look for when deciding what college to attend?
Make sure the university or college is ABET approved. ABET stands for
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ABET is a federation of 28
professional engineering and technical societies which provides quality assurance
of education through their accreditation.
http://www.abet.org/
2) What courses should I take in High School in order to prepare for STEM in college?
The following is a recommendation, not an absolute requirement. There are
opportunities to take some of the necessary math or science courses you will need
in college for no credit. It is encouraged to take as much math and science as
possible, while considering the normal requirements for Ohio high school
graduation which can be provided by your guidance counselor. Advanced
Placement Calculus is also encouraged when available but is not required.
4 Years of Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus)
1 Year of Chemistry
1 Year of Physics
4 Years of English
Technology Electives if available (i.e. Computer Science or Programming)
3) What is a Co-op Program?
A cooperative education program provides for a coordinated sequence of alternate
periods of classroom instruction and employment. The student has the opportunity
to find the type of work and organization in which the student can best apply their
individual ability. Often times a co-op program extends the overall time to obtain
a degree. However, the experience gained is highly valued by perspective
employers.
College Preparatory Information Sheet
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4) What is an Honors Program?
Honors Programs offer benefits including a variety of scholarships, special faculty
advising, early registration opportunities, special curriculum opportunities in place
of standard requirements and much more. Most Honors Programs have admission
requirements that may include a minimum high school GPA, a minimum ACT or
SAT score, a minimum class rank and possibly more.
5) What does a Women in Engineering Program Offer?
Women in Engineering programs provide support for young women who are
interested in a career in engineering, through mentoring programs, group activities,
meetings and tutoring. Often times, Women in Engineering programs include
college students as well as high school students and professional women.
Aeronautical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
www.tjhsst.edu/~jleaf/pe/careers/aerospace/field .htm
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Aerospace engineers do? Aerospace engineers design, analyze, model, simulate and test aircraft, spacecraft,
satellites, missiles and rockets. Those who work with aircraft are typically called
aeronautical engineers, and those that work with spacecraft are typically called
astronautical engineers. Aerospace technology extends to many other applications
of objects moving within gases or liquids. Examples are golf balls, high speed
trains, high performance automobiles, hydrofoil ships and tall buildings in the wind.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree? You will need to take general engineering courses such as mechanics of solids,
dynamics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and statics. You will also need to take
course that are specific to the Aerospace industry such as aerospace guidance
systems, extreme altitude material science, physics of high altitude radiation,
propulsion, flight vehicle stability and control, aerospace structures. The specific
coursework will vary by University and chosen specialty major.
3) What types of industries/companies employ aerospace engineers? Aircraft Manufacturers – places that design, test, and build aircraft for the airline
industry, the government, and private use. (Lockheed, Gulfstream, Airbus, Cessna,
Boeing, and others)
Airline Industry – work on technical problems associated with the operation and
maintenance of a fleet of aircraft. (Continental, United, Delta, American, and others)
Engine Manufacturers – design and develop new technologies for engines for aircraft. (Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, GE and others) Helicopter Manufacturers – work for a company to enhance the performance
and reduce maintenance requirements of helicopters for commercial, industrial and
military uses. (Sikorsky, Robinson, Boeing, Bell and others)
Space Agency (NASA) – design, test, and build spacecraft for exploring our solar
system and universe.
U.S. Military, Defense Industry and Federal Government – design, test and
build modern fighter aircraft, vertical take-off and landing or short take-off and
landing aircraft, bombers, and missiles for military services. You may work for the
government directly or for a company that is contracted with the government.
Communication Industry - work in areas related to communications and satellites.
Aeronautical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
www.tjhsst.edu/~jleaf/pe/careers/aerospace/field .htm
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3) What types of jobs can Aerospace Engineers obtain?
Analytical - Analytical engineers use mathematics and physics to analyze data
collected from an experiment, such as analyzing the stresses on an object.
Computational Fluid Dynamics - C.F.D engineers use fast computers to
analyze nonlinear fluid motion, such as the movement of air over a lifting surface.
Cost Analysis - Cost analysis engineers provide analysis of cost and resources to
offer bids on contracts or in determining the best applicant to fill a contract.
Design - Design engineers use creative new ideas to determine the arrangement or
function of a component, or create a design to meet the criteria established for the
problem. An example is the designing of an airplane.
Field Service - This section of aerospace involves the relaying of maintenance and
service information to the customer to ensure that the product is used properly. The
representatives work with the Design engineers to build improved designs.
Flight Test - Flight test engineers plan and collect data from test flights to analyze
the successfulness of accomplishing the design criteria. An example is the analysis
of the data from the flight test of the F-22 to establish the faults that need to be
corrected.
-Illities - The -illities are taken into consideration in all steps of the production of
the product. The -illities are reliability, maintainability, vulnerability, survivability,
and overall supportability of the final product.
Management - Management positions are usually for experienced personal with
good leadership qualities. Like any other manager, a manager in the field of
aerospace must be able to deal with human problems, business decisions, and
technical activities.
Manufacturing - Manufacturing engineers work closely with Design engineers to
create economically produced components. In addition the manufacturing engineer
plans the producing of the product according to the specifications. An example is the
producing of a wing for a jet liner.
Marketing - Sales engineers attempt to sell the product to the customers, acting as a
liaison to the customer and the corporation, and making sure the customer receives
quality goods. The sales engineer also predicts which products will be needed in the
future.
Materials and Processes - Material engineers test materials to evaluate the
qualities of that material. An example is the testing of a composite alloy for its
tensile strength.
Systems Software - Systems engineers design the software to run on a system.
An example is in the designing of an electronic flight control system.
Biomedical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.bmes.org/careers.asp
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Biomedical Engineers do?
A Biomedical Engineer uses traditional engineering expertise to analyze and solve
problems in biology and medicine, providing an overall enhancement of health care. The
biomedical engineer works with other health care professionals including physicians,
nurses, therapists and technicians. Biomedical engineers may be called upon in a wide
range of capacities: to design instruments, devices, and software, to bring together
knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures, or to conduct
research needed to solve clinical problems.
2) Where do Biomedical Engineers Work?
Biomedical engineers are employed in universities, in industry, in hospitals, in research
facilities of educational and medical institutions, in teaching, and in government
regulatory agencies. In industry, they may create designs where an in-depth
understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. Government positions
often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for
devices. In the hospital, the biomedical engineer may provide advice on the selection and
use of medical equipment, as well as supervising its performance testing and
maintenance. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and
equipment, and participate in or direct research activities in collaboration with other
researchers. Some biomedical engineers are technical advisors for marketing departments
of companies and some are in management positions.
3) What types of things might I work on as a biomedical engineer?
There are a wide variety of areas in which a biomedical engineer might work, such as: Artificial organs (hearing aids, cardiac pacemakers, artificial kidneys and hearts,
blood oxygenators, synthetic blood vessels, joints, arms, and legs).
Automated patient monitoring (during surgery or in intensive care, healthy persons
in unusual environments, such as astronauts in space or underwater divers at great
depth).
Blood chemistry sensors (potassium, sodium, O2, CO2, and pH).
Advanced therapeutic and surgical devices (laser system for eye surgery, automated
delivery of insulin, etc.).
Application of expert systems and artificial intelligence to clinical decision making
(computer-based systems for diagnosing diseases).
Design of optimal clinical laboratories (computerized analyzer for blood samples,
cardiac catheterization laboratory, etc.).
Medical imaging systems (ultrasound, computer assisted tomography, magnetic
resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, etc.).
Computer modeling of physiologic systems (blood pressure control, renal function,
visual and auditory nervous circuits, etc.).
Biomaterials design (mechanical, transport and biocompatibility properties of
implantable artificial materials).
Biomechanics of injury and wound healing (gait analysis, application of growth
factors, etc.).
Sports medicine (rehabilitation, external support devices, etc.).
Biomedical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.bmes.org/careers.asp
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4) How Should I Prepare for a Career in Biomedical Engineering?
High school preparation for biomedical engineering is the same as that for any other
engineering discipline, except that life science course work should also be included.
Good communication skills are also important, because the biomedical engineer
provides a vital link with professionals having medical, technical, and other
backgrounds.
5) What are some of the specialty areas within the field of Biomedical Engineering?
Bioinstrumentation is the application of electronics and measurement techniques
to develop devices used in diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Biomaterials include both living tissue and artificial materials used for
implantation. Understanding the properties and behavior of living material is vital in
the design of implant materials.
Biomechanics applies classical mechanics to biological or medical problems. It
includes the study of motion, material deformation, flow within the body and in
devices, and transport of chemical constituents across biological and synthetic media
and membranes.
Cellular, Tissue and Genetic Engineering involves more recent attempts to
attack biomedical problems at the microscopic level. These areas utilize the
anatomy, biochemistry and mechanics of cellular and sub-cellular structures in order
to understand disease processes and to be able to intervene at very specific sites.
With these capabilities, miniature devices deliver compounds that can stimulate or
inhibit cellular processes at precise target locations to promote healing or inhibit
disease formation and progression.
Clinical Engineering is the application of technology to health care in hospitals.
Medical Imaging combines knowledge of a unique physical phenomenon (sound,
radiation, magnetism, etc.) with high speed electronic data processing, analysis and
display to generate an image.
Orthopedic Bioengineering is the specialty where methods of engineering and
computational mechanics have been applied for the understanding of the function of
bones, joints and muscles, and for the design of artificial joint replacements.
Rehabilitation Engineering enhances the capabilities and improves the quality of
life for individuals with physical and cognitive impairments.
Systems Physiology is the term used to describe that aspect of biomedical
engineering in which engineering strategies, techniques and tools are used to gain a
comprehensive and integrated understanding of the function of living organisms
ranging from bacteria to humans.
Biomedical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.bmes.org/careers.asp
13
5) What are some of the specialty areas within the field of Biomedical Engineering? (con’t)
These specialty areas frequently depend on each other. Often, the biomedical
engineer who works in an applied field will use knowledge gathered by biomedical
engineers working in other areas. For example, the design of an artificial hip is
greatly aided by studies on anatomy, bone biomechanics, gait analysis, and
biomaterial compatibility. The forces that are applied to the hip can be considered in
the design and material selection for the prosthesis. Similarly, the design of systems
to electrically stimulate paralyzed muscle to move in a controlled way uses
knowledge of the behavior of the human musculoskeletal system. The selection of
appropriate materials used in these devices falls within the realm of the biomaterials
engineer.
Chemical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.aiche.org/careers/
www.stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos029.htm 14
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Chemical Engineers do?
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry and engineering to solve
problems involving the production or use of chemicals, building a bridge between
science and manufacturing. Those working in the Chemical Process Industries (CPI)
design and operate processes and systems to combine, transport, separate, handle,
recycle, and store chemicals and their by-products. Chemical engineers also work in
a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as
electronics, clothing, pulp & paper, and photographic equipment.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
In addition to general engineering courses, you will take courses in thermodynamics,
reaction kinetics, mass transfer, heat transfer, transport phenomena, control theory,
organic chemistry, physical chemistry, etc.
3) What types of industries/companies employ Chemical Engineers?
Industries – Chemical Process Industries (e.g.- Agricultural, Paints,
Petrochemicals, Polymers, Pulp & Paper, Rubber, Soaps, etc.); Biotechnology;
Design & Construction; Electronics; Food & Beverages; Fuels; Advanced Materials;
etc.
Companies – Goodyear, Dow, DuPont, Shell, ExxonMobil, Bayer, PPG, Procter
& Gamble, BASF, BP, Eastman, etc.
4) What types of jobs can Chemical Engineers obtain?
Chemical engineers work in Manufacturing, Research & Development, Marketing,
Sales, Legal, Project Management, Consulting, etc. Here are some examples of job
functions chemical engineers have:
Process Design Engineer – Designs manufacturing facilities and the equipment
and material used inside.
Environmental Engineer – Develops techniques to reduce and recover usable
materials from waste created during manufacture of a product. Environmental
engineers may be responsible for monitoring all systems in a facility for compliance
with government environmental regulations.
Plant Process Engineer – Provides technical support to staff and troubleshoots
processes in a production facility to keep a plant running efficiently. Plant process
engineers work closely with equipment operators to get feedback on the operations
of each process and determine how to avoid shut-downs. They may also be involved
with some design work for improvement projects.
Process Safety Engineer - Designs and maintains plants and processes that are
safer for workers and communities. Process safety engineers may conduct safety
analyses of new and existing equipment, and train employees on how to safely
operate a new piece of equipment.
Chemical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.aiche.org/careers/
www.stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos029.htm 15
4) What types of jobs can Chemical Engineers obtain? (cont’d) Project Engineer - Oversees the design and construction of specific processes in a
facility. After construction, they may assist in equipment testing, operator training,
and plant start-up.
Consultant - Works for many different customers and brings specialized
knowledge to individual projects. Consultants in a construction company may work
with teams of engineers to design and construct an expansion project for a
pharmaceutical company.
Product Engineer - Product engineers may work with marketing and R&D to
ensure that a product will meet the needs of customers then sees the product through
production. They may work on new products or special variations of existing
products.
Manufacturing Production Engineer - Responsible for the day-to-day
operation of a specific manufacturing process. Manufacturing production engineers
work directly with operators to ensure that a particular product is made according to
specifications.
Research & Development Engineer - Seeks out new and more efficient ways
of using and producing existing products. Explores and develops new processes and
products and determines their usefulness and applicability.
Project Manager - Oversees the overall design and construction of a facility, then
manages ongoing operations. Project managers may manage a group of project
engineers during the design and construction of a new facility.
Attorney - Specializes in intellectual property law, patent law, technology transfer,
environmental compliance, and safety issues. Patent attorneys obtain patents for
clients and monitor the marketplace for possible patent infringements.
Technical Manager - Responsible for the engineering staff and programs at a
facility. Manages people, research programs, and daily operations of the engineering
functions.
Business Coordinator - Develops budgets and capital projections for a facility or
process. Business coordinators work closely with production and design team
members to ascertain the exact needs of a new process, then plans the capital needs
necessary to implement the program.
Professor - Instructs students in the field of chemical engineering and conducts
research in pertinent areas. Professors may teach several classes in chemical
engineering, be members on university committees, and conduct research using
funding from government, corporate, or private grants.
Chemical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.aiche.org/careers/
www.stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos029.htm 16
Quality Control Engineer -Monitors the manufacture of a product to ensure that
it meets specifications. Also, tests materials to determine how they perform over
time.
Regulatory Affairs Engineer - Researches, develops, and monitors policies and
procedures that companies must follow to ensure the proper handling of chemicals
and chemical components.
Technical Services Engineer - Works with customers, usually on-site, to solve
production problems caused by a specific process or machine. Chemical engineers
working in technical services may represent the manufacturer of a specific machine
to determine why it is not performing as designed.
Sales and Marketing Engineer - Assists customers in solving production and
process problems by providing products and services to meet their specific needs.
Chemical engineers in sales use their technical knowledge to sell chemicals,
equipment, and other products, and provide follow-up services and training where
needed.
Civil Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.asce.org/
http://www.engineeringk12.org/ www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 17
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Civil Engineers (CEs) do?
Civil Engineering, one of the largest branches of engineering, is a field that deals
with buildings, bridges, dams, roads, and other structures. CEs plan, design, and
supervise the construction of facilities such as high-rise buildings, airports, water
treatment centers, and sanitation plants. They use computer technologies and
advanced materials to design structures that meet the needs of a growing population
while protecting the environment, reducing the dangers from natural phenomenon
like storms, and considering future needs of the community.
Examples:
Build skyscrapers, bridges, or tunnels.
Design structural supports for human colonies in space or on the moon.
Construct dams or flood control structures to create wetlands or recreation areas.
Plan and supervise the development of new roads, railways, or airports. Demolish old buildings by implosion: plant and detonate explosives in such a way
that the structure falls into itself.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree? A four-year college degree is required for most civil engineering jobs. Many CEs
specialize in structural, hydraulic, water resources, environmental, transportation, or
management positions and will seek engineering degrees specific to those fields.
It is highly recommended to obtain a Professional Engineering license as a Civil
Engineer.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Construction Engineering Construction engineers are builders of our future. The construction phase of a
project represents the first tangible result of a design. Using technical and
management skills, construction engineers help turn designs into reality -- on time
and within budget. They apply knowledge of construction methods and equipment,
along with principles of financing, planning, and managing to turn the designs of
other engineers into successful facilities.
Environmental Engineering The skills of environmental engineers are becoming increasingly important as we
attempt to protect the fragile resources of our planet. Environmental engineers
translate physical, chemical, and biological processes into systems to destroy toxic
substances, remove pollutants from water, reduce non-hazardous solid waste
volumes, eliminate contaminants from the air, and develop groundwater supplies. In
this field, you might be called upon to resolve problems of providing safe drinking
water, cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous materials, cleaning up and
preventing air pollution, treating wastewater, and managing solid wastes.
Civil Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.asce.org/
http://www.engineeringk12.org/ www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 18
3) What types of jobs can I get? (cont’d)
Geo-technical Engineering Almost all of the facilities that make up our infrastructure are in, on, or with earth’s
materials, and geotechnical engineering is the discipline that deals with applications of
technology to solve these problems. Examples of facilities in the earth are tunnels, deep
foundations, and pipelines. Highway pavements and many buildings are supported on the
earth. And earth dams, levees, embankments, and slopes are constructed with the earth.
In addition, many soil-like waste materials are deposited in containment areas. To design
these facilities, geotechnical engineers must conduct analyses based on the principles of
mechanics and mathematics. These analyses require input data to quantify the properties
of the earth materials, and this information is usually obtained from laboratory or field
tests.
Structural Engineering Structural engineers face the challenge of analyzing and designing structures to ensure
that they safely perform their purpose. They must support their own weight and resist
dynamic environmental loads such as hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and floods.
Stadiums, arenas, skyscrapers, offshore oil structures, space platforms, amusement park
rides, bridges, office buildings, and homes are a few of the many types of projects in
which structural engineers are involved. Structural engineers develop and utilize
knowledge of the properties and behaviors of steel, concrete, aluminum, timber, and
plastic as well as new and exotic materials. To make certain that the plans are being
followed, structural engineers are often on the construction site inspecting and verifying
the work.
Transportation Engineering Because the quality of a community is directly related to the quality of its transportation
system, your function as a transportation engineer will be to move people, goods, and
materials safely and efficiently. Your challenge will be to find ways to meet the
increasing travel needs on land, air and sea. You will design, construct, and maintain all
types of facilities, including highways, railroads, airfields, and ports. An important part
of transportation engineering is to upgrade our transportation capability by improving
traffic control and mass transit systems, and by introducing high-speed trains, people
movers, and other new transportation methods.
Urban Planning As a professional in this area, you will be concerned with the full development of a
community. Analyzing a variety of information will help you coordinate projects, such
as projecting street patterns, identifying park and recreation areas, and determining areas
for industrial and residential growth. To ensure ready access to your community,
coordination with other authorities may be required to integrate freeways, airports, and
other related facilities. Successful coordination of a project will require you to be people-
oriented as well as technically knowledgeable.
Water Resources Water is essential to our lives, and as a water resources engineer, you will deal with
issues concerning the quality and quantity of water. You will work to prevent floods, to
supply water for cities, industry and irrigation, to treat wastewater, to protect beaches, or
to manage and redirect rivers. You might be involved in the design, construction, or
maintenance of hydroelectric power facilities, canals, dams, pipelines, pumping stations,
locks, or seaport facilities.
Computer Engineering/Science
Information
Some information obtained from the following: http://www.engineeringk12.org/
www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 19
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do computer engineers/scientists do?
Computer scientists or engineers work in aerospace, defense, information
technology, manufacturing, healthcare, design and construction among others.
Within these industries, computer engineers draw upon their technical skills and
engineering knowledge – particularly system design, programming, and math – to
solve any technical challenges they encounter. Their expertise is applied not only
in manufacturing and research, but also in the areas of defense applications,
education, medicine, as well as in many other fields that require technical training.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
General engineering courses plus Computer Architecture and Design, Structured or
Object-Oriented Design, Compiler Systems, Unix or Linux or Windows O/S,
Programming Languages (Ada, C++, C, Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, Assembly,
Basic, Fortran, etc…), JAVA, Database Design or Database Administration
(Oracle PLSQL, Database Tuning, etc…), Linear Algebra, Computer Graphics,
Network Design, etc…
One can choose to "specialize" in a certain field that may require advanced training
courses or certification exams. Example: Network Engineers may need a CNA
(Certified Network Administrator) or CNE (Certified Network Engineer).
Database IT Specialists may require certified Database Administration (DBA)
Training. Computer Engineers that choose to specialize in a particular field may
take additional classes from a certified training facility or university. A Masters
degree is not required or needed by most jobs, but may be advantageous for career
path development and salary increases.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Computer Systems Engineer – Designs computer systems and their interfaces
and the software programs to be installed and /or used in the development or
operational environment. May work with various types of Hardware and Software
applications to ensure they will communicate correctly and integrate together into
a functioning system.
Network Engineer – Develops networking communication system standards and
defines Wide-Area-Network (WAN), Local-Area-Network (LAN) equipment and
interfaces to all computer equipment.
Database Administrator – Designs database system architecture, tables, and
the methods of communication between interfacing systems to the database.
Provides support and technical expertise to keep a database system (payroll,
Computer Engineering/Science
Information
Some information obtained from the following: http://www.engineeringk12.org/
www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 20
manufacturing production, training system, medical records, billing, accounting,
etc…) running optimally.
3) What types of jobs can I get? (Cont’d) Software Engineer/Specialist – Develops Software Requirements for a
Project or Company, designs the software interfaces to the other external systems
it must communicate, writes the programming code, tests the software application
for correctness, documents the software, and may provide training to the
application end-users of the software product.
Programmer Analyst – Designs and programs software code to meet a specific
requirement. Tests the software execution to ensure it works correctly to meet the
requirements of the Project.
Consultant – Consultants are professional staff members, not direct employees
of the company for which they are consulting (that is they do not receive
medical/dental benefits or vacation/sick pay directly from that company). They
work as extended staff for short or long intervals depending upon project needs.
They develop a wide range of skill sets as they move around from task to task
working on various project assignments. A software consultant may specialize in
a field (Oracle Database development, PowerBuilder/Visual Basic GUI Interfaces,
JAVA Web development, etc…) and use that special talent on a short-term project
before moving on to another assignment.
Project Engineer – Manages or Coordinates a Project or Large Task for a
Company. The Project may involve many different Teams/groups with various
types of equipment, which need to interface/communicate with each other
effectively to install at a plant, factory, or site. Identifies and provides scope of
work for all Interfacing Systems (equipment) and tracks the development status of
all teams or tasks. They also manage problem resolution in order to meet project
schedule deadlines within the budget allocated.
Sales Manager – Technical Sales Managers or Support Engineers may travel to
different companies to demonstrate the software tools or product that their
employer markets. They become involved in the financial, purchasing, and legal
areas of the software product and the licensing agreement as to how it should be
purchased. They negotiate with Engineering Management, Purchasing, and Legal
personnel to sell the Software Product and may earn a commission.
Electrical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: http://www.engineeringk12.org/
www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 21
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Electrical Engineers do?
Electrical engineers work in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, information
technology, healthcare, design and construction among others.
Within these industries, electrical engineers draw upon their engineering
knowledge – particularly circuit design, physics, or math – to solve any technical
challenges they encounter. Their expertise is applied not only in manufacturing
and research, but also in the areas of defense applications, education, medicine, as
well as in many other fields that require technical training.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
General engineering courses plus Circuit Analysis/Design, Digital Signal
Processing, Control Systems Design, Electro-Mechanical Theory, Electro-
Magnetic Fields, RF Theory, Statics, Dynamics.
One can choose to "specialize" in a certain field that may require advanced training
courses or certification exams. Example: Power Electronics, Software
Engineering, or Embedded Systems. Electrical Engineers that choose to specialize
in a particular field may take additional classes from a certified training facility or
university. A Masters degree is not required or needed by most jobs, but may be
advantageous for career path development and salary increases.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Electrical or Design Engineer – Designs electrical systems and the controls
and equipment. Designs power systems for Plants or Facilities. Designs micro-
circuitry, chips, and circuit boards for digital signal processing. Design Guidance
Weapon systems, Robotics, etc…
Network Engineer – Develops networking communication system standards and
defines Wide-Area-Network (WAN), Local-Area-Network (LAN) equipment and
interfaces to all computer equipment.
Systems Engineer – Oversees the entire technical design of a Project to ensure
that all systems (example in an aircraft simulator: Hydraulic, Fuel, Flight Control,
Navigation, Weapons, etc…) work together and interface correctly to meet the
Project System operational requirements.
Electrical Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: http://www.engineeringk12.org/
www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf 22
3) What types of jobs can I get? (Cont’d)
Test Engineer – Designs test requirements, test plans, simulates and verifies the
functionality of the hardware/software/device producing test reports/results. They
also use System Process Controls (SPC) to optimize testing. Installs system/device
or integrates the device or equipment into the complete system in a plant or
facility.
Consultant – Consultants are professional staff members, not direct employees
of the company for which they are consulting (that is they do not receive
medical/dental benefits or vacation/sick pay directly from that company). They
work as extended staff for short or long intervals depending upon project needs.
They develop a wide range of skill sets as they move around from task to task
working on various project assignments.
Project Engineer – Manages or Coordinates a Project or Large Task for a
Company. The Project may involve many different Teams/groups with various
types of equipment, which need to interface/communicate with each other
effectively to install at a plant, factory, or site. Identifies and provides scope of
work for all Interfacing Systems (equipment) and tracks the development status of
all teams or tasks. They also manage problem resolution in order to meet project
schedule deadlines within the budget allocated.
Sales Manager – Technical Sales Managers or Support Engineers may travel to
different companies to demonstrate the software tools or product that their
employer markets. They become involved in the financial, purchasing, and legal
areas of the software product and the licensing agreement as to how it should be
purchased. They negotiate with Engineering Management, Purchasing, and Legal
personnel to sell the Software Product and may earn a commission.
Environmental Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: http://www.ce.ncsu.edu/undergraduate/ene/E100/ www.asee.org www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/cwemain.nsf
23
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Environmental Engineers do?
Environmental engineers assist with the development of water distribution
systems, recycling methods, sewage treatment plants, and other pollution
prevention and control systems in the water, air, and land. Environmental
engineers constantly seek new ways to reduce air pollution and pesticides.
Environmental Engineers work to make sure pollutants are not released into the air
or water sources and that solid waste is properly disposed. Some environmental
engineers devise and build equipment to create a cleaner environment. Others
work in management, developing environmental protection plans.
The major areas of Environmental engineering include air pollution control,
industrial hygiene, radiation protection, hazardous waste management, toxic
materials control, water supply, wastewater management, storm water
management, solid waste disposal, public health, and land management. And,
within each of these major categories are many sub-specialties.
Examples:
Develop and implement an environmental management plan for a company, a
community, or special area like a national park.
Supervise and verify that a business or organization is taking the proper
environmental protection measures.
Design and build machines that are efficient and environmentally friendly.
Work with other engineers to ensure that projects are developed with
environmental requirements considered.
Build structures for environmental purposes, like a dam to create a new wetland
or a series of terraces to reduce soil erosion.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
A four-year college degree is required for most environmental engineering jobs.
Many have civil engineering degrees but others have environmental, agricultural,
chemical, or mechanical engineering.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Since environmental engineers focus on the environment, there is usually a
component of outdoor work to their jobs.
The kind of work you can do as an environmental engineer is very diverse. You
can be a researcher, a designer, a planner, an operator of pollution control
facilities, a professor, a government regulatory agency official, a manager of
programs, or be involved in professional society work. Your employer can be
private consulting engineering firms, universities, private research firms, testing
laboratories, government agencies of all types (federal, state and local), or all types
of major corporations and private businesses.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a large employer of environmental
engineers.
Industrial Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following: www.nae.edu/nae/cwe/egmain.nsf www.iienet.org/ www.asee.org/precollege/default.cfm
24
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Industrial Engineers (IEs) do?
Industrial engineers organize the people, information, energy, materials, and machines
involved in the production process. They are concerned with plant design and
management, quality control, and the human factors of engineering. IEs perform tasks
such as finding the best location for a high-tech company's new plant. IEs develop and
implement plans to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. They
look at how people, machines, energy, resources, and information are used to
accomplish management's goals and devise ways to improve those methods. IEs have
sometimes been called "productivity people" and "efficiency experts".
Examples:
Devise a new method for storing and distributing inventory or supplies for an Internet
company.
Develop training manuals for employees in a service company.
Work on engineering teams designing structures for large crowds like sports areas
and amusement parks.
Use computer-modeling techniques to test and develop recommendations for
improving transportation systems like airports or subways.
Design equipment or facilities that are ergonomically correct.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
Most IEs have a four-year college degree. While many have IE degrees, others have
backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, computer engineering or production or
operations research.
3) What types of jobs can an Industrial Engineer do?
As you might guess, most IEs work in industry for manufacturing or service
companies. But since their skills are so versatile, IEs can work in virtually any kind of
industry or organization including government agencies and consulting firms. They
typically work standard 40-hour workweeks.
Examples:
As a management engineer in a hospital, you may help doctors and nurses make the
best use of their time in treating patients. You may also design procedures for optimum
use of medical facilities to help bring the cost of healthcare down.
As an ergonomist in a television manufacturing plant, you may change the tools
workers use to assemble televisions to reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries.
As an operations analyst for an airline, you may design a bar coding system for
identifying and transporting passengers’ luggage to ensure that it does not get lost. As
a quality engineer for a public gas and electric company, you may improve customer
satisfaction by designing a process to schedule service calls around the availability of
the customer.
Manufacturing firms and service industries hire a significant number of IEs. Today,
more and more businesses hire IEs in areas like sales and marketing, finance,
information systems, and personnel. Other industries employing IEs are hospitals,
airlines, banks, railroads, and social services.
Materials Science & Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.eng.uc.edu/prospectivestudents/degreeprograms/
25
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Materials Engineers do?
Materials Engineers deal with the science and technology of producing materials
that have properties and shapes suitable for practical use. These materials include
metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), and semiconductors. The activities of these
engineers range from primary materials production through the design and
development of new materials to the processing and manufacturing of a final
product.
2) What are materials? Materials are everywhere. Most products are made from a variety of materials to
satisfy the needs of the product. Some general categories include:
Metals: Materials that are normally combinations of "metallic elements". These
elements, when combined, usually have electrons that are non localized and as a
consequence have generic types of properties. Metals usually are good conductors
of heat and electricity. Also, they are quite strong but malleable and tend to have a
lustrous look when polished.
Ceramics: Ceramics are generally compounds between metallic and nonmetallic
elements and include such compounds as oxides, nitrides, and carbides. Typically
they are insulating and resistant to high temperatures and harsh environments.
Plastics: Plastics (or polymers) are generally organic compounds based upon
carbon and hydrogen. They are very large molecular structures. Usually they are
low density and are not stable at high temperatures.
Semiconductors: Semiconductors have electrical properties intermediate
between metallic conductors and ceramic insulators. Also, the electrical properties
are strongly dependent upon small amounts of impurities.
Composites: Composites consist of more than one material type. Fiberglass, a
combination of glass and a polymer, is an example. Concrete and plywood are
other familiar composites. Many new combinations include ceramic fibers in metal
or polymer matrix.
3) What are some applications that materials engineers design materials for?
Aerospace vehicles
Ground transportation systems
Household appliances
Energy conversion and utilization devices
Biomedical applications
Information and communication systems
Materials Science & Engineering Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.eng.uc.edu/prospectivestudents/degreeprograms/
26
Electronic and magnetic devices
Optical and optoelectronic components
4) What type of job functions might a materials engineer have?
Manufacturing
Design and development
Research
Sales and marketing
Technical services
Quality control and testing
Performance and failure analysis
Administration
Teaching
5) What are some examples of activities in industry that are dependent on materials? Development of new methods for the extraction of metals from lower grade ores at
globally competitive costs.
The development of electronic devices, including computers, is rooted in the
properties and processing of materials. Therefore, the ability to design smaller and
more powerful devices is largely a materials problem. Often these materials must
be refined to ultrahigh purity and formed into single crystals.
Development of improved high-temperature engine alloys or lighter but stronger
materials manufactured for aircraft components. This is needed to improve thrust-
to-weight ratios for aircraft.
Similar attempts to improve performance and reduce weight in automobiles have
led to the use of a variety of new metal / polymer / ceramic composites. These are
not only used in structural parts, but for devices like turbochargers.
More and more, communications systems rely on fiber optics. The ability to make
optical fibers finer than a human hair that can be made into cables with optical
properties suitable for more efficient, long communication lines - represents an
exciting new materials technology.
Development of advanced materials that go into high-tech legs for amputees
Solving environmental problems by the application of current minerals, metals,
and materials technologies.
Shape-memory alloys, or "metals with a memory", are being used for a variety of
new products including anti-scald devices for showers and eyeglass frames that
can snap back into original shape on being heated.
Mechanical Engineer Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.eng.uc.edu/prospectivestudents/degreeprograms/
27
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Mechanical engineers do?
Mechanical engineers research, develop, design, manufacture, and test tools,
engines, machines, and other mechanical devices. They work on power-producing
machines such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and
gas turbines. They also develop power-using machines such as refrigeration and
air-conditioning equipment, machine tools, material handling systems, elevators
and escalators, industrial production equipment, and robots used in manufacturing.
Mechanical engineers also design tools needed by other engineers for their work.
Computers assist mechanical engineers by accurately and efficiently performing
computations and by aiding the design process by permitting the modeling and
simulation of new designs. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided
Manufacturing (CAM) are used for design data processing and for developing
alternative designs.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
This field requires a solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics,
kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, material science and
energy.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Mechanical engineers held about 221,000 jobs in 2000.
Mechanical Engineers use the core principles as well as other knowledge in the
field to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and
machinery heating and cooling systems, motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft,
robotics, medical devices and more.
Employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow. Emerging
technologies in information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology will
create new job opportunities for mechanical engineers.
Employment of mechanical engineers in business and engineering services firms is
expected to grow faster than average as other industries in the economy
increasingly contract out to these firms to solve engineering problems. In addition
to job openings from growth, many openings should result from the need to
replace workers who transition to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Applied Mathematics Information
Some information obtained from the following:
http://www.bls.gov/ and http://www.siam.org/
28
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1) What do Applied Mathematicians do?
Applied mathematicians use advanced mathematics to solve real world problems
and in many cases they work as an essential piece of a cross functional team using
their expertise with numerical methods to solve engineering and science problems.
The industries in which they work include social media, finance, economics, data
mining and data privacy just to name a few.
2) What types of courses will I have to take for this degree?
Courses for a degree in mathematics will typically include calculus, differential
equations, linear algebra and abstract algebra. Many schools will also require
courses in a related field such as engineering, physics, computer science or
statistics.
3) What types of jobs can I get?
Some examples of jobs that an applied mathematician would be qualified for
include:
Operations Research Specialist – optimization of manufacturing processes and
reducing processing time
Statistical Scientist for social media- Mine data to develop better personalized
user experience
Business Risk Analyst – Apply advanced forecasting and statistical techniques to
make improved business decisions
Also note that many of these jobs are accessible to engineers too.
Useful Websites
29
Especially for Girls
www.educatingjane.com Award winning national site for girls
www.girlstart.com Best practices leader in empowering
girls to excel in science, technology,
engineering & math
www.girlstech.douglass.rutgers.edu Framework to evaluate electronic
resources that encourage young
women’s interest & participation in
sciences & technology
www.engineergirl.org Information on engineering for girls –
The National Academy of Engineering
www.girlsgotech.org Girl Scouts site – opportunities for
science camps, interactive technology
www.engineeryourlife.org/cms/engineers.aspx Engineering guide for high school girls
General Science & Engineering
www.nsf.gov National Science Foundation
www.cut-the-knot.org Interactive Mathematics Miscellany and
Puzzles
www.tryscience.org Science Museums Science Fair Project
Ideas Science Education
www.thetech.org The Tech Museum in Silicon Valley
www.madsci.org MadSci Network answers questions
www.discoverengineering.org Discover engineering new careers
www.quest.arc.nasa.gov NASA Quest
science.howstuffworks.com Explanations of science and technology
www.tryengineering.org Portal about engineering careers
www.engineeringk12.org/ Engineering: Dream Up The Future
www.stats.bls.gov US Bureau of Labor Statistics
www.nextstepmagazine.com College Planning – learn about college
search tips, careers, contests
www.collegeboard.com College Admissions – SAT – Univ &
College Search Tool
www.princetonreview.com/college/ College Test Prep
www.bls.gov/ BLS Engineers Outlook + salaries
http://www.codecademy.com/ Free tutorial on Computing languages
used in many of today’s technology
Homework Help
mathforum.org/dr.math Ask Dr. Math your math questions
www.sosmath.com S.O.S. Mathematics—Free resource for
math review material
homeworktips.about.com/ Homework/Study Tips
Sites for Parents and Educators
www.discoveryschool.com For parents, teachers, and students
www.ncrw.org/ The National Council for Research on
Women
www.engineeringedu.com Engineering Education Service Center
www.campinvention.org Invent Now for kids entering grades 1
through 6
Useful Websites
30
http://womensnetworkneohio.com/ Akron area $1,000 Judy Resnick
Memorial Scholarship Fund information
http://pbskids.org/designsquad For parents, educators & engineers –
engage kids in hands-on engineering
Math, Science, and Engineering
Competitions
www.eweek.org National Engineers Week
www.mathcounts.org National enrichment & competition for
middle school mathematics achievement www.nmoe.org National Museum of Education
Competitions, interactive links
www.engineersalary.com/entry.asp Starting salaries for engineers
Engineering Societies and Institutes www.asee.org American Society for Engineering Education
www.tsaweb.org Technology Student Association
www.nationalacademies.org The National Academies – Advisers to the Nation on
Science, Engineering and Medicine
www.awis.org Association for Women in Science
www.cwit.umbc.edu/ Center for Women and Information Technology
www.swe.org Society of Women Engineers
www.wepan.org Women in Engineering Proactive Network
www.nsbe.org National Society of Black Engineers
www.shpe.org Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
www.aiaa.org American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics
www.aiche.org American Institute of Chemical Engineers
www.ans.org American Nuclear Society
www.asce.org American Society of Civil Engineers
www.asme.org American Society of Mechanical Engineers
www.bmes.org Biomedical Engineering Society
www.ieee.org Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
www.iienet.org Institute of Industrial Engineers
www.careercornerstone.org Career Planning Resources in Science, Technology,
Engineering, mathematics, Computing, Healthcare
www.expandingyourhorizons.org Math/Science Network for Young Women
www.nspe.org National Society of Professional Engineers
www.sae.org Society of Automotive Engineers
Useful Websites
31
Ohio Engineering Universities
www.cwru.edu Case Western Reserve University
www.ohiou.edu Ohio University
www.osu.edu Ohio State University
www.uakron.edu University of Akron
www.utoledo.edu University of Toledo
www.csuohio.edu Cleveland State University
www.uc.edu University of Cincinnati
www.wright.edu Wright State University
www.onu.edu Ohio Northern University
www.udayton.edu University of Dayton
www.ysu.edu Youngstown State University
32