Over 250 engineering specializations are offered by U.S. universities. Some of these specializations apply engineering principles to a particular environment. Others focus on particular types of problems that may be encountered in many environments. Some engineers organize broad processes involving many different elements. Others study the microscopic structures and properties of particular types of matter.

Even more confusing than the differences between engineering specializations are the similarities. Different terms may be used interchangeably for the same area of study. Two programs may use the same name but include quite different focuses of study. Particular engineering specializations are often defined as a subfield of a number of different engineering fields.

Below are defined some of the many engineering specializations, beginning with the basic ones from which all others have developed.

The Five Basic Fields

Chemical engineering. Chemical engineers apply changes in the composition or properties of matter (chemistry) for use in industry. Chemists often perform the basic research, and then chemical engineers modify the processes discovered to make them suitable for efficient, full-scale production. A few specializations include polymer engineering, food engineering, and energy production.

Civil engineering. This field, the oldest branch of engineering, focuses on designing and building structures for society’s use, including everything from skyscrapers to pipelines. A few of the many civil engineering specializations include aerospace engineering, environmental and sanitation engineering, geotechnical engineering, and hydrologic or water resource engineering.

Electrical engineering. The largest branch of engineering, this area counts more than thirty subfields and employs more engineers than any other field. Jobs are varied, in communications, utilities, manufacturing, and indeed any industry in which electricity plays a role. A few major specializations include electronics engineering, computer engineering, communication systems engineering, and power engineering. Electronics engineering refers to the design and development of small voltage electrical components (such as those used in computers), while its opposite, power engineering, refers to large voltage electrical components.

Industrial engineering. Studying the interactions of materials, energy, people, and equipment to design a system that will efficiently produce goods and services, the successful industrial engineer must look at the big picture. Specializations include management engineering, manufacturing engineering, and quality control engineering.

Mechanical engineering. The mechanical engineer builds devices that convert energy to work or work to energy, specializing in dozens of areas from air pollution control to rubber and plastics to underwater technology.

Specializations

Aerospace engineering. May also be referred to as aeronautical engineering (or, when focused on applications beyond the earth’s atmosphere, astronautical or space engineering). Concerns the design and development of aircraft, space vehicles, satellites, and missiles. Aerospace engineers also study the effects of flight conditions, principles that also apply to travel in water. Aerospace engineering combines elements of civil, electrical, mechanical, and metallurgical/materials engineering.

Agricultural engineering. The agricultural engineer may focus on soils and water (erosion, irrigation, sewage disposal); design and construction of farm buildings; electrical power and distribution (for milk processing areas, for instance); food engineering (developing appropriate processing, storage, packaging, and handling systems); or power and machinery (the most common area of employment, involving the design or development of such equipment as tractors or livestock feeding systems.)

Architectural engineering. An uncommon major in the United States, where it is most commonly taught as a specialization within architecture. Where an architect often concentrates on design and a structure’s place within its overall environment, the architectural engineer works with the architect on safety, costs, and construction issues to translate architectural designs into a solidly engineered structure.

Automotive engineering. Design, development, testing, and assembly of land vehicles, not only cars but everything from earth-moving equipment to mass transit vehicles. Usually involving team effort from different types of engineers, automotive engineering requires expertise in civil, industrial, and mechanical engineering areas.

Bioengineering. Many differing specialties within this field combine biology, medicine, and engineering (particularly electronics). Bioengineering itself involves the study of biological systems (not necessarily human) applied for industrial, agricultural, environmental, or medical uses. Biochemical and genetic engineering are similar to bioengineering but more narrowly defined, involving applied study of structures and processes at the cellular level. Biomedical engineers do research on the life systems of humans, on biomaterials, and on other materials that may be compatible with human systems. They design such devices as pacemakers and artificial organs. Bioinstrumentation engineering or medical engineering involves design and development of equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment. Clinical engineers work within health care systems or hospitals to design appropriate computer systems and other instrumentation. Rehabilitation/health care systems engineers work (often one-on-one) with disabled individuals, designing equipment to improve their lives.

Computer engineering. A broad discipline that incorporates the fields of computer science and electrical engineering. Computer engineering emphasizes the design and development of computers and computer-related technology, including both hardware and software. Some computer engineers specialize in such areas as digital systems, operating systems, computer networks, or software.

Environmental engineering. A popular concentration within chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering programs that is now also offered as an interdisciplinary major. Environmental engineers work in such areas as pollution control, hazardous waste management, water supply protection, and noise abatement, solving problems involving human interaction with the environment.

Fire protection engineering. Involves the development of equipment and systems to prevent or combat fires. Fire protection engineers are also often involved in ensuring the safety of buildings. Chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering all relate to this specialization.

Food engineering. Engineers involved in this branch of chemical engineering may find means of sterilizing food, develop food additives, or refine protein extracts.

Manufacturing engineering. Similar to industrial engineering and generally requiring a good knowledge of mechanical engineering, this specialization focuses on such aspects of the manufacturing process as production control, the design of specialized tools and equipment, automation, and packaging.

Materials/metallurgical engineering. Inorganic solid matter falls into three general categories: metals, ceramics, and polymers (plus composite materials combining the categories). Materials engineers may study the extraction, processing, refining, combination, manufacture, or use of any of these substances (though those working with metals would usually be referred to as metallurgical or metallurgical/materials engineers). Metallurgical engineers focus on the metals. Their work most commonly involves determining how to extract a particular metal most economically and efficiently from the unwanted material that is mined with it. This can be a challenge--for example, mined copper ore is usually only about 1 percent copper. Polymer engineering is a popular career area; in fact, about 30 percent of all chemical engineers are employed in this subfield. Polymer engineering involves combining like molecules into larger, more complex molecules that can offer new properties (for example, plastics). Ceramics engineering involves study of the character, development methods, and applications of clay and silica materials processed at high temperatures. Superconductivity is one major area of research in ceramics engineering.

Mining engineering. The educational background of a mining engineer includes civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering as well as a good grasp of geology. The mining engineer is involved throughout the mining process: planning and installing the mine; putting in access roads as well as power, drainage, and ventilation systems; building living quarters and community facilities for the miners and their families if needed; arranging for pollution control and safety; and restoring and rebeautifying the land after mining.

Marine, naval architecture, and ocean engineering. These terms may be used interchangeably and curricula differ from program to program. Strictly speaking, naval architecture refers to the overall design and development of ships or other marine vehicles and structures. Marine engineering refers to the design and installation of electrical or mechanical equipment for ships and other marine facilities. Ocean engineering focuses on exploration and use of the ocean, generally either constructing structures in the ocean or locating and retrieving petroleum resources from the ocean floor.

Nuclear engineering. This specialization involves the study of nuclear fuel cycles, which most commonly is applied in monitoring fuel and reactor safety in nuclear power facilities and developing ways to dispose of nuclear waste. Nuclear engineers may also develop and design nuclear power facilities and equipment or be involved with other nuclear applications such as in food sterilization or space exploration.

Petroleum engineering. The petroleum engineer is involved throughout the oil and gas extraction process, from the drilling of exploratory wells to the determination of the safest and most economical methods for petroleum recovery.