Systems or physical products?
Software and electrical engineering focus on code, information, and electronics; mechanical and civil engineering deal more with materials, structures, and physical systems.
Field of Study / Engineering
Engineering Degrees: What Will You Design, Build, and Develop?
Compare engineering programs by the problems they address, their foundations in science and mathematics, their work environments, and the things students build throughout the degree.
Compare 7 degrees in this fieldHow do you start comparing?
Three questions that sharpen the differences
How much foundational science?
Chemical and biomedical engineering rely especially on chemistry, biology, and physics, while industrial engineering and management combines optimization, data, and processes.
What would you like to create?
Consider whether you would be excited to build software, a circuit, a machine, a production process, medical equipment, or large-scale infrastructure.
Connections within the field
Choose by type of interest
These are not official tracks, but a way to identify degrees that address similar questions.
Software, electronics and systems
For those drawn to code, computation, signals, and complex systems.
Structures, machines, and infrastructure
For those who want to design physical things that work in the real world.
Matter, chemistry and health
Tracks that connect engineering to life sciences, materials and processes.
All programs on the map
7 Degrees in Engineering
Open any degree to explore its core subjects, program structure, quantitative load, and career directions.
usually 4 years; 3–5 according to the system
Electrical Engineering
Circuits, signals and chips - the physics and mathematics behind the technology.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Mechanical Engineering
Forces, movement, energy and materials — to design products and systems that work in the real world.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Industrial Engineering and Management
Data, processes and people — to improve complex systems and make more effective decisions.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Civil Engineering
Buildings, transportation and infrastructure - to plan the built environment so that it is safe, efficient and durable.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Software Engineering
From architecture planning to a working product - to build large, reliable and maintainable software systems.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Chemical Engineering
To transform chemical processes into large-scale production - from medicine and energy to food and materials.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →Usually 4 years
Biomedical Engineering
Engineering meets medicine - to develop instrumentation, imaging, sensors and solutions that improve diagnosis and treatment.
MathematicsEnglish
What will you study, and where can it lead? →