Mechanical engineers study a variety of topics, including materials, thermal properties, fluids, mechanics and controls. Some job options for mechanical engineers include designing machines for aerospace, robotics or biotechnology industries. Top schools with special emphasis on mechanical engineering include Arizona State University, Ohio State University and the University of Florida. Theses schools have large mechanical engineering programs with a variety of specialties.
Those who major in electrical engineering learn digital and electronic principles and may even study computer engineering. This is the most popular division of engineering, and according to Forbes, the most lucrative engineering career. Some top electrical engineering schools include MIT, Stanford and the University of California, Berkeley.
Civil engineering majors learn to design and construct a wide variety of structures such as buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels and sewage and waste management systems. Some specialties within civil engineering are environmental, hydrological, structural and transportation engineering. Some top schools for this major are the University of California, Berkeley; University of Illinois; and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Students in chemical engineering study math, physics, biology and chemistry. Graduates can work in the pharmaceutical industry, alternative energy or advanced materials fields. Schools that specialize in chemical engineering include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of California, Berkeley; and California Institute of Technology.