Most engineering programs are specialized, preparing students for the 17 engineering specialties listed by the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, produced by the federal government. These specialties include aerospace engineers, agricultural engineers, chemical engineers, civil engineers, computer hardware engineers, electrical engineers, electronics engineers, health and safety engineers, and industrial engineers. In addition to studies in their specialties, students usually also take courses in mathematics, physical and life sciences, general engineering, computer science and engineering design.
Many colleges offer two-year or four-year degree programs in engineering technology in addition to standard engineering degrees. These programs are typically heavy on hands-on laboratory classes and light on theory. Programs in engineering technology prepare students for practical design and production work instead of jobs that focus on more theoretical and scientific knowledge.
All engineering programs must be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, or ABET. Programs must meet high standards in such areas as faculty, curriculum, facilities, the achievements of the program's graduates and institutional commitment to the principles of engineering ethics--for example, a commitment not to design weapons of mass destruction--and the quality of instruction.
In order to be admitted into an engineering college, an applicant generally must have high grades in engineering-related high school courses. These include mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus) and the sciences (biology, chemistry, and physics). Furthermore, applicants must have completed courses in English, social studies and humanities. The top engineering undergraduate programs, including those of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford, Berkeley, the University of California--Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology, are even more selective and may require an exceptionally high overall academic rating or expertise in extracurricular activities.