What Types of Engineers Are There?

We are often asked about engineering education, the profession and its different branches. Most broadly, an engineering education is the best preparation for any career that requires critical thinking and analysis. While Civil, Electrical and Mechanical are the traditional disciplines in engineering, there is almost no limit to the exciting technical specialties that an engineering major can pursue. Most engineering today is done by a multi-disciplinary team, so communication and people skills are very important. Cal Poly Pomona offers a wide range of engineering programs in seven academic departments to prepare students for a long and rewarding career in a profession that is constantly changing. The introductory freshman courses in each major help students to discover their interests in the various technical areas, and discipline changes are common during the first two years of study. We are well known for a highly qualified faculty experienced in industrial practice who teach using a "Learn By Doing" pedagogy.

The Civil Engineering (CE) discipline grew to fulfill the infrastructure needs of society. Military engineering was its predecessor and was really the first use of the title "engineer." Civil engineering graduates enter the profession in design, construction and management capacities on such projects as freeways, buildings, bridges, aqueducts, airports, water and waste treatment plants. The Civil Engineering Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree with three options, General (traditional or structural emphasis), Environmental, and Geospatial options, and a Master of Science in Structural Engineering (MSSE) degree. The Environmental Engineering option emphasizes water resources and waste water treatment as well as landfill technologies. The Geospatial Engineering encompasses satellite technology, computer systems and geographical information databases.

Our Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BSCPE) and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree. The BSEE trains undergraduate students in the fundamental principles of Electrical Engineering including communications, controls, instrumentation, electronics, illumination and power. The BSCPE trains undergraduate students in the fundamental electrical engineering principles, design of computer hardware and software, and embedded systems. The MSEE currently offers the graduate students options in Communication Systems, Computer Systems, and Control and Robotic Systems.

Mechanical Engineering (ME) is the most general branch of engineering. The mechanical engineering curriculum permits students to explore different fields, specializing in one or more of them as they find their true interests. Mechanical engineers deal with thermal fluids sciences, mechanics, machine design, robotics, instrumentation and control systems, energy systems and more. The department offers a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MSME) degree.

A degree in Aerospace Engineering (ARO) from Cal Poly Pomona prepares engineers for design, development and control of aircraft, missiles, spacecraft and specialized high speed land vehicles and ocean vessels. Aerospace engineers are really the architects for these vehicles.

Our Chemical & Materials Engineering (CME) Department prepares engineers for a career in the development and application of processes that involve chemical and physical materials transformations. The program offers a degree in Chemical Engineering (ChE), which includes work related to the design, construction and operation of plants for fuels, plastics, fibers, foods and pharmaceuticals. Because of their strong background in chemistry and materials processing, many chemical engineers also work for industry as environmental engineers. The department also offers a minor in Materials Engineering (MTE), emphasizing ceramics, polymers, metals and alloys.

Industrial Engineering (IE) prepares students as problem solvers who can tackle the complex interactions associated with productivity of workers, capital and facilities. They are the engineers who design and implement quality improvement methods. Manufacturing Engineering (MFE) is structured to prepare students as experts in the design and analysis of complex computer-controlled manufacturing and automation systems. These two majors are housed in the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Department.

Engineering Technology graduates are the members of the engineering team who are applications-oriented. They have a detailed background in a particular technical specialization and usually work directly in engineering project execution and management. The areas offered at Cal Poly Pomona include Construction Engineering Technology (CET), Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology (ECET), and General Engineering Technology (ET), with separate Bachelor's degrees available in each of these disciplines.

While the engineering profession typically requires only the Bachelor's degree for practice, many students seek to develop their expertise in an advanced program. The College of Engineering offers studies leading to several Master of Science degrees including one focused on Engineering Management including courses from the College of Business Administration.

For further information, please contact one of our departments and arrange for an appointment:

Aerospace Engineering
Ali R. Ahmadi, Ph.D., Interim Chair
909-869-2470

Electrical & Computer Engineering
Salomón Oldak, Ph.D., Chair
909-869-2511

Engineering Technology
Gerald K. Herder, Chair
909-869-2492

Chemical & Materials Engineering
Christopher L. Caenepeel, Ph.D., Chair
909-869-2626

Civil Engineering
Donald P. Coduto, P.E., Chair
909-869-2488

Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
Abdul B. Sadat, Ph.D., Chair
909-869-2555

Mechanical Engineering
Michael T. Shelton, Ph.D., Chair
909-869-2575

College of Engineering
Edward C. Hohmann, Dean
909-869-2600