Mechanical vs Environmental Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of materials science and physics for the design, analysis, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the creation and usage of heat and mechanical power for the production and operation of machines and tools. It is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines.
The engineering field in general requires an understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, materials science, and structural analysis. Mechanical engineers use these core principles along with tools like computer-aided engineering and product life-cycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, heating and cooling systems, transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, robotics, medical devices and more.
Mechanical engineers are required in all manufacturing facilities. The working criteria of a mechanical engineer changes according to the type and domain of the company they are working with and their area of specialization. In a broader sense it can be said that mechanical engineers work on the design and control of a system that goes into the process of manufacturing the machinery and the product. They test new systems for feasibility and efficiency and carry out quality management and improvement processes.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering that is concerned with protecting people from the effects of adverse environmental effects, such as pollution, as well as improving environmental quality. Environmental engineers work to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Environmental engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering, chemical engineering and mechanical engineering. Environmental engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles to improve and maintain the environment to:
- protect human health
- protect nature’s beneficial ecosystems
- and improve environmental-related enhancement of the quality of human life
Environmental engineers devise solutions for wastewater management, water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health. They design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems, and design plans to prevent waterborne diseases and improve sanitation in urban, rural and recreational areas.
These engineers will need at least a bachelor’s degree in civil, chemical, environmental or general engineering. Environmental engineering is a relatively new discipline. Wittliff, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1972, says, “If you’re older than 50 and practicing as an environmental engineer, you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering.”
Mechanical vs Environmental Engineering Education
Mechanical Engineering
High school preparation should include geometry, trigonometry, algebra and calculus, plus physics, chemistry and biology. Most employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering for entry-level mechanical engineering jobs. A bachelor’s degree normally requires general classes in math, humanities, science, social sciences and engineering during the first two years, and specialized classes during the remaining years. The curriculum also incorporates the basics of other engineering disciplines, such as chemical, electrical and civil engineering. Typical studies include calculus, thermodynamics, physics, materials science, statics, dynamics and fluid dynamics, and laboratory sections. Many engineering degree programs also include internships.
Some graduates with other engineering specialties, or with a bachelor’s in science or math, can find mechanical engineering jobs when demand is particularly high. Mechanical engineering programs at the bachelor’s level normally take at least four years to complete. Many hiring managers prefer graduates of programs with accreditation from ABET, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Mechanical engineers can increase their marketability by completing a master’s degree or earning a professional license. In fact, some colleges offer five-year combined bachelor and master’s programs in mechanical engineering. For state licensing, engineers need a bachelor’s degree from an ABET-accredited engineering school and work experience under a licensed professional engineer. They must also take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam before passing the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam for licensing. Some mechanical engineers improve their chances of advancement by completing a master’s degree in business administration.
Environmental Engineering
Students interested in becoming an environmental engineer should take high school courses in chemistry, biology, physics, and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.
Environmental engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering or a related field, such as civil, chemical, or general engineering. Employers also value practical experience. Therefore, cooperative engineering programs, in which college credit is awarded for structured job experience, are valuable as well. Environmental engineering programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies.
At some colleges and universities, a student can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as an instructor at some colleges and universities or to do research and development, and employers may prefer candidates to have a master’s degree.
Engineering programs are accredited by ABET, and employers may prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an accredited program. A degree from an ABET-accredited program is usually necessary for a person to become a licensed professional engineer.
Mechanical vs Environmental Engineering Careers
Mechanical Engineering
The overall job outlook for mechanical engineer careers has been positive since 2004. According to the BLS, employment in the field of mechanical engineering is expected to grow by 9 percent between 2016 and 2026, translating to 25,300 new positions. The broad opportunities within that hiring window should leave aspiring mechanical engineers feeling encouraged. Architecture, alternative energies, re-manufacturing, and nanotechnology are subsets of this profession that are predicted to have openings for candidates with the right education and experience. However, because the field includes several burgeoning areas of mechanical science, job-specific growth over the next 20 years may differ from the BLS prediction.
States with the highest employment levels for mechanical engineers include Michigan, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation are Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI; Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI; Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX; Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI; New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ; Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA.
Top-paying states for mechanical engineers include Alaska, Maryland, New Mexico, California, and Washington, DC.
Environmental Engineering
A degree in environmental engineering can lead to a wide variety of engineering careers such as environmental or civil engineers, as well as architectural and engineering managers. Other popular professions include work in several management areas including construction and operations, sciences such as physical, environmental, and geosciences, and even work as elementary and middle school teachers or accountants and auditors.
Environmental engineers use a variety of engineering disciplines to prevent, control, and remediate environmental hazards. Their work may involve waste treatment, site remediation, or pollution control technology. Civil engineering is also a popular choice, and involves performing engineering duties in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, and many other structures and facilities. Both have above average salaries and growth rates, though work as an environmental engineer has higher projected growth, while civil engineers earn a higher annual salary.
Positions in the management field, including management analysts, architectural and engineering managers, construction managers, and general and operations managers, all place as the highest earning career choices on the list, and all require bachelor’s degrees. Analysts, including program analysts and management consultants, come in at the top, and perform studies and evaluations to help management operate more efficiently and effectively. Managers in architectural and engineering areas plan, direct, or coordinate activities in those particular fields, and earn over $40,000 more than the national average annual salary.
Mechanical vs Environmental Engineering Job Description
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineers design other machines inside buildings, such as elevators and escalators. They also design material-handling systems, such as conveyor systems and automated transfer stations.
Like other engineers, mechanical engineers use computers extensively. Mechanical engineers are routinely responsible for the integration of sensors, controllers, and machinery. Computer technology helps mechanical engineers create and analyze designs, run simulations and test how a machine is likely to work, interact with connected systems, and generate specifications for parts.
Some job responsibilities of a mechanical engineer include:
- Analyze problems to see how mechanical and thermal devices might help solve a particular problem
- Analyze the test results and change the design or system as needed
- Design or redesign mechanical and thermal devices or subsystems, using analysis and computer-aided design
- Develop and test prototypes of devices they design
- Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and to recommend remedies
- Oversee the manufacturing process for the device
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers integrate environmental science and engineering principles in order to improve and manage the natural environment. As our world population grows, environmental engineers strive to ensure that we all have a good quality of life while also accessing healthy water, air, and land for humans and other organisms.
Some environmental engineers study ways to minimize the effects of acid rain, climate change, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. They also collaborate with environmental scientists, urban and regional planners, hazardous-waste technicians, and other engineers, as well as with specialists such as experts in law and business, to address environmental problems and environmental sustainability. While jobs do vary from place to place, the standard scope of responsibility for an environmental engineer job looks like:
- Advocate best remediative procedures for site clean-up and contamination
- Advise policymakers and companies on relevant issues
- Assess industrial, commercial and residential sites for their environmental impact
- Calibrating equipment used for air, water, or soil sampling
- Collecting field samples and observations for data and observations
- Design systems for waste management, reclamation, transfer and disposal on land, sea, and air
- Evaluate the current system performance and incorporate innovations or develop new technologies to enhance environmental protection
- Investigating environmentally related complaints, recording data and compiling a report based on these
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