The Different Types of Engineering Degrees

So there are many different types of engineering degrees in a Singapore private university.

The four key areas of engineering that you can earn degrees are mainly:

• mechanical engineering
• civil engineering
• electrical engineering
• chemical engineering

There are a few alternative segments such as Computer Engineering and Industrial Engineering but they are basically subsections of the four that we have listed above. Think of it as the slight difference between what you studied in school and what you may do as a career.

In this article, we are going to broadly describe what each of these alternative segments under the four main areas of engineering is, what they do in real life, and the kinds of engineering jobs in Singapore you can get with them.

Mechanical Engineering Degrees

Typically applied areas of work:

• Aerospace Engineering – an aerospace engineer works on the design and maintenance of all kinds of aircraft including space.
• Aeronautical Engineering – only aircraft within the atmosphere, excluding space.
• Nuclear Engineering – mechanical engineers are involved in nuclear operations because of the requirements of managing the intense heat.
• Mechanical Engineering – mechanical engineers are general experts in movement and heat management and can be deployed across a variety of roles and industries.
• Petroleum Engineering – in the course of mining, upstream and downstream, there are massive production requirements of moving fluids and heat.
• Systems Engineering – given their expertise in heat and fluids management, mechanical engineers would be consulted on the sequence of production and how each station is handled.
• Industrial Engineering – similar to the above – just on a broader spectrum of deployment.
• Marine Engineering – similar to aeronautical engineering but looking at marine vessels.
• Material Science – new materials are largely tested for strength and temperature tolerance. Mechanical engineers are most likely the ones leading this research.
• Manufacturing Engineering – very similar to Systems and Industrial engineering but with more focus on manufacturing specifically.
• Process Engineering – very similar to chemical engineering but with a more specific approach to each segment of the production chain. Sometimes deployed in physical applications such as grinding and crushing.
• Automotive Engineering – the design, manufacture, and maintenance of vehicles of all sizes.
• Transport Engineering – the design, and maintenance of transportation modes like trains, highways, etc.

Civil Engineering Degrees

Typically applied areas of work:

• Environmental Engineering – a very broad field that cuts across many sectors to improve the life of living organisms.
• Agricultural Engineering – engaged to design and construct machines to aid in farming activities to improve yield and quality of crops.
• Civil Engineering – civil engineers design and construct elements in the built environment, typically at an infrastructure level such as highways, dams, roads, canals, sewage, etc.
• Structural Engineering – design and plan buildings for the aesthetics and safety of the occupants.
• Architectural Engineering – similar to structural engineering and inclusive of the technological aspects of the build.
• Mining Engineering – involved at many levels of mining of minerals to discover and extract them with minimal impact to the environment.
• Geotechnical Engineering – analysis of the impact of soil and rocks as a result of structures or movement.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degrees

Typically applied areas of work:

• Electrical Engineering – the design and management of electrical power generation, transmission, and consumption activities. This includes renewable energy sources.
• Engineering Management – this is more of an overall coordinating role rather than an industry.
• Nuclear Engineering – to manage the massive and constant power output of nuclear plants.
• Petroleum Engineering – to manage the design and usage of electronics and microelectronics in the process of discovery and production.
• Industrial Engineering – to design and manage computerized and automated sequences of production.
• Computer Engineering – to design, manufacture, and manage computer hardware and software. Can also be deployed for roles in data centers and infrastructure management.
• Computer Systems Engineering – similar to computer engineering but with specific deployments that are within an organization (e.g. the usage of computers in an automated manufacturing facility)
• Aerospace Engineering – to consider the usage of electrical power and electronics in an aircraft or spacecraft.
• Power Engineering – to design and manage power generation, transmission, and distribution. Usually engaged at an infrastructure level.

Chemical Engineering Degrees

Typically applied areas of work:

• Process Engineering – very similar to chemical engineering but with a more specific approach to each segment of the production chain. Chemical engineers would be more concerned with the reactions and sequencing of chemical processes rather than the mechanical ones.
• Manufacturing Engineering – similar to process engineering but deployed in the context of chemical manufacturing.
• Biomedical Engineering – a broad industry that uses all forms of traditional engineering to solve the challenges of biology and medicine. Typical deployments are in medical technology and product innovation teams.
• Chemical engineering – the design and manufacturing of chemical plants and exploring methods to improve production.