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Is there any major that allows me to study mechanical and civil engineer, if so, would it be worth it? #Fall24

I'm a senior who decided to major in an engineering career. Yet, I'm not sure about if I should take one or both since I heard some pros and cons from family and friends in this situation.

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Brandy’s Answer

I attended Purdue University, which is a top Engineering school in the midwest. The Engineering program there typically has a semester or year-long period of exploration of which Engineering field you might want to go into before actually having to declare your intended Major. I recommend that exploration time as a way of having a chance to get into the material and decide if that particular field is really for you or not.
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Ana J’s Answer

Hi Jhosep, I agree with Eric's response above. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, but I was also interested in Mechanical Engineering and even considered pursuing both. It is possible, but it will take additional time to complete the courses required for both degrees. I’ve always been passionate about learning, and if that’s something that excites you too, I’d recommend starting with the program that interests you most, Civil or Mechanical. As Eric mentioned, many of the classes overlap during the first two years, giving you some flexibility. It’s definitely possible to earn both degrees, but it will take additional time to complete all the required courses. In your first year, I encourage you to speak with an advisor. They can help you plan your coursework strategically if you decide to work toward earning both degrees. Wishing you the best of luck!
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Eric’s Answer

Jhosep, both mechanical and civil engineering are broad degrees with several branches that, while they are part of the same program, are much different in practice. For example, water resources engineering and structural engineering are both branches of civil engineering but are completely different in practice. And, robotics engineering and heating and cooling systems (HVAC) are both part of mechanical engineering but are completely different in practice. There is much overlap between the two degrees the first two years (e.g., math courses, science courses, statics, dynamics and material science) but during your junior and senior years you will take very specific design courses related to your degree and these courses are designed to specifically train you to be able to work in the chosen industry upon graduation. The more specialized that you are, the more employable that you will be. In lieu of considering a double major, I recommend pursuing a masters degree which will help you to be more specialized in the area that interests you. A masters degree is usually an additional two years after graduation but some programs have an integrated masters / bachelors program that can be completed in as little as 5 years total (one additional year). If you aren't sure whether you want to pursue a career in one of the branches of mechanical engineering or civil engineering, you could declare for either one at the beginning of your university studies and then try and decide by the end of your sophomore year. If you decide to switch majors at that point, it would not set you back much at that point. All the best!
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