Types of Engineering Degrees: Your Guide

If you're creative yet analytical, you might enjoy studying for one of the different engineering degrees available. Engineers design many things that benefit users, including bridges, buildings, cars, planes, rockets, satellites, computers, robots, medical devices, etc. Then, they build and test their designs. If this technical, inventive work appeals to you, now may be a good time to learn more about the field.

"Engineering degree" is an umbrella term that covers several different types of degrees. Some standard degree programmes in engineering include:

• Electrical engineering

• Chemical engineering

• Civil engineering

• Mechanical engineering

• Engineering management

• Geotechnical engineering

• Computer science engineering

Explore more about these different kinds of engineering courses, what they cover, and the different types of degrees available, and discover the engineering specialisation that’s most exciting to you.

7 types of engineering degrees

Engineering is a broad, highly technical field, and engineers work to design, evaluate, develop, test, modify, and maintain various products, structures, and systems. The engineering industry is divided into seven subcategories: electronics and communications engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering management, geotechnical engineering, and computer science engineering. While not every engineering college or university offers degrees in these types of engineering, they are commonly available.

1. Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE)

If you enjoy maths and physics, consider an electronics and communications engineering degree. ECE involves designing, creating, testing, and installing electrical and telecommunications equipment. You'll design circuits, power grids, and satellite communication technologies, and you may work in manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) design. Other types of ECE degrees include:

• Computer engineering

• Robotics engineering

2. Chemical engineering

Chemical engineering deals with converting materials into products through chemical processes. Earning a degree in chemical engineering could lead to a career in medicine, energy, manufacturing, biotechnology, or environmental sustainability, among others. Niche degrees in chemical engineering include:

• Environmental engineering

• Materials engineering

• Biomedical engineering

3. Civil engineering

This degree programme is a step towards becoming a civil engineer, where you'll design infrastructures like roads, bridges, and water systems, ensuring they're safe for public use. Other fields of civil engineering you might study include: 

• Structural engineering

• Water resources engineering

• Transportation engineering

• Construction engineering

4. Mechanical engineering

In a mechanical engineering degree programme, you'll learn how to design and build machines and energy systems–everything from generators and engines to lifts and air conditioners. It's a broad field with job opportunities across a variety of industries. More specialised types of mechanical engineering degrees include:

• Aerospace engineering

• Renewable energy engineering

• Automotive engineering

5. Engineering management degree

If you're interested in pursuing a leadership role in technology, it may be worth pursuing an engineering management degree. This multidisciplinary degree combines engineering science, business administration, and organisational management coursework. Related multidisciplinary degrees include:

• Industrial engineering

• Systems engineering

6. Geotechnical Engineering 

Geotechnical engineering is sometimes considered a branch of civil engineering that focuses on the mechanics and properties of soil, rocks, and groundwater (and their interaction with human-made structures and materials). Geotechnical engineers assess ground stability for construction projects to prevent foundation failures and reduce the risks that landslides and sinkholes can pose to development projects. Some specialisations and topics often studied within geotechnical engineering include:

• Soil and rock mechanics

• Hydrogeology

• Geophysics

• Engineering geology

7. Computer engineering

Computer engineering (CE) involves designing and mapping machine logic into hardware components. Within CE, you can specialise in hardware, networking, software, and maintenance and learn about how data is stored, accessed, and used. Computer engineers work with programming languages, data, structures, and algorithms to solve complex problems across various industries. Similar degrees include:

• Software engineering

• Cybersecurity

• Artificial intelligence 

Why study engineering?

If you enjoy problem-solving and want to have a positive impact on the lives of others, a career in engineering can be rewarding. As an engineer, you'll get to think creatively to solve real-world problems and, in doing so, make the world a better place. Engineers typically enjoy high starting salaries, job satisfaction, and the ability to specialise in various fascinating fields. 

Engineering degrees by level

It's possible to earn an engineering degree at the diploma, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, depending on your career goals. Take a closer look at why you might pursue each type of accreditation:

• Diploma: Many engineering positions prefer a bachelor’s degree, but you could transition into a bachelor's programme with an engineering diploma. A diploma takes one to three years depending on the college you receive it from.  

• Bachelor's degree (BE, BTech): Most engineering positions require at least a bachelor's degree. This four-year course gives you the foundational tools in the engineering discipline you choose. To be eligible for a bachelor’s degree, you need to take the science stream with physics, chemistry, and mathematics (PCM) for Classes 10-12. You also need to sit for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE) to get into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs). To matriculate at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), you need to take the JEE Advanced exam. 

BTech in Engineering vs. Bachelor of Engineering

A BTech degree focuses more on the practical applications of engineering, whereas a BE takes a more theoretical approach. A BTech also requires you to specialise in an engineering discipline, while a BE is a more interdisciplinary education. A BE degree is often available at liberal arts institutions and universities, while a BTech degree is only offered by engineering institutes like NITs and IITs. 

Despite these differences, the two programmes are largely similar. Both degrees typically take four years to complete, cover similar concepts, offer commensurate career growth opportunities, and require the same entrance examinations, such as the JEE Mains, the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT), and the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT CET).

• Master's degree (MTech): If you're hoping to advance your career, a master’s degree can help. A master’s degree is a two-year programme that, upon completion, allows you to hold more senior-level positions. A master’s can give you advanced skills in engineering, which usually entails a research component. It requires completing a bachelor’s degree and a valid score on the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). 

• Doctoral degree: A PhD could be a great option if you want to pursue your own research in the theory and practice of engineering and technology. A PhD typically takes three to five years to complete if you attend full-time, and in a PhD programme, you get to use your own expertise to make an original contribution to the field. These programmes typically involve coursework and an independent research project and could include opportunities to participate in conferences and symposia.

Get started

Many engineering degrees exist in various disciplines and at varying levels, and you can find an engineering specialisation to suit your intellectual interests. Earn your Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder on Coursera. You don't have to submit a full application package for this performance-based admission process. If you’re not ready to enroll in the full degree programme, you might also be interested in UC Boulder’s Power Electronics Specialisation or the Introduction to Systems Engineering Specialisation, also available on Coursera.