Civil Engineering (Rant)-Page 2: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Sept. 25, 2008 10:04 a.m. seann Reader

I would also point out that science may be a good idea instead of the civil engineering. Hydrology, hydrogeology, mining, Oil, forestry, geotechnical would all get you outside working for private or government. Mineral management service is always hiring and I hear they have good perks Oil tends to be up and down, they're hiring kids out school for crazy money right now but if oil price goes down they lay people off.

There is opportunity for international work too. There are a lot of international consulting firms (although they work you to death) and the U.N. is hiring hydrogeologists right now.

Then again with your interests in foreign relations and development, if you were pretty self motivated you could probably put together a pretty interesting career. Have you talked to folks that are in these types of careers?

If you are thinking about any of the above careers, I would recommend working in the field for a year or so first before going for a masters, I went straight through and think that if I had worked for a little bit, I would have got more out of gradschool.
Sept. 25, 2008 10:09 a.m. PHeller Reader

Seann,

What is hydrogeology related to? I guess it would be a minor or concentration in geological majors?

Mineral managment would be along the same lines as geology?

I keep hearing the term "Geotechnical" but I'm not sure where exactly it applies. Could someone define that term?
Sept. 25, 2008 11:09 a.m. Monkeywrench New Reader

seann wrote: I would also point out that science may be a good idea instead of the civil engineering. Hydrology, hydrogeology, mining, Oil, forestry, geotechnical would all get you outside working for private or government. Mineral management service is always hiring and I hear they have good perks

Exactly what I'm doing now.

PH,

HYDROgeology. It's the study of water and it's movement. I don't know if it will happen during my work life time, but finding clean fresh drinking water to meet the world's needs is going to get pretty interesting ($$$).
Sept. 25, 2008 12:01 p.m. spitfirebill HalfDork

I work for a consulting firm that does environmental, geotechnical and construction services work. I am not an engineer, but you can't swing a dead cat aorund here without hitting an engineer (mostly PE), geologist, or vice president for that fact. And hitting some of these goobers with a dead cat would be a good thing.

The engineers went through hellacious calculus, physics, and statics courses to get their degree. Then go through it again to pass the PE exam. Then they almost never use it again. BUT, there are exceptions. The geologist took a lot of physics courses and some math.

A major that didn't exist when I was in school is the community planner. I've seen some of these folks make killer money to be working for a govt agency. Wish I had gone that route.
Sept. 25, 2008 12:22 p.m. Paul_VR6 New Reader

A wiser man then I said this is the difference between science and engineering:

Science C=5/9(F-32)

Engineering C=F/2 most of the time
Sept. 25, 2008 1:01 p.m. seann Reader

what monkey wrench said but I would add the perspective is from the subsurface (groundwater). Getting more and more interdisciplinary though.

think water supply wells, contaminant transport, groundwater surface water interactions (understanding affects to baseflow from development of different sorts).
Sept. 25, 2008 3:25 p.m. fastEddie Dork

Univ. Cincy construction management degree requires thru Calc 2. Just an FYI.
Sept. 26, 2008 9:28 a.m. PHeller Reader

What about environmental engineering?

I just checked Penn State's Env. Eng. program and it listed far fewer math requirements than the Mechanical or Civil programs.

It looks like "Construction Technology" program here at Millersville has very few math courses.

Remember too, that I'm I already have an Associates in Business, and 18 credits towards Geography. I'm looking at adding to my Geography and Business degrees, not completely switching majors (unless I can apply Geography courses towards it).
Sept. 26, 2008 9:57 a.m. oldopelguy HalfDork

All the math you need in Engineering is designed to help you figure out how to figure out stuff with #'s behind it. Once you know the why, and the techniques, the rest is just plugging-and-chugging. A good study group or teacher can help you understand why you use each idea, then once you do it actually seems quite trivial.

Of course for some people the why never comes, which I blame squarely on poor teaching, and for them the only other method is repetition. If you're one of those types, then you probably don't want to be an engineer.
Sept. 26, 2008 10:12 a.m. Jack SuperDork

Paul_VR6 wrote:

A wiser man then I said this is the difference between science and engineering:

Science C=5/9(F-32)

Engineering C=F/2 most of the time

.. and the difference between an Engineer and a Physicist?

About 10 significant digits.

Yeah, I like being an Enginerd, even though I don't really touch a calculator anymore. It's not just the math or the schooling. That just helps give you the tools to achieve an end result. Engineering is another way of thinking; a different, and in my opinoin, better way to approach solving problems. I'd really like to see an Engineer as President.

For some strange reason, I have two math geeks for kids, even though I keep telling my daughter that girls can't do math. She keeps crushing her math courses anyway. IMHO, one significant key to their success is that I did spend a lot of time teaching my kids math the old fashioned way. We did years of multimplication tables while in the car, long hand division, I still make them do math in their heads. If they need help in any subject, I almost always answer their question with a question, to keep them thinking, not just getting a freebie answer.

Again, my opinion here, but I feel part of the problem today is the schools system; the other part is the parents. Everyone, parents, teachers and kids, are looking for the easy way out. My parents were merciless with homework and the grades we achieved. I'm just passing on the "goodness".

If math is your weakness, get tutoring. I had some issues early on, but worked through them. Math is not magic, it's just understanding some principles and figuring out how to approch a problem. It can be learned by anyone. Not everyone will excell, but anyone can understand it, given sufficient time and resources.

Jack
Sept. 26, 2008 11:33 a.m. Monkeywrench New Reader

I'd really like to see an Engineer as President

Herbert Hoover