Structural Engineering
A Career in Structural Engineering
Structural engineering, also commonly referred to as architectural engineering, is the field for anyone highly interested in advanced aspects of architecture. While most engineering jobs revolve solely around math and science, structural engineering goes a step beyond and adds construction, CAD knowledge, and drafting to the main core of courses. If you are interested in this branch of engineering, it pays to consider living along coastlines where construction rates are steady. After college, those looking for structural engineering jobs will find that most of the jobs are along the east, west, and southern coastlines, and there are not enough qualified workers to meet the job demand.
While structural engineering involves architecture, there are differences. Men and women with degrees in structural engineering take an architects plans and then figure out how to turn the sketch into a realistic plan that ensures the heating, electrical, and plumbing systems will mesh with the building's design. They also look at issues like fire safety measures, the size of the building in correlation to the framework to ensure the weight of the building when fully established will not be too heavy a load for the beams, and other safety issues that can arise in any home or business. With structural engineering, the engineers work closely with architects and builders to ensure the building is safe, functional, and will be able to stand up to things like earthquakes or strong winds.
Those involved in structural engineering generally focus strictly on the structure of a building including the frame, building materials, and weight loads. A four-year program in structural engineering is required, though many companies highly recommend that those in structural engineering jobs complete their master's degree. One small mistake could lead to catastrophic events. By ensuring structural engineering professionals have received a thorough education, disasters and costly lawsuits can be prevented.
