Why do I want to be a civil engineer? Until recently, I did not know the answerto this question myself. I was lost when choosing a career. Then, I read aboutcivil engineering, an occupation involving the construction of buildings, roads,and bridges. As I looked farther into civil engineering, I liked many of theother aspects involved with the career. Although the education will bedifficult, I have determined that civil engineering is the career that I want topursue. What is civil engineering? This career can not be defined using just afew words.
The many obstacles that civil engineers must overcome cover a vastarea of responsibilities. “Civil engineers conceive, plan, construct, andoperate facilities that meet basic human needs and reach out toward therealization of society’s most noble goals” (Auburn 106). Civil engineerssolve real world problems with the combination of applying mathematics andnatural sciences (Hagerty and Heer 2-3). Upon deciding to pursue a career incivil engineering, I must have many attributes that help me decide for myself ifI am right for this career. Probable civil engineers can be found occupyingtheir childhood time with mechanical toys and structural sets instead oftraditional toys. These people will get enjoyment from planning, designing, andconstructing works or facilities.
They also have the ability to see howintelligent use of nature has made our civilization today possible and have thedesire to want to improve it (Golze 41). As a child building blocks filled mytoy chest, and erector sets filled my playroom. I loved the challenge ofbuilding things and making things work. A young passion for the work of a civilengineer leads me to believe I could succeed in this field. The education of acivil engineer deals mainly with math and natural sciences. The first foursemesters of curriculum required, which I will take at Northeast AlabamaCommunity College, are the basics such as Calculus I - IV, differentialequations, statistics, English, history, literature, speech, chemistry, andphysics (Northeast 40).
After completion of the requirements at NortheastAlabama Community College, I plan to attend Auburn University. “AuburnUniversity’s institutional mission is to prepare students for the ethicalpractice of civil engineering” (Auburn 106). When beginning my studies atAuburn University, I will be required to take classes that go even deeper intocivil engineering. Classes such as hydraulics, statics, and water treatment, arerequired to give an engineer a base to help solve problems in real worldsituations (Auburn 106). By taking classes such as these, I will be moreprepared to face any problems encountered on the job. At many schools, studentsare able to study and gain work experience at the same time through cooperativeprograms.
These programs allow students to get a first-hand look at experiencesrelated to the job while still pursuing their education in that career. Theclose relationship between the school and the industry is important because bothcontinue to educate the student (Hagerty and Heer 47-50). After completing myrequirements at Northeast Alabama Community College, I plan to attend AuburnUniversity and enter its cooperative program and engineering school. I hope thatthe knowledge I will gain from both institutions will lead me into a successfulcareer as an engineer.
Civil engineers use their knowledge of material science,engineering theory, and economics to devise, construct, and maintain ourphysical surroundings. The work duties depend on many different areas ofspecialization in engineering. A structural engineer, who is concerned withloads to which the structure is exposed, must calculate the maximum load thatthe structure can hold. On the other hand, a public works engineer mustanticipate and be responsive to social needs.
A company will start a young,inexperienced engineer out with few responsibilities. As the engineer gainsexperience, he or she will also gain additional responsibilities (Hagerty andHeer 89). The practice of civil engineering pays the lowest salary of allengineering fields. However, over the past few years, civil engineeringgraduates have seen a 2.
7 % increase in their starting salaries. The averageannual starting salary, according to an article in the Memphis Business Journal,is $30,618 dollars (Scott 4). Those who pursue a career in civil engineering donot make their decision based on salary. Instead, they derive satisfaction fromthe good done by helping meet the social and economic needs of the people (Hagertyand Heer 88).
Aiding the public’s most common needs is what interests me themost. The task of creating a more efficient and safer way of producing andtransporting water to an ever-increasing population is just one of the problemsI hope to solve as a civil engineer. One of hardest decisions I made in mychoosing civil engineering as a career was the acceptance of earning a lowersalary. However, I could not place a numerical value on the satisfaction Ibelieve this career will bring me. There are many different specialties involvedwith civil engineering that need to be considered when choosing this career.Some of these specialties are transportation engineering, structural building,and water resource management.
A closer look into all of the fields lead me tothe conclusion of specializing in water resource management. This occupation isconcerned with the safe and adequate transportation of water to the public.Currently, I am employed by the Waterworks Board of Section and Dutton as ageneral laborer. On the other hand, I would love to delve farther into allaspects of water resource management. In his 1966 essay on civil engineering,Eliassen predicted “the field of water resource management will be great”(92). Eliassen’s statement has been proven factual and the many problems thatwill arise in the future offers great job security.
One of the task may involvegetting a sufficient amount of clean, healthy water to an ever-growingpopulation. Solving these problems will take people who have specialized ineconomics, statistics, political science, system analysis, and management. Whatpredictions could be made about the future of engineering students? In his 1969book, Beakley predicted that employment would be no problem and that moreengineers would be needed than colleges could supply (25). However, Scott’s1996 article in the Memphis Business Journal states that employment outlook isnot as promising as it was 15 to 25 years ago. Still, engineers will not behungry for work. Many feel that they will be able to find jobs.
Enrollments inschools of engineering across the country have dropped, but as jobs and salariesincrease, so will students enrolling with hopes to make better lives forthemselves (Scott 1-4). Advancement is almost certain as a young engineerdevelops his or her skills and as the employer gains confidence in his or herability. Some civil engineers might stay with a company their entireprofessional lives. In contrast, others could choose to move around looking foradvancements. Upon the retirement, replacement, and advancement of moreexperienced engineers, the younger engineers will have the chance to slowly movetheir way up the corporate ladder. In any circumstance, an ambitious, young, andqualified engineer should seek advancements both personally and professionally (Hagertyand Heer 129).
Why would I want to be a civil engineer? The desire of newchallenges, the longing to help the overall public, and the need to do somethingpositive with my life are three main reasons that I want to be a civil engineer.After extensive research, I have concluded that civil engineering is an idealfield for me. I believe that I have the personal attributes and intelligencerequired to be a civil engineer. I also believe that I possess the work habitsand drive to be a successful engineer.
This is why I have chosen to pursue thisas a career.BibliographyAuburn University 1999-2000 Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletin. Auburn, AL,1997. Beakley, George C., and H.
W. Leach. Careers in Engineering and Technology.London: Macmillan, 1969. Eliassen, Rolf.
“Civil Engineering.” Listen toLeaders in Engineering. Ed. Albert Love and James Saxon Childress. Atlanta:Tupper, 1966.
Golze, Alfred R. Your Future in Civil Engineering. New York:Richards, 1965. Hagerty, D. Joseph, and John E.
Heer, Jr. Opportunities in CivilEngineering Careers. Skokie: VGM, 1977. Northeast Alabama Community College1998-1999 Catalog.
Rainsville, AL, 1998. Scott, Jonathan. “The Ups and Downsof Engineering.” Memphis Business Journal 17(12 Feb.
1996): 41-2. ElectricLibrary 16 Nov. 1999.
