Engineering FAQ
What is Engineering?
What are the Career Opportunities?
What Are the Employment Projections?
Why is GRCC's Engineering
Pathway Program for Me?
What Will I Learn?
What Courses Will I Take?
What Are the Benefits of Attending
GRCC?
Where do I get more Information?
What is
the Difference Between Engineering and Engineering Technology?
Engineering
Engineering is a profession that utilizes the theories and principles of science and mathematics in the research and development of economical and commercial applications. Engineers design products, the machinery to build those products, and the factories in which those products are made. They also design the systems that ensure the quality of the product and efficiency of the workforce in the manufacturing process. Engineers design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings, highways, transit systems and computer networks. Their knowledge is used to improve the quality of health care, the safety of food products, and the efficient operation of financial systems.
What are the Career Opportunities?
Engineers may work in design and development, testing, production, or maintenance. Most engineers works in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Others spend a considerable amount of time outdoors at construction sites, where they monitor or direct operations to solve onsite problems. Some engineers travel extensively to plants or worksites. Most engineers specialize in a particular area. Some of the many branches of engineering include:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Plastics Engineering
What are the Employment Projections?
According to the Occupational outlook Handbook, employment opportunities in engineering are expected to be good through the year 2006. While employment will increase about as fast as the average for all other occupations, the number of engeineering degrees granted may not increase as rapidly.
Competitive pressures and advancing technology will force companies to improve and update product designs more frequently, and to work to optimize their manufacturing processes. Employers will rely on engineers to further increase productivity as they investment in manufacturing plants and equipment to expand output of goods and services. More engineers will be needed to improve or build new roads, bridges, water and pollution control systems, and other public facilities. Engineers will also be needed to continue to develop and improve computer systems as computers are becoming more a part of our everyday lives.
Why is GRCC's Engineering Pathway Program for Me?
GRCC's Engineering Pathway Program provides a strong background in mathematics, science and computer technology. This background will prepare students to continue their education successfully at a four-year institution and work towards their area of specialization.
Some of the four-year institutions where GRCC engineering transfer students have been very successful include:
- Calvin College
- Eastern Michigan University
- Ferris State University
- Grand Valley State University
- Kettering University (GMI)
- Lake Superior State University
- Lawrence Technological University
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technologicial University
- Oakland University
- Saginaw Valley State University
- University of Detroit Mercy
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
What Will I Learn?
Through classroom and hands-on laboratory work, you will gain knowledge and skills in the following areas:
- Classical mechanics
- Heat and wave motion
- Electricity
- Magnetism
- Optics
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Dynamics
- Newton's Laws of Motion
- Vectors and vector operations
- 2D and 3D Equilibrium
- Calculus
- Computer Algebra Systems
- C/C++ Programming
- Differential Equations
What Courses Will I Take?
- MA 133 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
- MA 134 Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
- MA 138 Introduction to Computer Algebra Systems
- MA 215 Statistics
- MA 245 Discrete Mathematical Structures
- MA 255 Calculus with Analytic Geometry III
- MA 257 Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
- PH 245 Calculus Physics I
- PH 246 Calculus Physics II
- EG 110 Industrial Graphics with CAD
- EG 208 Statics
- EG 212 Dynamics
- CO 124 BASIC Programming (Visual Basic)
- CO 127 C/C++ Programming
- CM 103 General Chemistry I or
- CM 113 Science Major's Chemistry I
What are the Benefits of Attending GRCC?
The benefits of attending GRCC include:
- Low-cost tuition
- Convenient location
- Day and evening classes
- Small class sizes
- Experienced and dedicated faculty
- Personal attention
- Job Placement services
- Financial aid and scholarships
- Opportunities for real-world experience
- Access to lifelong learning opportunities
Where do I get more Information?
For more information on Engineering at GRCC contact the Mathematics Department at (616) 234-4253. Or, for more information you can contact:
Nancy Forrest
phone: 616-234-4276
e-mail: nforrest@grcc.edu
What is the Difference Between Engineering and Engineering Technology?
"Graduates of Engineering programs apply scientific concepts to develop solutions to real world problems. Their job is more theoretical, involving the design of new products such as a robot that will be used in an auto manufacturing plant. Engineers require more theoretical, scientific and mathematical knowledge. At the same time, some colleges and universities offer 2 and 4- year Engineering Technology programs that prepare students for practical design and production work. Graduates of 4-year Engineering Technology programs may get jobs similar to those obtained by graduates with a bachelor's degree in engineering. Technicians install and maintain products, providing a wide range of services: implementation of the design, testing, calibration and supervision of its operation."
(Information provided by the American Society for Engineering Education, 11 November, 2001. http://www.asee.org/precollege/engineering.cfm#difference )
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Updated on 17-JAN-06
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