Students majoring in MEM may pursue multiple paths towards completing their BS depending upon the nature of the elective courses they select. There are, however, two main options: (A) to seek a more well-rounded education in mechanical engineering by selecting courses representing the wide academic spectrum of the department; (B) to emphasize a particular discipline or track. Students taking Option A for a well-rounded mechanical engineering education should consult the Undergraduate Advisor to select their elective courses and to complete their degree based on the courses listed in the Curriculum pages.
Students seeking deeper knowledge in a particular area within mechanical engineering may enroll in a set of technical electives, e.g., in Aerospace, Biomechanical Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, Mechanics and Structures, Systems and Control, and Thermal and Fluid Sciences. Students often find deeper exploration of these subjects to be helpful preparation for the capstone senior design project and for co-op and career preparation.
The B.S.E. in Environmental Engineering begins with fundamental courses in college writing, mathematics and science. You will also take an introduction to civil and environmental engineering course that covers computer-aided engineering and design.
During the second year, you will learn additional engineering mathematics, basic engineering mechanics and biology for engineers. Other courses introduce environmental engineering, including an associated laboratory class and environmental engineering chemistry.
Junior year coursework addresses energy and sustainability, groundwater hydrogeology and remediation, and biological processes in environmental engineering. In the senior year, you will focus on chemical fate and transport in the environment, air quality and solid waste engineering. You can also take two professional electives, which will count toward a master’s degree if you are accepted into the combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program.
In the final semester, you will complete a capstone design project for the solution of an environmental problem.
UMass Lowell is the only public research university in Massachusetts to offer an undergraduate major in Environmental Engineering.
Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing and to learn more about the minor in Business Administration for Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Connecticut College students have several options for pursuing the study of engineering while also earning a traditional liberal arts degree. Through the following programs, students have the opportunity to develop the critical problem-solving and technical experience needed to enter a wide range of engineering fields. Many students also complete our standard major in physics, often supplemented with additional course(s) in engineering from one of our partner institutions, before attending graduate school in engineering.
Connecticut College students have gone on to attend top engineering graduate programs, including Princeton, Brown, Duke and Stanford, and are currently working as civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, nuclear engineers, optical metrology engineers, software engineers, engineering physicists and more.
Environmental Engineering Dual Degree Program
We offer an innovative five-year program, in partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that provides specialized training for students interested in environmental engineering. Science courses in chemistry, geosciences, physics and biology at Connecticut College are combined with engineering and design courses at WPI to provide students with the skills they need to enter the vital field of environmental engineering. Students participating in the program will complete three years of study at Connecticut College and one year of study away coursework at WPI during the junior year to earn a bachelor of arts degree in environmental engineering studies from Connecticut College. Students may then transfer to WPI for one additional year of study to pursue a bachelor of science in environmental engineering.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Single Course Exchange Program
Connecticut College students enrolled fulltime in an undergraduate degree-seeking program and in residence on the Connecticut College campus may, with appropriate approval, enroll in one course per semester at the United States Coast Guard Academy, which is adjacent to the Connecticut College campus. Enrollment in the single course exchange program is subject to enrollment policies, including instructor permission, course restrictions and space availability.
USCGA Single Course Exchange Program.
Washington University in St. Louis Dual Degree Program
Connecticut College is part of a select group of colleges affiliated with Washington University in St. Louis's Dual Degree Engineering Program, which offers students the opportunity to earn a bachelor of arts degree from the College and a bachelor of science in biomedical, computer, electrical, chemical or mechanical engineering from Washington University. The program requires three years of study at Connecticut College followed by two years of study at Washington University, or four years of study at Connecticut College followed by two years of study at Washington University.
Dual Degree Program graduates are "liberally educated engineers" with strong communication and problem-solving skills, a broad background in the humanities and social sciences, and a high-quality technical education. To learn more, visit engineering.wustl.edu/dualdegree.
Other Opportunities
In addition to the programs above, students majoring in physics have the opportunity to study abroad or away at an engineering institution, take courses through Trinity College's engineering department, and complete funded internships in the field of engineering. Students can also apply for Washington University in St. Louis's January Intensive Term, an 11-day intensive introduction to engineering courses for current liberal arts students who want to test their interests in engineering. Columbia University also offers a Combined Plan Program (with a highly competitive admission process) for liberal arts students interested in a dual bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in an engineering discipline.
21st-century engineering projects are vital to modern society and require a multi-disciplinary approach, systems thinking and good leadership. Engineers who can balance broad knowledge and skills with disciplinary expertise are vital to the success of such projects.
This course is inspired by the Royal Academy of Engineering and aims to develop engineers with exceptional knowledge and skills. We offer flexible study, specialisation in aerospace, civil or mechanical engineering after the first year and a wide range of in-depth options in later years of the course.
You will learn from leading experts in design methods, and you may work in interdisciplinary teams on engineering projects with our industrial partners.
You will gain industrial experience before you graduate and develop excellent career prospects through opportunities to take summer placements and an assessed year in industry. You can do your placement in areas including the built environment, transport, product design, renewable energy, manufacturing, aerospace and civil engineering.
The course is accredited by numerous professional engineering institutions and is supported by leading companies from a wide variety of engineering sectors.
The Industrial Liaison Office manages our links with world-class engineering and tech companies, making sure that you engage with industry throughout your study. In your first year, you will be assigned an industrial mentor to support your personal development. You can also take advantage of talks from industry insiders and internship schemes.
IT automation engineers help develop, test, and implement technologies aimed at automating business, IT, and development processes — a growing business imperative.
Automation has been a hot syllabu in the job market for several years now, with plenty of pros and cons surrounding both the idea of job creation and job loss. A study from Zippia found that automation has the potential to eliminate 73 million jobs by 2030, with 35% of Americans thinking about automation displacing them and 25% of American jobs “highly susceptible” to automation. But automation is also predicted to create 58 million new jobs, with 85% of Americans supporting automation when it applies to jobs that are “dangerous or unhealthy for humans.”
Regardless of how people feel about automation, it’s here to stay, and companies are embracing automation technologies to streamline IT, business, development, and service processes. As automation increases, organizations across every industry are looking for automation engineers to help facilitate, manage, and oversee enterprise automation.
The automation engineer role
Automation has been a cornerstone of the manufacturing industry for decades, but it’s relatively new to the business, healthcare, and finance industries. Outside of manufacturing and factory automation, IT automation is typically focused on service automation and QA testing of automated processes. The goal of an automation engineer is to eliminate defects, errors, and problems with product or software development and with business or customer service processes.
Businesses are also increasingly embracing automated chatbots to help solve customer issues or to direct customers to the right person, and automation engineers help build, implement, and maintain that technology. Automation is also used to streamline IT help desk ticketing, service management and to deliver quality products and software faster, with fewer defects. Ultimately, the goal of an automation engineer is to reduce the load on workers and to Improve efficiency and reliability by streamlining manual processes that are redundant or inconsistent.
What does an automation engineer do?
In IT, an automation engineer refers to someone who delivers automated solutions for software processes to Improve efficiency, boost performance, and maintain systems. As a software automation engineer, you’ll have to work closely with other teams to help discover and eliminate problems by gathering requirements and implementing process automation. Sometimes this will include hardware or software, but other times you might be asked to automate service or business processes.
Responsibilities vary depending on the industry and specific company, but in general an automation engineer is expected to:
- Identify opportunities for automation within software processes.
- Design and execute QA tests using scripts that automatically test functionality.
- Run tests for databases, systems, networks, applications, hardware, and software.
- Identify bugs and quality issues in development, service, or business processes.
- Install applications and databases relevant to automation.
- Collaborate with other business units to understand how automation can Improve workflow.
- Gather requirements from clients, customers, or end-users to develop the best automation solutions.
Automation engineer salary
The most common IT automation engineering jobs fall under the role of QA engineer. According to data from Glassdoor, the average salary for QA automation engineers — and similar job titles — is $100,523 per year. Senior QA automation engineers reportedly earn an average salary of $136,927 per year.
What does it take to be an automation engineer?
As an automation engineer, you’ll need a wide range of technical skills and soft skills. You will need to understand the systems, networks, hardware, and software you’re working with, but you also need the skills to communicate and collaborate with other business units, clients, or customers.
The job requires programming skills in languages such as C#, SQL, and Java, but the languages and tools you’ll need to know will vary by industry. You’ll also need a working knowledge of mobile, web, and desktop operating systems as well as experience with analytics, robotics, AI and machine learning. Leadership skills will also be important, as you will need to lead cross-departmental efforts to help streamline business processes.
Some of the most common skills for an automation engineer include:
- Automation and robotics
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Programming and coding experience
- Project management
- Agile, cloud, and DevOps
- Analytical and problem-solving skills
- Communication and leadership skills
- Experience in computer science or engineering
How to become an automation engineer
You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a similar field to become an automation engineer. You’ll want a program that includes courses on robotics, databases, statistics, AI, control systems, and artificial neural networks (ANN). Depending on the role, some employers will also want a master’s degree and experience with manual and automated testing procedures.
Automation jobs often combine engineering, science, and IT but the skills you need will vary by industry. You’ll want to look at different job descriptions for automation engineers in different industries to get a better sense of the skills, tools, and education relevant to those industries.
Types of automation engineers
While QA automation engineer is the most common IT automation job title, there are several other job titles that fall under the same category, including those aimed at building and developing services and solutions to bring automation into the workplace. Some positions focus on the cloud, while other jobs focus on automating with specific tools or services available on the market.
The roles and responsibilities fluctuate with each job description, and there are several different career avenues available for an automation engineer. According to PayScale these include:
- Automation design engineer
- Automation systems engineer
- Automation specialist
- Selenium automation engineer
- Software QA automation engineer
- Cloud automation engineer
- End-to-end automation engineer
- Test automation engineer
The most commonly used software for automation engineering is automated testing software. These tools help businesses automate alerts, integrate QA processes, and test automation processes in the organization. They can also help solve automation problems, deliver reports, and automate the QA testing process.
According to data from Capterra, the highest rated automation testing software tools include:
- Picreel
- DevSkiller TalentSCore
- WebCEO
- Subject7
- Codemagic
- Accelq
- Escala
- ProdPerfect
- Rainforest
Automation certifications
Automation is a relatively new field, but certifications are emerging to help you validate your automation skills. You’ll want a well-rounded technical background in IT, and there may be certifications that are industry-related, but there are several automation-specific certifications you can earn:
- ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
- ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST)
- IIST Certified Software Test Automation Specialist (CSTAS)
- IIST Certified Software Test Automation Architect (CSTAA)
- ISA Control Systems Engineer (CSE) Licensing
- ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level, Test Automation Engineer (CTAL-TAE)
- ISTQB Advanced Level Security Tester Certification Exam
- ISTQB Agile Tester Certification
- ISTQB Test Automation Engineer Certification (ITSQB)
- QAI Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST)
- QAI Quality Assurance Institute Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
- QAI Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST)
More on automation:
An important component of the M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs is research under direction of a major professor.
The Department of Chemical Engineering provides graduate education leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees through the graduate program in the different fields of chemical engineering listed below.
Graduate studies are focused on specialization and advanced studies of the fundamentals of chemical engineering and the applications for a sustainable future. The development and applications of biorenewable materials and bioenergy are among the most critical challenges for the future.
The advanced graduate study programs in the department of chemical engineering are focused on these future challenges.
Our faculty members are leaders in their respective fields and guide thesis and dissertation research of MS and PhD scholars in these programs. (Please see individual webpages for individual faculty members' research interests and profiles).
Students can be accepted into the program from a variety of backgrounds. Successful students who have pursued advanced degrees in the Department of Chemical Engineering have had backgrounds in chemical engineering, pulp and paper engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, chemistry, biological engineering, biology, biotechnology, and manufacturing, among many others. Students planning to obtain graduate degrees should have strong undergraduate preparation in some of the following areas, depending on the particular area of study chosen: mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, biological sciences, and computer science.
Students in this program master a variety of subjects that are normally found in a chemical engineering program, and supplement those studies with advanced courses specific to Bioprocess Engineering. The program focuses on the use of wood and other renewable biomass materials to replace petroleum in energy and industrial product applications.
The department enjoys excellent external support in the form of graduate assistantships, fellowships, research assistantships, and support from industry as well as a number of governments granting agencies.
The concept of whole-brain engineering™ runs through all of McCormick’s bachelor’s degree and other specialized programs. Each program delivers a balanced education through coursework, research, internships, and extra-curricular activities. You can even design your own program within engineering, or combine an engineering degree with a second major at Northwestern.
At McCormick, our goal always is to help you articulate and pursue your individual goals and develop into a well-rounded engineer capable of achieving your full potential.
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Whole-Brain™ Engineering
Complex problems have complex solutions. Energy and sustainability, global health, poverty, and education—true solutions to these challenges involve multiple disciplines. McCormick’s curriculum is crafted to produce whole-brain™ engineers who think and work across disciplines—engineers whose deep technical skills are augmented by creative and humanistic thinking. To broaden their body of knowledge, Northwestern requires its students to study outside McCormick and encourages participation in one of the many extracurricular activities offered.
Through the integration of three key areas, we provide opportunities for students to develop superior technical skills and complementary creative thinking as they become whole-brain engineers:
Design
The entry point to whole-brain thinking, design connects the technical skills of engineering with the creativity needed to correctly frame and solve the problem. This design knowledge sets McCormick students apart from their peers at other schools and in the workplace after they graduate.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is strongly encouraged in all areas at Northwestern. The Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides course offerings, funding, and guidance to students looking to nurture and develop their innovative ideas.
Leadership
With resources such as the Center for Leadership, McCormick students gain the skills and ability to rally support around an objective, manage team dynamics, and maximize collaboration.
A Whole-Brain Experience
Just as whole-brain engineering results from the combination of analytical left-brain skills and creative right-brain thinking, many seemingly disconnected factors intersect at McCormick to create a unified experience unlike that at any other engineering school.
More than 1,600 undergraduates study at McCormick, with approximately 400 incoming freshmen every year. All engineering students and faculty members participate in classes, collaborate on projects, conduct research, and share knowledge and experience in one physical location. This closeness brings people with diverse thinking and skills together on a daily basis where ideas can be exchanged, insights gained, perspectives broadened, and life-long professional and personal relationships formed.
Learn about our academic departments
Learn about our student groups
Connections Across Disciplines and Schools
Northwestern University, known for its emphasis on collaboration, promotes partnerships among disciplines – and this is where new discoveries and innovations often occur. In fact, the majority of science and engineering departments are clustered closely together on campus.
However, our whole-brain approach takes us even further afield. McCormick actively collaborates with nearly every school at Northwestern, and our faculty and students often extend their research projects initiatives around the world.
As an undergraduate, you’ll collaborate with students from a range of disciplines and schools through opportunities such as our innovative Engineering First® curriculum for first-year students, NUvention courses, coursework and projects at the Segal Design Institute, and more.
Innovative Curriculum
From the very start of your freshman year at McCormick, you’ll experience firsthand what it feels like to be a practicing engineer. In our groundbreaking Engineering First® program, you’ll work with actual clients through the Design Thinking & Communication (DTC) courses, solve problems, deliver tangible results, and make a positive impact on another person’s life—all within your first year.
In addition, our Social Science / Humanities Theme Requirement ensures you become a well-rounded engineer by developing an area of competency in the humanities. You choose your theme’s focus based on your own interests.
Learn more about our core curriculum
Advising Resources
Students at McCormick receive a wealth of support and guidance in all areas from the start of their academic careers to graduation and beyond.
Student Advising
The McCormick Advising System provides guidance to first-year engineering students and serves as a continual resource through their years of study. Departmental faculty advisers continue to support upperclass students in their respective fields and majors.
Personal Development
The Personal Development StudioLab is just one of several resources that empowers students to take ownership of their learning and connect their personal goals with available courses and activities.
Career Development
With opportunities such as the Cooperative Engineering Education Program (Co-op) that gives students hands-on work experience, Engineering Career Development (ECD) provides programs and services that offer career advice and integrated learning.
Learn more about personal and career development at McCormick
Award-winning Faculty
McCormick students enjoy small classes taught by 180 full-time faculty members—professors recognized as leaders in their field who hold numerous patents, work closely with industry, and routinely receive major awards to pursue cutting-edge research.
McCormick’s 1:9 faculty-student ratio means that world-class faculty get to know you by name, and undergraduates frequently play active roles on faculty-led research teams.
Groundbreaking Research
As a McCormick student, you’ll soon realize how our dual mission—creating new knowledge through research and engaging and educating our students — directly affects your life and future in very real and practical ways.
You’ll see how the scope and quality of our faculty’s research energize the classroom with new ideas across the full spectrum of engineering disciplines, and how their passion for their work inspires you with new possibilities in your chosen field. It may even draw you into the research lab to work side by side.
As early as your first year, you’ll have opportunities to participate in innovative research with our faculty members. It’s common for our students to be part of a team that publishes notable research results and connects science to solutions that affect people’s lives.
Learn about research opportunities for undergraduates
Chicago: A Great American City
Situated along the north shore of spectacular Lake Michigan, Northwestern’s Evanston campus is just 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, a quick ride on public transportation. Our location provides easy access to a wide array of cultural activities including sports, music, art, and restaurants, as well as nearly unparalleled access to major corporations, research centers, organizations for study, internships, co-op positions, and other valuable career opportunities.
Australia, Denmark, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden...these are some of the places our undergraduates call home as part of the Study Abroad Program.
The School of Engineering highly encourages students to explore Study Abroad as a supplemental educational opportunity to maximize their Santa Clara University experience.
- International experience is a strong, positive addition to your resume.
- Given that the engineering workplace is becoming an increasingly globalized industry, international experience can provide you with the necessary skills to work effectively with people from around the world.
- Communication is a valued skill in engineering and having meaningful experiences abroad can help challenge and develop your communication skills and abilities.
- Global understanding is an important part of what Santa Clara seeks to create in its students.
To maximize your time abroad, it is critical to strategically plan out your course schedule both at Santa Clara and abroad. Finding a study abroad program that fits your major(s), minor(s), and pathway requirements take time and planning, but we are here to help! You can utilize this guide to get started in the planning process.
Students should begin planning their study abroad experience during their first year. The earlier you start planning, the more likely you will be able to integrate study abroad into your Santa Clara experience!
Students should consult their Faculty Advisor in Spring Quarter advising during their first year and inform their Faculty Advisor of their intention to go abroad. It is important to be aware that certain technical classes for engineers can only be taken while at Santa Clara.
Students should also review the SCU Study Abroad website, specifically the Explore Programs by Major subpage, to identify programs with specific engineering coursework as soon as possible. Faculty Advisors can help students determine what courses abroad will align with their academic plan.
Most engineering students choose to study abroad during the fall quarter of their third year. This allows students to study abroad for a semester while only missing one quarter at SCU. Many students who plan accordingly can get five classes to apply to major, minor, and/or core requirements.
Students should map out exactly what classes they need to graduate and create a flowchart outlining any sequences or prerequisites. Many majors have charts based on their graduation date that students can use as a reference. Engineering four-year plans can be found here.
Engineering Peer Advisors are a great resource to utilize during the planning process if you need assistance with your academic plan for study abroad.
Questions about Study Abroad?
SCU Study Abroad is happy to assist you during the study abroad process. You can email SCU Study Abroad at studyabroad@scu.edu with any questions you may have, and view advising opportunities on the Advising subpage of the SCU Study Abroad website.
A unique feature of the UAB Civil Engineering Program is its Study Abroad Program. Our students can complete coursework overseas while broadening their international and cultural experiences. Academic credits earned can fulfill undergraduate requirements or be applied towards the fast-track master's degree.
The department has two active study abroad programs, both of which take place in Egypt.
NSF IRES
The National Science Foundation International Research Experiences for Students (NSF-IRES) program is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to work directly with Egyptian and U.S. researchers on projects related to urban sustainability. The program is open to only a limited number of students (8-10) each year, so selection is competitive. The research experience takes place primarily in Cairo over a six-week period in early summer. Research syllabus include building design, sustainable building materials, sustainable storm water management, and intelligent building systems. Upon returning to the U.S., students complete their projects and develop a paper for submission to conferences and professional journals. The program covers most student expenses including airfare, lodging, meals, and transportation.
Alexandria University
The summer abroad program at Alexandria University allows students to take up to 6 credit hours of courses that will apply to their civil engineering degree. The program takes place over a six-week period in early summer in Alexandria, Egypt, and is open to all students. Courses include Sustainable Architecture (3 hours) and Introductory Arabic (3 hours). The cost for lodging and meals for the program is approximately $1,000. Tuition is free. Students are responsible for airfare, though transportation costs once they arrive in Egypt are covered. The program includes day trips to Cairo, the Red Sea, and other historic sites in Egypt.
Announcements for both programs are typically made in the fall. For more information please contact Andrew Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Paula Alvarez-Pino at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Why Study Outside the U.S.?
Many of the world's most pressing science and engineering challenges are trans-national in nature. Many of the leading scientific and engineering resources are located outside the United States. In order to remain at the forefront of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the United States needs to nurture a globally-engaged STEM workforce capable of performing research in an international environment.
2015-2017 Programs
During the summer of 2017, eight of our undergraduate and graduate students traveled to Egypt and Germany as part of the NSF-IRES program. The trip was the third of three study away opportunities focused on the theme of Sustainable Green Building Design and Construction. This theme was selected for several reasons:
- There is a growing emphasis on energy efficiency and the protection of natural resources in the building industry.
- In many developing countries, such as Egypt, there is an acute need for affordable yet resource-efficient housing.
- Our university and the international partners have collaborated on research in this area in the past and have jointly held two international workshops directly related to this theme.
The main international host for each of the three summers been the Housing and Building National Research Center in Cairo (HBRC). HBRC is an independent government research center performing a leading role in enhancing the performance of the building, housing, and urban development sector in both the local and regional context.
The two-week program in Egypt combined education experiences with opportunities to work with mentors on their research projects. Students then traveled to Germany, where they were hosted by our partner OTH Institute in Weiden together with Europoles. During the two weeks in Germany our students attended several lectures from experts in sustainability, visited different sustainability sites, attended practical experiences at multiple research laboratories, and had the opportunity to visit diverse towns in the south of Germany (Nuremberg, Neumarkt, and Regensburg, among others).
