Mechanical or Chemical Engineering? You can have both when you graduate from college. Of course, in order to achieve your goals, you will need to decide what type of engineer you would like to be, and what type of job you want to get. If you choose to go with the latter choice, chemical engineering, you will be spending much of your life inside of an "oxygenated" environment, surrounded by machines and chemicals that make us sick. Let's take a look at the differences between these two majors, and see which is better for you.
If you are new to engineering and just want to break into the field, mechanical or chemical engineering may seem pretty straightforward. But this is not always the case. First, the topics of these two fields are very different, although many students don't realize this. In a nutshell, mechanical engineers look at problems and find solutions, while chemical engineers look for a solution and then work out the way to put it together. If you want to be involved in both areas, this could mean that you will spend a lot of time with each of these types of engineers.
For instance, if you are working on a piece of machinery, you will run across both mechanical engineers, and chemical engineers. These two types of workers will also often collaborate, working together to design and manufacture a piece of machinery. The difference is that mechanical engineers want to know their job right from the start, and will seek out a solution right away. Chemical engineers typically don't do much more than tweak a piece of equipment until they have found the right way to make it run more efficiently.
Now let's take a look at how the two major parts of mechanical or chemical engineering will play off of each other. To begin with, mechanical engineers will look for problems and then come up with a solution. They will then implement their idea, and test to see if their method actually works. In many cases, the solution that they come up with will save a company a tremendous amount of money, and reduce the need for a large capital investment.
On the flip side, chemical engineers will seek out a way to test their idea and see if it actually works before spending a great deal of time implementing it. However, as stated above, many times they might find that their method doesn't work. This is where the collaboration comes into play. By collaborating with a mechanical engineer, and having them help you test out your idea, you can save a great deal of money, while having the opportunity to ensure that your method actually works.
Additionally, many times, mechanical engineers will collaborate with chemical engineers as well. This means that if you have both mechanical engineers on staff, you have a great team working together. Not only will you get help with the testing process, but you may be able to share data and ideas with one another. This is extremely valuable because it allows you to gain insights from the collective experience of others in the field.
Both mechanical and chemical engineers have a great deal to offer to any organization that they work for. While the cost of hiring these types of professionals may be higher, it is important to remember that both types of specialists are vital for the success of any project. If you do not have someone on staff that is skilled in both fields, your company could suffer a disaster. Therefore, when looking at all of the costs, you must consider the overall effect that it will have for your company.
When comparing the two, you must also look at the positives of each. One major advantage that chemical engineering has over mechanical engineering is the fact that a mechanical engineer does not need to undergo any specific training in order to work in this field. Therefore, you do not need to wait to become certified in order to work as a mechanical engineer. Another benefit of working with a mechanical engineer is that this type of professional does not require the same amount of schooling that an electrical engineer does in order to obtain their license. Chemical engineering is also a great career choice for someone who wants to start their own business because it can really help you stand out and make a name for yourself in the industry.
