Engineering major

Engineering: courses, careers, and where to study

Engineering majors apply math, physics, and design to build the physical and digital systems that power society, from bridges and chips to medical devices and aircraft.

Engineering is an umbrella term for ABET-accredited programs in mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical, biomedical, aerospace, industrial, and computer engineering. Every engineering BS includes 3–4 semesters of calculus, differential equations, and physics, plus a discipline-specific sequence (thermodynamics, circuits, statics, fluid mechanics, etc.) and a senior capstone design project.

Engineering programs are credit-heavy, usually 128+ credits versus 120 for a BA, and many require a Fundamentals of Engineering exam pass for licensure tracks. Graduates can pursue a Professional Engineer (PE) license after 4 years of supervised work.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Engineering maps to CIP 14.0101, Engineering, General, within the ENGINEERING family. The official definition:

A program that generally prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to solve a wide variety of practical problems in industry, social organization, public works, and commerce. Includes instruction in undifferentiated and individualized programs in engineering.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • Calculus I–III, differential equations, linear algebra
  • Physics (mechanics, electromagnetism)
  • Engineering statics, dynamics, materials
  • Discipline-specific core (e.g., circuits for EE, thermo for ME)
  • Engineering design process and project management
  • CAD, simulation, and lab techniques
  • Engineering ethics and professional practice
  • Senior capstone design project (often industry-sponsored)

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $73,000–$110,000 early-career (varies widely by discipline; BLS, 2024 mechanical engineers median $102,320)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Engineering. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Engineering major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Engineering program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Engineering department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Engineering and some computing programs may hold ABET accreditation, which can matter for professional licensure (the PE path) and for some employers and graduate schools. Check whether the Engineering programs you are considering are accredited for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Engineeringcareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Engineering program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Engineering programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

Search Engineering schools

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Related majors

How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.