karm

i'm not too sure what i want to do, so i think i want to choose a major (or majors) that will give me enough flexibility. i hear that engineering is the most versatile degree out there, so i think i might give it a shot. however, i also hear that there are outsourcing issues and whatnot, so i'm a bit concerned.

i'm a pretty technical person and i like math and science (i hope this isn't surprising seeing that i'm posting in an engineering forum). basically, i'm either going to major in chemical engineering, or i'll double major in math and accounting with a minor in finance, and i need help to decide which one.

i should note that the latter choice isn't a real double major with a minor. i'm at a university where there's a math/accounting program and there are options within it that are pretty much minors. that is, there's no way to go around the math and accounting double major. there are other options like actuarial science and operations research but i'm not too interested in those.

Cressida

It sounds like accounting would be a good under grad. major for you. It will give you lot's of options in many areas of business and you will develop good analytical skills.

racnna

Chem E >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>accounting+math

Do chem E and take some extra advanced math courses for fun.

notre dame AL

You could start off in engineering--then transfer to business. Based on what I've heard at some colleges, it is a lot easier to transfer out of engineering into business rather than transfer into engineering.

sakky

If anything, outsourcing is more of a problem for accountants than for ChemE's. Most ChemE's work as process engineers in oil refineries, or bulk chemical plants. To outsource such work today would basically entail moving the entire plant overseas (or building a new one overseas), yet that is economically infeasible simply because of the expense of having to ship processed chemicals back to the US. The only future outsourcing threat I can see might be if somebody comes up with a remote control and analysis tool that allows you to run a plant completely off-site (hence, an "unmanned" plant). But I suspect that before that sort of technology is developed, somebody will instead have figured out a way to outsource plenty of accounting jobs. Hence, even in the worst case scenario, it's probably a wash.

RETHEEM

do chemE......job security

ratroll

Yeah, I think ChemEs and CivilEs have some of the most stable jobs in America.

seaweed

let me add that besides oil refineries, bioprocessing plants that manufacture pharmaceutical products are very unlikely to be outsourced.
they are strictly monitored by FDA and GMP regulations. also, since each plant is unique, it's almost impossible to replicate protocols for cell culture maintenance and drug purification procedures.

for the OP, you might also want to consider a ChemE + econ combo.

youknowme

"Chem E >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>accounting+math

Do chem E and take some extra advanced math courses for fun."

That's what I m talking about. Math classes ftw.

karm

what about other business majors such as finance? would chemical engineering still be superior to such majors? i'm kind of stuck in the middle between engineering and business (particularly the really quantitative areas). i think i would enjoy both careers when it comes to analyzing and problem solving, but i don't know whether i have the flexibility to move around after getting my degree.

ratroll

Well, in terms of income ChemE > Finance. And unless you go to a top school, a finance degree doesn't carry much weight. Have you though about a BS in Chemical Engineering and a MBA later on? Best of both worlds.

karm

yes i have considered that, but sometimes i'm a bit worried that i wouldn't learn enough math in my normal chemical engineering curriculum. i'd take extra math courses, but i'm not sure if it would make my undergrad life even harder. they'd have to be extras (ie. a sixth course) since my school doesn't allow math courses as technical electives.