What degree of specialization should one use when choosing electives?

[svenbay]

<p>I’m a civil major who’s frankly still unsure of what is most interesting to me, and so I thought I’d go on my school’s “General Civil Engineering” track:</p>

<p>

The general civil engineering course suggestions will give you a broad background in civil engineering at the undergraduate level. You may anticipate careers in consulting firms, or in local, state, or federal agencies. This choice of course work provides suitable background for general professional practice or for graduate study in any branch of civil engineering.

[UW</a> College of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering - Resources, Student Resources](<a href=“http://www.ce.washington.edu/resources/students/Handbook/Seniors_BSCE_Coursework.html]UW”>http://www.ce.washington.edu/resources/students/Handbook/Seniors_BSCE_Coursework.html)</p>

<p>It includes courses from traffic engineering to wastewater treatment to foundation design…but I’m worried it’ll be all breadth, no depth.</p>

<p>Is it wiser to just specialize in one thing (just structures, or just transportation, etc)? Or do employers just want you to have a good basis so that you can learn most of the other stuff on-the-job?</p>

[jwxie]

<p>For most civil engineering programs in US, by the time the student reaches junior level, he/she gets to decide his/her area of specialization, water, transport, structure, and some colleges offer more.</p>

<p>Because the remaining four semesters you take courses in the area you choose, so it will take too long to complete another specialization. In fact, it’s unwise.</p>

<p>What you should do is choose the one you find most appeal to you, and then go on to graduate school. </p>

<p>Civil engineering is also a type of specialist. No one knows everything, and please don’t try to waste extra years to complete two or more specializations.</p>

<p>When you look for a job, you should always look for jobs that are relevant to civil engineering, and also your specialization. You probably wouldn’t be hire to a bridge-design company if all you do is water treatment, right?</p>

<p>As you move on in your life and continue working (and also study, whether it’s self-study, or part-time education), you will get to learn new stuff. Very often, companies might sponsor you to go back to school. </p>

<p>You will learn a lot from your collauges, from reading articles, from reading books, and from attending conferences, meetings, and events. You might not be the expert in all three, but at least one is expected. </p>

<p>When you graduate, your potential employers care about your experience and performance. So getting an internship, or research is critical. There are many experienced engineers unemployed. They carry more brains than most graduates. So who would you pick?</p>

<p>Be wise: take one :)</p>

[kyleand]

<p>Well it matter what you want to do. Do you want to be a transportation engineer, work towards becoming a structural engineer, design water systems, or what?</p>

<p>There is no point in getting a specialization in structures if you want to design waterways.</p>