What is the best major to go into Rail Engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I am a rising senior in high school. I see that a lot of Rail Engineering Jobs ask for degrees in civil engineering; however i see some that also take mechanical and electrical engineering. What is the best major to choose to get into this business and also would it be a bad time to go into rail engineering (how does the economy look). I hear that Civil Engineering is dead and has very disappointing growth trends in this economy, so if I do major in civil engineering, would my job prospects be bad. (i will be graduating college in 5-6 years)</p>

2

<p>All 3 disciplines are a part of rail engineering. Different people of a team perform different tasks within the field.</p>

<p>Civil engineering actually has one of the best long term growth forecast. Think about all the buildings and infrastructure needed to support the growing population. And think about all the existing buildings and infrastructure that have to be repaired or rebuilt (because structures age over time too). The knock against the field is that the field can fluctuate quite a bit, depending on the health of the overall economy.</p>

3

<p>

Example:
-The structural engineers may be working on the structure side of retaining wall, bridges, underground stations, platforms,
-the civils may work on the geometric design of the rail
-the electricals work on signals, controls and instrumentation,
etc</p>

<p>

Quite a bit? Puhlease…
Cal poly on average graduates 1,000 BSCEs per year, and from 2008-2012 only approximately 50% of the students managed to land a job related to their field of study. That is FIVE HUNDRED BSCEs did not get a full time job.
Mostly went back to school, some left the field altogether. </p>

<p>The field is extremely competitive nowadays that the 5 civils that started at my work few weeks ago ALL have MSCE and PE, and they all start from bottom. Too bad my crystal ball can’t see 5-10 years to the future though.</p>

4

<p>@rheidzan so would it be better to get a degree in mechanical and go into the rail business. also how would an industrial engineering degree look for this business?</p>

5

<p>@rheidzan‌
Example:
-The structural engineers may be working on the structure side of retaining wall, bridges, underground stations, platforms,
-the civils may work on the geometric design of the rail
-the electricals work on signals, controls and instrumentation,
etc</p>

<p>also, where are mechanical engineers included here? they can still go in the rail business right?</p>

6

<p>I know a mechanical engineer who works on rail vehicles. </p>

<p>I think my use of the words “fluctuate quite a bit” is in line with the example provided by rheidzan. Some times and places it can be bad, some times and places it can be pretty good.</p>