Engineering Your Future: A Brief Introduction to Engineering

by Oakes, William; Leone, Les; Gunn, Craig

• ISBN13: 9780199797554
• ISBN10: 0199797552
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Engineering--a field that is both academically rigorous and creatively demanding. Faced with endless career opportunities, today's students matriculate without a clear idea about the study and practice of engineering. With a unique modular approach,Engineering Your Futureis an authoritative guide to the academic expectations and professional opportunities in the engineering field. Engineering Your Future: A Brief Introduction to Engineering, Fourth Edition, is a concise, inexpensive version ofEngineering Your Future: A Comprehensive Introduction to Engineering, Seventh Edition. Containing the twelve most popular chapters from the comprehensive version, theBriefoffers the best option for instructors looking for a solid base to work from while they incorporate outside projects or assignments. Features * Introduces students to the broad spectrum of engineering disciplines, with up-to-date data on degrees granted, employment opportunities, and salaries * Highlights the ethical responsibilities of engineers * Focuses on developing all-important problem-solving and communication skills that are critical to success both in the classroom and in the working world * Offers guidance both for leading teams and, just as importantly, for being an effective member of a team * Introduces a design methodology that can be used immediately and in subsequent design courses New to this Edition * Updated Computer Tools chapter covers computer use from the history of the internet through advanced engineering packages, including spreadsheets, mathematical programs, social media, and communicating via email * Effective coverage of teamwork for engineering classes shows students how a diversity of skills is essential to their future careers * Updated green and bioengineering information address current issues including sustainability and advancing human health * Fresh new profiles of contemporary engineers and their current research give students an insider's glimpse into what fields they may be most suited for * Up-to-date statistics for the job market provide critical data to help inform students' career decisions

Author Biography

William C. Oakes is Associate Professor of Freshman Engineering at Purdue University. Les L. Leone is former Director of Cooperative Engineering Education at Michigan State University. Craig J. Gunn is Director of Communications in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
The History of Engineering	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Getting Started	p. 2
The Beginnings of Engineering	p. 5
An Overview of Ancient Engineering	p. 7
Traveling Through the Ages	p. 9
Exercises and Activities	p. 14
Engineering Majors	p. 17
Introduction	p. 17
Engineering Functions	p. 21
Engineering Majors	p. 29
Emerging Fields	p. 50
Closing Thoughts	p. 51
References	p. 52
Exercises and Activities	p. 52
Profiles of Engineers	p. 57
A Statistical Profile of the Engineering Profession	p. 87
Statistical Overview	p. 87
College Enrollment Trends of Engineering Students	p. 87
College Majors of Recent Engineering Students	p. 89
Degrees in Engineering	p. 89
Job Placement Trends	p. 89
Salaries of Engineers	p. 91
The Diversity of the Profession	p. 99
Distribution of Engineers by Field of Study	p. 103
Engineering Employment by Type of Employer	p. 104
Percent of Students Unemployed or in Graduate School	p. 104
A Word from Employers	p. 105
Exercises and Activities	p. 105
Succeeding in the Classroom	p. 107
Introduction	p. 107
Attitude	p. 107
Goals	p. 108
Keys to Effectiveness	p. 109
Test-taking	p. 114
Making the Most of Your Professors	p. 116
Learning Styles	p. 117
Well-Rounded Equals Effective	p. 119
Your Effective Use of Time	p. 122
Accountability	p. 127
Overcoming Challenges	p. 127
References	p. 128
Exercises and Activities	p. 129
Problem Solving	p. 133
Introduction	p. 133
Analytic and Creative Problem Solving	p. 134
Analytic Problem Solving	p. 136
Creative Problem Solving	p. 142
Personal Problem Solving Styles	p. 150
Brainstorming Strategies	p. 153
Critical Thinking	p. 158
References	p. 160
Exercises and Activities	p. 160
Computer Tools for Engineers	p. 167
The Internet	p. 167
Word Processing Programs	p. 173
Spreadsheets	p. 174
Mathematics Software	p. 177
Presentation Software	p. 180
Operating Systems	p. 181
Exercises and Activities	p. 181
Teamwork	p. 183
Introduction	p. 183
Engineers Often Work in Teams	p. 183
Team Growth Stages	p. 188
What Makes a Successful Team?	p. 190
Team Leadership	p. 191
Team Organizational Structures	p. 193
Effective Decision Making	p. 194
Attitudes Toward Team Experiences	p. 195
Documenting Team Performance	p. 196
References	p. 198
Exercises and Activities	p. 198
Engineering Design	p. 201
What Is Engineering Design?	p. 201
The Design Process	p. 202
Exercises and Activities	p. 211
Communication Skills	p. 215
Why Do We Communicate?	p. 215
Oral Communication Skills	p. 216
Written Communication-Skills	p. 222
Other Types of Communication	p. 228
Exercises and Activities	p. 236
Ethics and Engineering	p. 239
Introduction	p. 239
The Nature of Ethics	p. 239
The Nature of Engineering Ethics	p. 240
The Issues and Topics of Engineering Ethics	p. 243
Exercises and Activities	p. 255
Engineering Work Experience	p. 259
A Job and Experience	p. 259
Summer Jobs and On- and Off-Campus Work Experiences	p. 261
Volunteer or Community Service Experiences	p. 261
Supervised Independent Study or Research Assistantship	p. 262
Internships	p. 262
Cooperative Education	p. 263
Which Is Best for You?	p. 268
Exercises and Activities	p. 268
Appendix: The Basics of PowerPoint	p. 271
Index	p. 275
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