Engineers,%20Design,%20and%20Society

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Engineers, Design, and Society

• Presented by
• Massachusetts Society of
• Professional Engineers
• 10 Post Office Square
• 8th Floor South
• Boston, Massachusetts, 02109
• 617-692-2940

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What Does an Engineer Do?

• Designs some stuff.
• Collects a paycheck.
• Has a family.
• Coaches baseball.
• Retires one day.
• Reads Dilbert comics.

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What do they REALLY do?

• In todays society, the engineer is integral to
  progress.
• If you are only oiling the wheels of progress,
  maintaining the status quo, you are a technician.
• If you are thinking about how to make a better
  wheel, youre an engineer.
• The difference between the engineer and the
  scientist is we apply the knowledge of the
  theoretical uncovered by the scientist.

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How much stuff do I have to learn?

• Actually, you never stop.
• Once you get through college, many professions
  employ their own specialized formulas and
  applications that you need to learn to be useful.
• A college degree tells employers that you are
  capable of learning and motivated enough to
  tackle difficult jobs.
• You arent really useful for about 6 months to 2
  years once you begin your career.

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If it is that difficult, why would anyone want to
be an Engineer?

• To answer this lets look at some engineers who
  have made a difference
• Edison
• Bell
• The Wright brothers
• George Westinghouse
• These men have changed the world and the way
  we live our lives.

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How does Engineering compare to

• Professional Engineer
• Upholds a code of ethics.
• Is involved with design issues.
• Spends years studying.
• The State gives them an engineers license if they
  can pass the FE/PE exams.
• Can belong to an engineering society.
• Can add PE to their name.

• A Lawyer
• Upholds a code of ethics.
• Is involved with legal issues.
• Spends years studying.
• The State gives them a license to practice law if
  they pass the bar exam.
• Can belong to a legal society.
• Can add Esq. to their name.

• A Doctor
• Has a Hippocratic Oath.
• Is involved with health issues.
• Spends years studying.
• The State gives them a medical license if they
  can pass their board exam.
• Can belong to a medical society.
• Can add MD to their name.

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And the differences are

• Doctors
• Can work on charity cases
• Open clinics in poor neighborhoods.
• Have an effective input into public policy.
• Lawyers
• Can do work pro bono.
• Open legal offices in poor neighborhoods.
• Espouse arguments regarding public policy.

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Engineers, on the other hand

• Since there is not seen the same compelling
  social need on the part of the indigent for
  design services,
• Engineers will work in other ways to have an
  effect
• Spend years working on an idea on their own time.
• Design ways and means to make life better for all
  people.
• If the truth be known, the data needed to decide
  public policy was collected on a system designed
  by an engineer.
• Volunteer on projects whose goals include
  implementing technology.

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An Engineer has an obligation to

• Stay current in their field.
• Be aware of new developments.
• The effects and possible applications of new
  ideas.
• Share their knowledge.
• Serve on civic committees that can benefit from
  their specialized knowledge.
• Look for ways to apply their knowledge in new
  avenues.

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What is your motivation to be an Engineer?

• I like to figure out how things work.
• Im intrigued by the computer.
• Im pretty good at math.
• I know an engineer and they seemed.
• I have some ideas that might make a difference.
• Id like to try working on something to make life
  easier or better for people.

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Suppose I want to become an Engineer?

• If you are in high school
• Take every math and science course your school
  offers.
• If you are in college
• Youll need to pick a major that will prepare you
  for a career in a field that best suits your
  interests.

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Career Choices

• Here is a partial list
• chemical, civil, environmental, electrical,
  mechanical, structural, agricultural,
  aeronautical/aerospace, fire protection,
  manufacturing, industrial, nuclear, petroleum and
  safety.
• If you are not sure, just major in general
  engineering.
• Once you graduate then you can think about

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How do I become a Professional Engineer?

• Its a two phase process involving education and
  experience. Each State has slightly different
  rules so check locally.
• If you have graduated (or are about to) from an
  undergraduate engineering program (or related
  sciences) at an ABET accredited college, your
  submission of a transcript enables you to take
  the FE exam.
• The experience is a reprisal with documentation
  and supervisor verification of your engineering
  work record for a minimum four-year period after
  the FE exam and before taking the Professional
  Engineers exam.

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Becoming a Professional Engineer

• Register with the local registration board (or
  examination service) and complete an application.
• Take and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering
  Exam (FE), an 8 hour test on general engineering
  topics.
• A recommended step is to next join your local
  State Society of Professional Engineers.
• Obtain 4 years of on-the-job training as an
  engineer.
• Take and pass the Professional Engineers exam, a
  second 8 hour exam geared to your specific field.

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First Steps

• Here in Massachusetts for application processing,
  examination administration and score reporting of
  the engineering and land surveying examinations
  contact
• Professional Credential Services, Inc. (PCS) at
• 1-877-ENG-EXAM or www.pcshq.org.
• Engineering Examination Services, a division of
  PCS, coordinates the examinations.

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Important Dates

• Examination dates
• October and April with applications due by March
  1st for the October exam and May 1st for the
  April exam.
• The first time examination fee for either exam is
  175.

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The Board of Professional Registration

• PCS lets the Registration Board know you are
  eligible to take the exam, administers the exam,
  then notifies the Board if you passed the exam
  and the Board authorizes you the issuance of your
  license.
• Division of Professional Licensure1000
  Washington Street, Suite 710Boston,
  Massachusetts 02118Phone [phone] Fax
  [phone]
• http//www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/en

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Motivation

• No one can say for sure what the future will
  bring nor what your contribution to the shape of
  that future will be.
• Why limit yourself to a short-sighted vision when
  you can aim for the stars.
• Would you rather be the bug or the windshield?

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More Information

• Visit the National Society of Professional
  Engineers at www.nspe.org
• Aptitude tests can help you decide on a career
  goal. Visit your local high school guidance
  counselor or
• Take some time, go sit under an apple tree and do
  a self-assessment of your lifeyou know where you
  are at, the question is where do you want to go?
  
• Once thats finished, prioritize the list so you
  tackle the goals in order of their importance. A
  long range goal will involve many preparatory
  steps and a variety of paths. Enjoy!

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Massachusetts Society of Professional EngineersA
member society of