Guide to PhDs in Engineering and Construction
As the nation invests more in improving infrastructure, finding new energy sources, solving medical puzzles, and developing more sophisticated technology to improve our everyday lives, the need for high-level engineers and construction professionals, and for those who can teach them, can only increase. Companies will be looking to replace more than half of their engineers over the next eight years, according to Forbes magazine, due to retiring baby boomers and a lack of students enrolled in engineering degree programs. Many of these positions require the kind of preparation that only a PhD or terminal degree in engineering or construction can provide.
PhD and Other Doctoral Degrees in Engineering and Construction
While the majority of entry-level positions in engineering and construction can be attained with only a bachelor's degree in engineering, those involving research and development, management, or teaching generally require a PhD or other terminal degree. Here are some of the most popular degrees available:
- PhD or DEng: A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering or Doctor of Engineering (DEng) allows you to specialize in one of the many areas of engineering (i.e., civil, aerospace, chemical, electrical, etc.) as you devote significant time to research and scholarly theory. There are numerous online PhD degree programs available, which allow you to complete your intensive studies at your convenience, enabling you to continue working full-time. Postsecondary teaching positions nearly always require a PhD.
- DBA: A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Engineering, Technology, or Construction blends the technical know-how required with the management responsibilities inherent in these fields. This doctorate degree provides you with the skills you need to make high-level financial and operational decisions.
- ArchD: The Doctor of Architecture (ArchD or DArch) is a professional degree that puts you in a position to learn everything you need to know about the methodological and theoretical underpinnings of this complex, rich field. If you really want to make a serious contribution to architecture--whether through teaching, researching, or designing cutting-edge, awe-inspiring buildings--this terminal degree program is for you.
- MS in Construction: The Master of Science in Construction, or Construction Management, is a graduate construction program for those wishing to extend their technical skills in engineering and construction into the business realm, in order to lead every aspect of a construction project, from hiring of employees to inventory, government compliance, and union negotiation. This is the highest level of schooling in the construction industry.
The Changing Landscape of Doctoral Degrees in Engineering and Construction
According to the National Science Foundation, electrical engineering awarded the highest percentage of doctorate degrees in engineering in 2007; this specialty's doctorate numbers are the fastest growing. The only specialty showing a decline in doctorate awards is mechanical engineering, although this specialization is projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be one of the fastest growing fields over the 2006-2016 period--increasing the need for teachers and doctorate-level specialists.
What accounts for these numbers? Advances in aviation and radar technology, global positioning systems, motor-powered equipment, and the generation of power make electrical engineering a very popular field, and doctoral students are needed in this field in order to aid in the development of new power sources. Mechanical engineering, long equated with manufacturing, has lost a considerable amount of popularity among engineering practitioners.
However, that landscape is shifting as computing technology advances. According to research by the Milken Institute, mechanical engineers are needed in the manufacturing of aerospace, aircraft, and defense, as well as in computer hardware design. There simply aren't enough highly trained engineers to fill the demand, nor are there enough students entering the profession.
The National Society of Professional Engineers says that demand far exceeds the supply of engineers with the right combination of thorough academic study and professional experience, making engineering (in a number of specialties) one of today's fastest growing professions. Geotechnical, biomedical, aerospace, industrial, environmental, and civil engineers who are qualified to fill research positions are needed, as are those with PhDs or terminal degrees in engineering and construction who are prepared to teach the next generation of engineers.
As the U.S. government continues its quest to improve the nation's infrastructure and seek new means of energy production, leadership positions in construction are also expected to increase in number.
Specializations in Engineering and Construction Degree Programs
There is a vast range of engineering and construction specializations available when it comes to PhD and other terminal degree programs. Here are several of the most popular and fastest growing:
- Aerospace engineering involves the design, manufacture, and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. Nearly half of the current workforce in this specialty is older than 50, meaning that the field is facing a severe, crisis-level shortage, with many employers facing the necessity to outsource these jobs abroad.
- Biomedical engineering involves the development of devices and procedures that solve medical problems. This specialty is expected to be among the fastest growing of engineering professions--and also the most competitive. Doctoral degrees are highly recommended for this field.
- Civil engineers are responsible for solving issues of infrastructure, including roads, structures, bridges, and public utilities. Thanks to worldwide investments and stimulus dollars earmarked for infrastructure improvements, this specialty is projected to have rapid growth.
- Environmental engineering involves the development of solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution control, hazardous waste management, and renewable energy. A nearly $70 billion stimulus package devoted to alternative energy ensures job growth in this field. These are also expected to be among the highest paid engineering jobs.
- Industrial engineers are responsible for finding effective solutions to manufacturing and processing problems, to improve efficiency and productivity. Companies looking to trim costs and compete globally will rely more and more on industrial engineers, making it one of the most rapidly growing specialties in engineering.
- Mechanical engineering deals with the design and production of tools and mechanical devices, from power generators to refrigerators and robots. A desire to save money and time while competing globally on a technological front is greatly increasing the need for these professionals.
Careers in Engineering and Construction
PhD and other doctoral degrees in engineering and construction can lead you to several elite and highly sought-after professions. These include privately funded or government-sponsored research positions; construction, engineering, or natural sciences managers, who must have a thorough command of engineering technology and business and operational concerns; and, of course, postsecondary faculty positions--desperately needed to train the next generation of engineering and construction professionals. All of these careers are expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
Sources
- National Science Foundation, 2007 Records Fifth Consecutive Annual Increase in U.S. Doctoral Awards, by Jaquelina C. Falkenheim and Mark K. Fiegener
- National Society of Professional Engineers, NSPE In the News
- SmartMoney.com, College Majors That Can Help You Get a Job, by AnnaMaria Andriotis
- Taubman College of Architecture, Doctoral Studies in Architecture
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Construction Managers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Engineers
