Wanted: Problem-Solvers (continued)

There are four main fields in engineering, Jones said.  Chemical engineers design new consumer products, rubber and petroleum, for example.  Civil engineers make buildings more environmentally friendly and work on many other areas of infrastructure, while electrical engineers work on our ever-improved cellphones, as one instance among many.  Mechanical engineers devise motors, robots and artificial knees and hips.  Alternatively, some engineers maintain and manage operations, sell products or cost systems.  Growing fields, such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, rely on engineers. 

Jones encouraged students to pursue engineering as a useful and rewarding career and invited them to consider transferring, after earning their associate degrees, to Lafayette College, in Easton.  One-quarter of Lafayette's 2,400 students major in one of the four major branches of engineering, which includes a combined engineering/computer program.  While most receive bachelor of science degrees in one of the areas listed above, some earn bachelor of arts degrees in the field. The bachelor of arts degree is designed for those more interested in marketing and management.  Lafayette also offers a dual major in engineering and international studies to prepare graduates to manage global projects.  Financial aid is available for transfer students, and Lafayette actively seeks transferees.  An open house at Lafayette College will be held on March 26.  

It is not unusual for engineers to begin their educations at community colleges.  According to the National Academies' newsletter InFocus, 20% of people with engineering degrees started their academic careers by earning at least 10 credits at community colleges and 40% of graduates who received bachelor's or master's degrees in engineering in 2000 had attended a community college.  Bachelor degree-holders earn an average starting salary of $65,000. 

Some of the companies where NCC engineering graduates are employed include Minerals Technology, Laboratory Testing, F.L. Smidth, and Avogadro Environmental Corporation.  A NCC graduate who transferred as a junior to Lafayette College now works at Merck and Company. 

"Engineers improve the quality of life, making it safer and easier," Jones said.