Choose Your Major

Bryan Brown (beard), research associate in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS), and UC engineering student Austin Wessels demonstrate a drone used as part of CEAS's multi-year contract with the Ohio Department of Transportation to study traffic.

Aerospace Engineering offers you the opportunity to contribute to the exploration and understanding of our skies and the universe beyond them. You can be a part of creating and developing aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and other cutting-edge technology that pushes the boundaries of human flight. 

Aerospace Engineering offers a variety of career paths, including:

  • Design and testing for aircraft/spacecraft
  • Defense technology design
  • Space exploration
  • Aerospace manufacturing
  • Commercial airlines diagnostics

Aerospace Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $20.68 on co-op, with top co-op employers including:

  • Safran Landing Systems
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Rhinestahl
  • Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
  • NMG Aerospace
  • Autovalve
  • Advanced Atomization
  • UC Simulation Center 
  • PCC Airfoils, LLC
  • General Electric

Learn more:

What is Aerospace Engineering?

Aerospace Engineering gives advice to future engineers 

Image of architectural engineering students using iPads.

Combining elements of architecture and engineering, the Architectural Engineering major allows you to gain a deep understanding of architectural design principles, while also developing technical engineering knowledge to bring designs to life. As an architectural engineer, you can solve complex design problems and work towards creating more sustainable and efficient buildings and infrastructure. 

Architectural Engineers work in fields such as construction, design, and planning, with potential career paths including:

  • Technical architect
  • HVAC systems specialist
  • Plant, facilities, electrical systems, or fire protection engineer
  • Construction project manager 

Architectural Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $19.49 while on co-op. Top co-op employers for architectural engineering students include:

  • Kohrs Lonnemann Heil Engineers (KLH)
  • CMTA Engineers
  • Messer Construction Company
  • Hixson
  • SHP
  • Helix Electric, Inc.
  • Al Neyer, Inc.
  • Rosendin Electric

Learn more: 

All about Architectural Engineering

Architectural Engineering students show local residents how to save on energy

Co-op students at Atricure in Mason, Ohio.

Biomedical Engineering combines principles from engineering, biology, and medicine to develop innovative solutions for healthcare challenges. As a biomedical engineer, you can make an impact on the health outcomes of society by creating innovative medical technology or therapies, such as better prosthetics, improved health monitoring devices, or new treatments with fewer side effects. 

Biomedical Engineers go on to work in fields such as manufacturing, medicine, research, and higher education; with possible careers including:

  • Medical device design/manufacturing
  • Biomedical research/product development
  • Technical sales/advising

Biomedical Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $19.50 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • AtriCure Inc.
  • Cook Medical
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Enable Injections
  • Ethicon
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Guerbet LLC (formerly Mallinckrodt)
  • NuVasive Inc
  • Vein360
  • Medpace Inc.
  • Kinetic Vision

Learn more:

What is Biomedical Engineering?

Biomedical Engineering students are changing lives with 3D printing

Students pose in an environmental engineering lab in Rhodes Hall.

Chemical Engineering offers a versatile program with applications in fields such as pharmacy, medical sciences, energy, environmental protection and sustainability, and food sciences. Through expertise in chemical reactions, you can be involved with designing and optimizing processes and developing new materials to find innovative solutions to global challenges in a variety of professional sectors.  

Careers in Chemical Engineering are diverse and transformative, with notable examples including: 

  • Chemical manufacturing/processing
  • Energy engineer
  • Product/materials development 
  • Environmental management 
  • Technical sales/support 

Chemical Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $22.45 while on co-op, working with a variety of top employers, including: 

  • DuBois Chemicals
  • SABIC
  • Givaudan
  • BASF Corporation
  • Lubrizol, a Berkshire Hathaway Company
  • Owens Corning
  • Multi-Color Corporation
  • Teva Pharmaceutical
  • Patheon, part of Thermo Fischer Scientific
  • L'Oreal USA
  • Sherwin Williams Company
  • Pixelle Specialty Solutions
  • B&G Foods

Learn more: 

What is Chemical Engineering?

Student applies chemical engineering to biomedical field

Image of a civil engineering student.

As a Civil Engineer, you can directly be involved with designing, constructing, rehabilitating, and improving infrastructure all around the world. Through the conception and construction of buildings, roads, bridges, water supply systems, highways, airports, and more, Civil Engineering offers you a chance to make a tangible impact on improving transportation, construction, and infrastructure for everyone. 

Civil Engineers may work in construction, higher education, or governmental agencies; with possible career paths including:

  • Structural design
  • Construction project management
  • Environmental design/maintenance

Civil Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $19.07 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • Messer Construction Company
  • The Kleingers Group, inc.
  • Bayer Becker
  • American Bridge Company
  • Bowen
  • Moss and Associates
  • Kokosing Construction, Inc.
  • Crowder Construction Company
  • Ohio Department of Transportation
  • Dugan & Meyers Interests, Inc.
  • Prus Construction
  • Danis Building Construction Company
  • Butler County Engineer's Office

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Co-op leads to full-time job for civil engineering student

Civil engineering student grows through co-op

Image of computer engineering students at a hackathon.

Computer Engineering offers you the opportunity to design, analyze, and improve computer hardware such as microprocessors, circuit boards, and computer systems. Whether it’s artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality, or cloud computing, Computer Engineering is at the forefront of innovation and technological progress, and you can be a part of shaping the future of technology and make a lasting impact on the world. 

Computer Engineering offers a diverse selection of career paths, including:

  • Technology and computer design
  • Hardware/software engineering
  • Computer testing/manufacturing

Computer Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $21.46 while on co-op. Top co-op employers for Computer Engineering include: 

  • Siemens PLM Software
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • GE Appliances, a Haier company
  • Cincinnati Insurance Company
  • L3Harris Space & Sensors
  • Kroger Company
  • BMW
  • L3Harris FOS
  • Crown Equipment Corporation
  • Cincinnati Incorporated
  • Honeywell Intelligrated
  • Stress Engineering Services

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Computer Engineering student leader reflects on UC experience

Image of a computer science student on co-op.

Computer Science offers you the chance to develop software and programming to create and implement computer systems, data structures and databases, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. As technology becomes indispensable across industries, studying Computer Science enables you to shape the technological future of our society. 

Computer Science graduates work in a variety of careers including:

  • Applications/web programming
  • Network management and cybersecurity
  • Software development/maintenance
  • Systems programming
  • Artificial intelligence

Computer Science majors earn an average hourly wage of $22.08 while on co-op. Top-cop employers for Computer Science include:

  • Siemens PLM Software
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • London Computer Systems
  • FOX Sports
  • CADTALK
  • Kinetic Vision
  • University of Cincinnati
  • International Technegroup Inc. (ITI)
  • 84.51º
  • Etegent Technologies, Ltd.
  • Cincinnati Insurance Company
  • FIS
  • UC Simulation Center

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Computer Science student finds dream co-op at IBM

UC students shown here during their co-op at Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. UC/ Joseph Fuqua II

Construction Management is essential to the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the vital infrastructure within our societies. Through managing the successful construction of complex projects, Construction Management gives you the chance to meet needs for sustainable housing, buildings, roads, bridges, and facilities, making our societies more robust and dynamic. 

Construction Management graduates work in a variety of careers, including: 

  • General/specialty contractors
  • Property management
  • Corporate building/design
  • Governmental, educational, and health construction
  • Construction engineering

Construction Management majors earn an average hourly wage of $18.92 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • Messer Construction Company
  • Danis Building Construction Company
  • Al Neyer, Inc.
  • Moss and Associates
  • NorthPointe Development Group
  • Dugan & Meyers Interests, Inc.
  • Jurgensen Companies
  • Pirtle Construction
  • Shook Construction Co.
  • Prus Construction
  • Richard Goettle, Inc.

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What is Construction Management?

Construction Management student finds niche in leadership

People at work in the Emergency Operations Center, stylized to illustrate cyber security for a UC Magazine feature on the Cyber Range.

In our computer-reliant world, Cybersecurity Engineering plays an integral role in understanding and identifying threats and security vulnerabilities for computer and communication systems. You will learn how to respond to unknown cyber security threats and build secure computer systems, giving you the opportunity to make an impact on the security of our communities. 

Cybersecurity Engineering offers a variety of career options, including: 

• Threat intelligence/security operations analyst

• Application security engineer 

• Security/application architect

• Incident response management

Learn more:

What is Cybersecurity Engineering?

 

Students pose in CEAS Professor Zach Fuchs's lab, where he uses pinball mechatronics to demonstrate principles of electrical engineering.

Electrical Engineering students are at the forefront of advances in biomedicine, renewable energy, intelligent systems, and nanotechnology. By gaining in-depth knowledge on shaping, designing, and manufacturing processes of technology, students have the opportunity to play major roles in improving and advancing the quality of our lives.  

Possible career paths for Electrical Engineering include:

  • Product design and development
  • Computer/electronics engineering and manufacturing
  • Electric power generation and distribution

Electrical Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $21.69 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • Honeywell Intelligrated
  • Duke Energy
  • Kohrs Lonnemann Heil Engineers (KLH)
  • L3Harris FOS
  • LG & E and KU Energy, LLC
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Honda
  • Material Handling Systems Inc.
  • New Eagle Consulting
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • WHS Engineering Inc
  • Cincinnati Test Systems

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Electrical Engineering student thrives in NASA co-ops

Student combines love of roller coasters with electrical engineering

 

Image of electrical engineering technology students.

As an Electrical Engineering Technology student, you will gain the knowledge and skills to apply the principles of electrical engineering to electrical components. Through the design and installation of electrical instrumentation and devices, Electrical Engineering Technology students play a vital role in advancing technology in our society. 

Career possibilities in Electrical Engineering Technology include:

  • Production/process engineer 
  • Electrical design and electronics support 
  • Controls technician 

Electrical Engineering Technology majors earn an average hourly wage of $19.67 while on co-op. Top co-op employers for Electrical Engineering Technology include:

  • Standex-Meder Electronics
  • Valco Melton
  • Honeywell Intelligrated
  • L3Harris FOS
  • Duke Energy
  • Material Handling Systems Inc.
"Push Forward Campaign" Environmental Health water sampling on the Ohio River.

In a world plagued with environmental challenges, Environmental Engineering is more important than ever. Through cutting-edge sustainability research and learning green engineering design, Environmental Engineering majors explore sustainable solutions for managing pollution and resources, working towards improving the world for everyone. 

Possible career paths for Environmental Engineering include:

  • Pollution control operations
  • Government regulatory agency official 
  • Societal and community work
  • Environmental education
  • Environmental designer

Environmental Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $19.50 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati
  • Ulliman Schutte Construction
  • Kroger Company
  • Moss and Associates
  • Ohio Department of Transportation
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Calvary Industries
  • Kiewit Corporation
  • Shook Construction Co.
  • Euthenics

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Student wants to solve environmental issues in agriculture

College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) graduate students pose at the Digital Futures building.

As an Industrial and Systems Engineering major, you will have the chance to innovate, solve complex problems, and incorporate human interaction within data analytics, healthcare, and Industry 4.0/5.0 systems. Known as “the people engineers”, industrial and systems engineers play vital roles in every industry sector while often rising to top leadership positions. 

Industrial and Systems Engineering offers careers in fields such as: 

  • Data analytics
  • Healthcare services
  • Industry 4.0/5.0
  • Supply chain and logistics 
  • Manufacturing and consulting

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Industrial and Systems Engineering degrees prepare students to work in various fields

CEAS Photo shoot in the Mechanical Engineering Bearcat Motorsports
Professor Randy Allemang & Student Captain Jacob Frisco with UC students at ERC. UC/Joseph Fuqua II

Mechanical Engineering students gain in-depth knowledge on designing, manufacturing, and operating machines and mechanical systems. As a Mechanical Engineering major, you can have the opportunity to work in a wide variety of industries, playing a crucial role in designing and operating mechanical systems that work safely and efficiently to advance work and life for everyone. 

Mechanical Engineers go on to work in a variety of careers, including:

  • Manufacturing and machinery design
  • Automotive and aerospace engineering
  • Technical sales 
  • Machine installation

Mechanical Engineering majors earn an average hourly wage of $21.01 while on co-op. Top co-op employers for Mechanical Engineering include: 

  • ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America
  • GE Appliances, a Haier company
  • Kinetic Vision
  • Emerson
  • Cincinnati Test Systems
  • Siemens PLM Software
  • L3Harris FOS
  • Regal Beloit America, Inc.
  • General Electric
  • Honda

Learn more:

What is Mechanical Engineering?

Behind the scenes of the filming of The College Tour tv show. Jasmine Shaban segment

As a Mechanical Engineering Technology student, you have the ability to gain hands-on experience in applying the principles of mechanical engineering to mechanical components, making society’s machinery more efficient and safer. With a stronger emphasis on lab work, you can work in a variety of fields, such as design, testing, higher education, or research.

Possible career paths for Mechanical Engineering Technology include:

  • Mechanical design analysis
  • Machinery and software testing
  • Field installation
  • Power plant operations
  • Production planning

Mechanical Engineering Technology majors earn an average hourly wage of $20.15 while on co-op, with top co-op employers including: 

  • ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America
  • GE Appliances, a Haier company
  • Robert Bosch Automotive Steering LLC
  • Valco Melton
  • Mubea, Inc.
  • ADVICS North America
  • Regal Beloit America, Inc.
  • Emerson
  • Nimble Robotics
  • Gentherm Company
  • DRT Mfg. Co.
  • Emcor (DeBra-Kuempel)
  • Fecon Inc.

Learn more: 

What is Mechanical Engineering Technology?

What is the difference between Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology?