There are many reasons that UBC is one of the best places to study engineering. One that’s at the top of the list is the sheer number of engineering programs (and their sub-specializations) to choose from and that are most in demand from employers.
Some of our programs, like geological engineering, have been around from the very start of the university in 1921, while others, like biomedical and manufacturing engineering, were introduced more recently in response to the need for engineers with specialized skills in specific areas.
What’s an engineering program?
When you decide to study engineering in university, you also need to decide on a specialization or program.You may already know a bit about some areas of engineering, like civil engineering (which focuses on infrastructure), mechanical engineering (the study of moving parts) or electrical engineering (everything from nanoscale devices to power distribution).
But there are other areas of engineering you might never have considered to study, either because you’ve never heard of it, don’t know anyone who works in that area or haven’t yet discovered that it’s the area of engineering just right for you!
Programs at UBCV Programs at UBCO
How do you decide what to study?
Lots of universities require you to choose your engineering program before you’ve even stepped foot on campus. This can be tricky. You might not really even know what engineering itself is all about, let alone all the different branches of engineering you can study!
UBC Engineering takes a different approach.
All first-year engineering students at UBC take a foundational first-year curriculum. You’ll take the math, physics, chemistry and coding courses that will help you excel no matter what area of engineering you pursue.
You’ll also take a year-long course where you will work on hands-on design projects that will teach you how to start thinking like an engineer and apply your knowledge to open-ended problems.
First year is also when you will learn about each of the engineering specializations. You’ll work on projects that introduce you to different program areas, and you’ll have the chance to talk with upper-year students and professors from each of the programs.
If you talk to an upper-year student you’ll discover that it’s common for people to change their mind in first year about which engineering program they want to pursue. Here are just three examples:
- Although Arman Hariri didn’t even know about manufacturing engineering until first year, once he learned about it, he knew it was the program for him: "It had the perfect mix of topics I was interested in, from mechanical engineering concepts to materials engineering, process design and a little bit of electrical and computer engineering as well.”
- Caitlyn Molander thought she wanted to go into chemical and biological engineering, but as she says, “in first year I realized that I didn’t like chemistry as much as I thought I had in high school! Taking APSC 101 showed me what I was and wasn’t interested in. I really liked working on the design of the mechanical claw in first year and that led me into thinking I’d enjoy mechanical engineering.”
- Kira Zulauf originally thought she wanted to work in mechanical engineering, but soon discovered she preferred working on projects where she could
“visualize the spatial aspects of what we’re studying as opposed to getting into the complicated physics behind something.” She chose civil engineering for its breadth and flexibility.”
Their experiences are a good reminder of the importance of keeping an open mind and being open to changing your mind! After learning more about their options and doing some real engineering projects where they got hands-on experience in different areas, Arman, Caitlyn and Kira were able to make an informed selection that worked for them.
Choose your path at the end of first year
Towards the end of first year, you’ll choose the path you want to focus on for the rest of your degree. At UBC Okanagan, students select from four programs – civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical. You can also choose a concentration for your program to build specialized expertise in areas like mechatronics, aerospace and resilient infrastructure.
At UBC Vancouver, students choose from the following 14 programs: biomedical, chemical, chemical and biological, civil, computer, electrical, engineering physics, environmental, geological, integrated, manufacturing, materials, mechanical and mining.
Some of these programs also offer specializations, which means you can take a series of courses to concentrate on specific areas.
Gain knowledge of different areas of engineering
Here’s another thing to keep in mind. At the undergraduate level, at least, engineering programs strike a balance of offering a broad range of topics with opportunities to specialize in your upper years. If you take a look at the courses you’ll study in each program, you’ll see that you’re often taking courses from a range of areas.
For example, if you are in biomedical engineering, you will be taking courses to gain knowledge of electrical, software, mechanical and materials engineering. Same thing if you are in mining or materials engineering.
What this means is that while the program you choose is definitely going to influence your career path, it’s not going to lock you into one area of engineering for life. You will graduate with the knowledge and experience you’ll need to work in a range of areas and industries.
