Construction engineers plan and oversee the building of structures while estimating costs, ordering materials, and selecting equipment. A bachelor’s degree is required, but a master’s degree is recommended for higher-level jobs. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are also necessary. The job can be challenging, but it can lead to starting one’s own construction business.
Construction engineers implement plans to build things like roads, bridges, buildings, or dams so that construction takes place safely and meets legal code requirements. The construction engineer also estimates costs, orders building materials, and selects equipment. Construction engineers also need to use computer software to design plumbing systems. If you want to become a construction engineer, you will usually need both a college degree and a graduate degree.
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering can be helpful if you want to become a construction engineer. Typically, construction engineer courses include a mix of engineering and business courses. For example, you may be required to take courses such as engineering mechanics, construction safety and calculus along with courses such as business management and accounting.
You may choose to look for a job immediately after college if you try to become a construction engineer. Granted, it could be more helpful to your career if you apply to college. It’s true that a bachelor’s degree is enough to apply for entry-level engineering jobs; however, if you want to pursue construction engineering jobs with higher levels of responsibility or pay, then a master of engineering (MS) in engineering is recommended.
The pursuit of a master’s degree in engineering will allow you to deepen your knowledge of construction and engineering. In addition, it will provide you with the knowledge you need to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FEE) and Engineering Principles and Practices (PPE) exams. Passing both of these exams is required to obtain a professional engineer (PE) license, which is necessary for you to be qualified to eventually supervise and approve public projects as a construction engineer.
If you want to become a construction engineer, remember that while construction engineers must have excellent math and science skills, they must have other skills as well. For example, construction engineers must have good critical thinking and problem-solving skills, because if a problem arises, the construction engineer is the person who has to solve it. Of course, the construction engineer also needs to communicate the solution to co-workers, hence the need for the construction engineer to also have good communication skills.
Having a career in construction engineering can be challenging. The challenge is due to the problem that the task requires. Controlling construction costs can also be difficult, as unforeseen problems can arise despite best planning efforts. It’s true that if you stick with it, your efforts could allow you to start your own construction business someday.
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