INTRODUCTION TO

ENGINEERING PROFESSION
Lecture 1

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 What is Engineering?

A profession in which knowledge of the

mathematical and physical sciences gained
by study, experience and practice is applied
with judgment to develop ways to utilize
economics, materials and forces of nature
for the progressive well being of human kind.

“Engineers’ Council for Professional Development”

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Who is an ENGINEER?

An Engineer is a person who possesses this

knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences,
through the principles of analysis and design, applies
this knowledge to the solution problems and
development of devices, processes, structure and
systems for the benefit of all human.”

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 Engineering Job
• Engineering is an exciting profession!

• Work in a team to solve challenging problem to

make: (Team work)
• Life safer
• Life easier

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Engineering Work Is All Around Us
Engineers make products and provide
services that make our lives better

Example of products and services designed by engineers

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 Engineers Deal with an Increasing
World Population
Projection of world
population growth

Estimate of U.S. elderly

population growth

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 Engineers Deal with an Increasing
World Population
• Why is the population growth relevant to us?
As new engineering graduates in a few years, you will
design products and provide services especially
suited to the needs and demand of an increasing
elderly population

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 What Do Engineers Do?
Engineers apply physical and chemical laws and
principles and mathematics to design million of products
and services that we use in our everyday lives

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 What Do Engineers Do?
• Engineers consider factors such as cost, efficiency,
sustainability, reliability, and safety in their
designs
• Engineers perform tests to ensure their designs
can withstand the loads and conditions prescribed
• Engineers continue to seek ways to improve
existing products and services
• Engineers continue to develop new, advanced
materials to make products lighter and stronger
for different applications

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 What Do Engineers Do?
• Engineers design, maintain, and supervise
construction of buildings, dams, bridges,
highways, power plants, and other components
of our infrastructure system
• Engineers are responsible for extracting
petroleum, natural gas, and other materials
from earth
• Engineers are responsible for the production
and the processing of crops, fruit, vegetable, and
food

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 Traits of Successful Engineers
Engineers
• are problem solvers
• have firm grasp of fundamental principles of
engineering
• are analytical, detailed oriented, and creative
• have desire to be lifelong learners
• have ability to work outside their area of
specialization in other related fields

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 Traits of Successful Engineers
Good Engineers
• have good communication and time management skills
• have good “people skills”
• are good team player
• have ability to use modern tools to solve various
engineering problems or to solve problems in various
ways
• are active in the profession and community

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 Desirable characteristics
1. A strong interest in and ability to work with
mathematics and science taken in high school
2. An ability to think through a problem in a logical
manner.
3. A knack for organizing and carrying through to
conclusion the solution to a problem.
4. An unusual curiosity about how and why things work

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 Management Skills
“It takes more than having the right engineering
skills to be able to move up the career path. Ask
any successful engineers, managers or head-
hunters, and they will tell you that employers,
especially during trying times, look beyond the
technical stuff on the resume when hiring new
people.”

- Malou A. Buencousejo, Electronic Engineering Times, Oct. 2001

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 Management Skills

• Budgeting • Giving presentations

• Project • Resolving technical
planning/management trade-off
• Team leadership • Writing internal reports
• Purchasing • Writing reports for external
• Personnel hiring communication

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Distribution of Employment by
Disciplines

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Average Starting Salary for
Engineers
(2009)

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 ABET Accreditation
• ABET stands for Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology
• ABET is the only organization in U.S. that can
accredit engineering and technology programs
• ABET examines the credentials of the engineering
program’s faculty, curricular content, facilities,
and admission and graduation standards before
granting accreditation

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 ABET Accreditation
• Many states require engineers to be graduates
of an ABET accredited engineering program
before they are eligible to take the Professional
Engineer (PE) exam
• Visit your state’s licensing board to learn about
their engineering licensing requirements
• Visit http://www.abet.org to see the list of all
accredited programs and learn more about ABET

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 ABET Accreditation
ABET accredited engineering programs must
demonstrate that their graduates have
• Ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and
engineering
• Ability to design & conduct experiments, as well
as to analyze & interpret data
• Ability to design a system, component, or
process to meet desired needs

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 ABET Accreditation (continued)
ABET accredited engineering programs must
demonstrate that their graduates have
• Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to identify, formulate, and solve
engineering problems
• Understanding of professional and ethical
responsibility
• Ability to communicate effectively

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 ABET Accreditation (continued)
ABET accredited engineering programs must demonstrate
that their graduates have
• Broad education necessary to understand the impact of
engineering solutions in a global & societal context
• Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in
lifelong learning
• Knowledge of contemporary issues
• Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern
engineering tools necessary for engineering practice

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 Professional Engineer (PE)
• Requirements to become PE
– Have a degree from ABET accredited engineering program
(mandatory requirements by many states)
– Must pass the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) exam
– Must have 2 to 4 years of relevant engineering work
experience usually under the supervision of a PE
– Must pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE)
exam

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 To Become an Engineer
• Education – accredited program, BS and/or MS
level
• Professional registration
– Fundamental of Engineering Exam
– Professional Engineering Exam
• Professional organizations
• Life-long learning

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 Engineering Technology
• Scope of work is more application-oriented
• Requires less understanding of mathematics (up
to integral and differential calculus), engineering
theories, and scientific concepts that are used in
complex designs.

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 Engineering Technology (continued)
• Engineering technologists use the same principles
of science, engineering, and mathematics to assist
engineers in solving problems in manufacturing,
construction, product development, inspection,
maintenance, sales, and research.
• Engineering technologists assist engineers or
scientists in setting up experiments, conducting
tests, collecting data, and calculating some results.

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Engineering Technology Programs
• Usually offer same type of disciplines as
engineering, for example
– Civil engineering technology
– Electronic engineering technology
– Industrial engineering technology
– Mechanical engineering technology
• Graduate studies in engineering technology are
limited
• Professional registration may be more difficult to
obtain in some states

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 PROFESIONALISM
“Professionalism is a way of life. ”

Professional person:
• Engages in an activity that required specializes and
comprehensive education

• Motivated by a strong desire to serve humanity

• Thinks and acts in a manner that brings favor upon the

individual and the entire profession

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 Professionalism
• Main criteria for professional include the following:
• Academic qualifications
• Expert and specialized knowledge in field which one is
practicing professionally
• Excellent manual/practical and literary skills in relation to
profession.
• High quality work in (examples): creations, products,
services, presentations, consultancy, primary/other research,
administrative,
• A high standard of professional ethics, behaviour and work
activities while carrying out one's profession
• Reasonable work moral and motivation.

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 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

A Professional engineer can be said to have the following:

1. Specialized knowledge and skills used for the benefit of

humanity

2. Honesty and impartiality in engineering service

3. Constant interest in improving profession

4. Support of professional and technical societies

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 CODE OF ETHICS OF ENGINEERS

The Fundamental Principles:

i. Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of

human welfare

ii. Being honest and impartial and serving with fidelity the
public, their employers and clients

iii. Striving to increase the competence and prestige of the

engineering profession and

iv. Supporting the professional and technical societies of their

disciplines
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 Professionalism and Ethics
• Professional=Technically Sound + Ethically Credible

• The honor for being an engineer comes with

responsibility and civil liability.

• Every engineer must have the necessary skill and

expertise to provide specific engineering services.

• Engineers must provide independent and unbiased

advice, especially when it involves the interest of the
public or the customers.
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