A major (also known as a major concentration or concentration) is a term for the specific group of courses that give you a basic knowledge of a field of study, which is in addition to your core curriculum. A major is a term most commonly applied to a program of study leading to a bachelor's degree. The engineering school will define a framework for this specialized portion of your studies, including a certain number of required courses and a certain number of "elective" courses relevant to the major. The school will also define your general education or foundation education requirements. Some majors in some engineering schools effectively define your full course of study; many others allow you considerable latitude both within your field of study and in their other courses.
Although many students choose their major before entering a university or college, many others will select it during their first or second year of a three- or four-year program. Typically schools do not allow you to officially declare your major until the end of your second year so that you experience a broad range of courses that will help you choose the most appropriate major.
Some schools actually require you to list a major choice on your application for admission, but this is rare. If you are interested in a major that requires a lot of classes, or classes that are limited to students in that major, you might have to declare earlier than usual (i.e., the fall semester of your second year). As well, for some majors you will need to take specific courses (pre-requisites) during your first and second year before you can even be considered eligible for upper level courses. Some majors have limited enrolment so in fact you may even be required to apply to get the engineering major you want, including attending an interview or writing an essay.
Community college programs generally do not have majors as such. Their 1- to 3-year diploma programs carry a designation, such as Wood Manufacturing Technology Diploma, which is much more specific than, say, Bachelor of Science or even Bachelor of Engineering. Often, students in a community college program--sometimes all the students in the department--will take a common set of core foundational courses in the first year (or term, in the case of shorter programs) which then enables them to pursue a specialized area of study. But generally the field of study at the community college level is career-focused to the point where students do not take "elective" courses as they do for bachelor's degrees. Hence the designation of the diploma effectively stands in for the "major."
Career Explosion “While I was getting the crowd ready to sing karaoke in an Agassiz, B.C. bar, it hit me: This is no career.”That’s how Pauline Westlin describes her zigzagging education and work life before landing a job as a systems verification engineer at Nortel Networks in Ottawa. “I just love my engineering job,” she raves. “I wake up every morning and it’s like ‘WOW.’”
Between karaoke hostessing and be... >[more]
Career Search: Engineering and Technology Software Testing Engineer:
Before a computer company launches a new product, they must first test the software. Software testing engineers are responsible for running the new software through a series of tests to determine whether or not there are bugs in the system before it is launched to consumers. It's a big job, but lots of fun. Testers enjoy getting into the product and reviewing its d... >[more]
Computers Called DaVinci “When I was in high school,” says Heather Penney, “I had lofty notions of being both an actress and an artist. I just knew creativity and design were for me. But I was against computers. I wanted to do everything hand-drawn and hands-on.”
The earth moved after she landed a job at a print shop. Expecting to continue sketching with a pencil, Heather quickly learned she could ... >[more]
Engineer Yourself a Career Without engineers, life would be pretty boring. When you get home from school, do you like to slouch in front of the computer, surf the net, and send an email or two? Thank an engineer. Maybe you travel on buses, ride a bike, or drive a car. Thank an engineer. Or maybe you just like to chill out chatting to your friends on the phone. Again, thank an engineer.
OK, you get the picture. But wh... >[more]
Evolution of a Career in Biotechnology Everyone knows the hype that centred on Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep. But there is a huge team of scientists and technologists behind the scenes that made Dolly possible. Campus Starter sat down with Dr. Ron James, now retired former Managing Director of PPL Therapeutics (the company that cloned Dolly), to talk about how students can get started in the fascinating field of biotechnology&#... >[more]
High Schools Have New Partners While most high school students were splashing about at the beach, Vedrana Toperic spent her summer vacation swimming in very different kind of currents and waves.
By taking a summer course in digital circuitry at the DeVry Institute of Technology’s Scarborough campus, Toperic was one of twenty-four students from Georges Vanier Secondary School who earned one more credit towards her high s... >[more]
High-tech TV Cops vs. Today's Reality You wouldn't think that computer and technology skills would be a requirement for somebody wanting to enter the field of law and security but with today's rapidly advancing technology and computers entering the workplace, these skills are definitely a must. Computers are able to record and cross-reference important facts from all over the world, allowing law enforcement officers to do their jobs b... >[more]
I, Spy! Imagine a typical day of work, making a living as a spy: tearing through the streets of exotic locales in your suped-up, gadget-ridden car, rappelling down the sides of buildings and then cracking the secret code just in time to disarm the bomb and save the world. While this may fit the bill in a James Bond movie, most people who work in the field of espionage are more likely to look like your nei... >[more]
In the Market — Marco Soldano Marco Soldano says the pay cut he took when he accepted a part-time job with Ecreations Software Inc. was well worth it.
As a second-year computer science student at Dawson College in Montréal, Soldano was more than happy to leave his bank job for a web designing position at Ecreations.
“What I want to do in the future is something along the lines of what I’m doing here, so just for the... >[more]
Look Where A Trade Can Take You As cliché as it may sound, the working world is truly filled with opportunity. Whether it's working on the ground, under the ground, in the sky or underwater, a career in the trades can take you practically anywhere.
"There is no doubt, trades are booming," said Murray Sharfenberg, who promotes skilled trades to Alberta high school students. "One of the issues which was identified in the mid 9... >[more]
University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering The College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) offers four year-programs leading to a bachelor of ...
Grant MacEwan University Bachelor of Science in Engineering Due to the competitive nature of the program and first year results that determine the student's choice of discipline when ...
Carleton University Faculty of Engineering and Design As one of the nation's leading institutions in the study and research of engineering, architecture, industrial design, and information technology, ...
Carleton University Faculty of Engineering and Design As one of the nation's leading institutions in the study and research of engineering, architecture, industrial design, and information technology, ...
Concordia University Engineering Established in 1963, and with approximately 160 full-time faculty, Concordia University's (CU) Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science offers a ...
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