Need some serious HELP and input on what major I should change to.

[Hoeboy]

I was geared towards Civil Engineering and fell in love with teaching while working as an aide. Now I want to get my teaching credential at the same time as my C/E degree. But I recently feel like C/E is holding me back from doing what I want to do as soon as possible, which is teach. Right now I'm in third year calculus, planning on taking physics E&M next semester, and also doing some courses related to engineering. I have another good 70 units to finish before I can even get my C/E degree. Probably take 2 years if I really really cram or 3 years if I take it slow.

I'm seriously thinking about changing majors. Something that's not too difficult as engineering but also not as useless as say a sociology degree. I also don't want all these math and physics course to go to waste either. So what do you guys think? What major is out there that isn't entirely as difficult as engineering but I can at least apply some of the courses I've already taken for engineering towards that major?

So far the only thing I can think of is math major but I know nothing about it. Anybody wanna fill me in? Suggestions? Tips? Advices?

 

[b0mbrman]

Join the econ. crowd! We're the coolest

 

[wyvrn]

MIS type of degree? Not sure.

 

[Hoeboy]

BTW, NOTHING computer related. And also I'm not very interested in Economics either

 

[her209]

How about Communication?

 

[CSoup]

architecture?

 

[CSoup]

Architecture won't really use your coursework since it is more like art, but you do deal with Civil Engineers, so it might be relevant.

 

[CSoup]

Or how about applied math.

 

[BuckleDownBen]

Biotech seems to be where all the jobs are.

 

[Hoeboy]

my sis suggested applied math. and i''d love to get into architecture if they offer it at my school. but they dont

 

[superfluousmonkeys]

EET

 

[Hoeboy]

i checked my school's req for a math degree and it seems to be pretty cool. it uses my 3 yrs of calc and the physics i took. only need 30 units for the degree but i also got to pick an area of math to study (stats, business, education, etc.) looks a lot easier than engineering. anyone a math major and want to share their experiences?

 

[whalen]

<< EET >>



What? You mean being the biatch to a real engineer?

 

[Maetryx]

I started as Chemistry, then "downgraded" to Civil Engineering. I'll be taking my Professional Engineering exam in October.

I say "downgraded" because there is an implied heirarchy based on "purity" and "difficulty" of university majors. Something like this, I suppose:

Really Pure & Really Difficult: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics
Applied but still quite Difficult: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science
Applied and just kind of Difficult: Civil Engineering, Foreign Languages
Applied and only moderately challenging: Business, Econ
Applied and easy: Education, Journalism, English
Nearly no application and easy: Sociology, Political "Science", Justice, Liberal Arts

Ha ha, this should make somebody have an emotion.

 

[Hoeboy]

<<Really Pure & Really Difficult: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics>>

So you're telling me a math degree is harder to get than a civil engineering degree???

 

[PowerEngineer]

LOL at Maetryx's hierarchy. I suppose it's a bit unfair, but the point that he and others were approaching is that a mathematics degree is generally considered to be difficult to earn than a civil engineering degree (which was widely considered at my school to be towards the easy end of the engineering scale).

Since this seems to be a rather recent swing in your thinking, you might want to see if there's another swing coming. I'd finish up this year taking the basic engineering course, etc. before considering a change in majors for next year. If it's civil engineering that's boring (and I certainly wouldn't argue that ), then you might think about another engineering major. I was going to be an aeronautical engineer until I encountered my first fluid dynamics course...yuck! Two changes later I found myself in electrical power engineering (which means I don't know much about this PC stuff ). In any event, and engineering degree is not a bad foundation to build on. If teaching really is your vocation, then you can always go for a master degree in education afterward. It'd give you the makings of a good math and/or science teacher...and we certainly need more of those!

Good luck!

 

[Hoeboy]

i dont see how math can be harder than C/E. seems like the other way around to me

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< i dont see how math can be harder than C/E. seems like the other way around to me >>

Math classes are fairly easy through calculus but after that it's a combination of abstract courses and "proofs" courses that require very strong formal logic skills. If you enjoyed formal logic and/or did well in a lower-level math "proofs" class you should be fine, otherwise you might be in for a surprise when you get to the last year or so.

My BS was in CS, but I took almost enough math classes for an applied math BS as well -- I rather enjoyed the "theory of calculus" proofs class I had, but it required a lot more brainpower than the sophmore-level class did (proving integration vs. "1+1=2").

 

[Hoeboy]

hm. i enjoyed integration and derivatives in calc. think that's enough for me to get through those upper division classes?

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< hm. i enjoyed integration and derivatives in calc. think that's enough for me to get through those upper division classes? >>

Well, proving integration is a little harder than just using it I'd suggest taking a look at what math classes you'd have to take. For an applied math degree you might be able to dodge the harder stuff and stick to classes that are more like calculus (memorize, understand, & apply tools): linear algebra, numerical analysis, probability -- watch out for the advanced probabillity class though, it was incredibly diificult at my school (or so I was told, I couldn't fit it into my schedule).

 

[CSoup]

<< <<Really Pure & Really Difficult: Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics>>

So you're telling me a math degree is harder to get than a civil engineering degree??? >>



math is really hard if you choose or your school only has the theoretical route. Seems like your school offers easy math programs such as education, business, and stats that you listed. If you instead did theoretical abstract math where you take many couses in higher algebra and other really cool math theory then it is one of the hardest programs you can find.

 

[Hoeboy]

i think my school only has applied math listed as a minor. there's no way i can major in it can i?