![[Featured Image] A young student works on an engineering project in a STEM class and enjoys it so much that she wonders, “What degree do you need to be an engineer?”](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/krKZfOXqPCaE4V927NXs7/b821ee7481e6807003c6dbadade435c5/GettyImages-911028986.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
What Degree Do You Need to Be an Engineer?
Discover more about the type of degree you need to be an engineer, the various qualifications you may need, and the majors for engineering that might best suit your career goals.
October 7, 2024
Article
Engineering
Learn more about the skills and certifications you need for a career as a computer engineer, optical engineer, electrical engineer, and more.
![[Featured Image] A technical solutions engineer points to and discusses the programming software on her laptop with her colleague.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4mQbBQBYcugpc2juQud4Ul/7cf011eefeb9a9eeb577cb5d0b6a412c/GettyImages-946236688.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] After learning what is cad as part of their training, two young architects sit at a laptop and work on building designs.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/5rPTdCa4uNNBQmc5TLiOLD/c0b53018acc10f2301d998bfb523e1b0/GettyImages-1255233394.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Explore popular engineering courses
Rice University
Skills you'll gain: Project Scoping, Communication Planning, Cost Management, Scope Management, Project Schedules, Earned Value Management, Scheduling, Team Management, Quality Assurance, Stakeholder Management, Work Breakdown Structure, Organizational Structure, Procurement, Project Risk Management, Risk Analysis, Estimation, Project Documentation, Project Management, Quality Control, Project Management Life Cycle
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Skills you'll gain: Engineering Analysis, Mechanics, Torque (Physics), Engineering Calculations, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Analysis, Physics
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Skills you'll gain: Software Design Patterns, Requirements Analysis, Systems Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Acceptance Testing, Software Development Methodologies, Unified Modeling Language, Software Development Life Cycle, Configuration Management, Software Quality Assurance, Debugging, Engineering Software, Software Design, Process Driven Development, Software Engineering, Software Testing, Object Oriented Design, Functional Requirement, Data Modeling, Systems Design
![[Featured Image] A male coworker sits at a table working with a device driver on his computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/70SBhEO5jeTEG8vsRC0M6Y/07065ec1e6abb9aa776f31601bed4925/GettyImages-1432827713.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Two coworkers, one male and one female, are at a desk together, looking at the tableau programming language on a computer.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3Kmpeyu7XIikvBrXBSfChZ/6bce654d065e8fc1bc7198ec39ec1568/GettyImages-1533019596.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A fintech engineer works on their code on a laptop to ensure the organization's digital banking platform runs smoothly.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/6rwnGD76NmCaUV767Vg9wh/2d60bda2bed3f69e816325d2509bb82a/GettyImages-1170488210.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A woman wearing safety goggles sits at a desk and works on a computer during one of her electrical engineering internships.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7oqzjMXljmRhJOCwhxKAzM/dd1334b15d6d2bf7f76a4000a5cd04d6/GettyImages-1278575711.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A renewable energy engineer talks to a technician at a wind turbine.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/4oz4y75yaI1wGK4JWr8pwx/7092e69c92dac9de739c11dd6925b79b/GettyImages-1463780661.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] Group of engineering students getting hands-on knowledge about what electrical engineers do while building relevant skills in an engineering lab.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7I1j7c9ix44PyMyEdsKUtP/040a60dbc05ab569ac25e842080e1151/GettyImages-1213441993.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A robotics engineer works on a project at their desk with a laptop and a robot model.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7licaX7yafO8OzM29xrWe2/2b375bf4cafd2dcabc59353781f75967/GettyImages-1487971876.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] A man studies for the NCEES PE exam at his laptop in his living room.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/76YyGv2HfuSNeOz625yHME/c5f9c26e022da26d281fec473c0bfbbb/GettyImages-565972693.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured Image] An engineering manager using a digital tablet in the production line in a manufacturing plant](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/IX75g0sGwsenK7GAgj1zd/52701dc088a3cb44831dcd2578df1d44/GettyImages-1402483226.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
Engineering covers a wide variety of skills and careers. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore engineering topics, including:
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook, Mechanical Engineers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm." Accessed January 29, 2024.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook, Architecture and Engineering Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm." Accessed January 29, 2024.