Introduction to Engineering
Overview
Engineers apply a variety of fields - math, physics, design, biology, etc. - to solve real-world problems. At Harvard, there are four engineering concentration tracks offered: Mechanical, Electrical, Bioengineering, and Environmental Science. Within each four concentrations, students can choose either the Bachelor in Arts (AB) or Bachelor in Science (SB) degree. In general, the SB option has a lot less flexibility in class exploration - it requires 20 courses, compared with the 14-16 required courses for the AB degree. The SB programs are all accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Dependent on the industry, some students may find it necessary to take the SB track. Others, like students interested in Biomedical Engineering, find that an AB program suffices and gives the necessary pre-med course selection flexibility. Ultimately, most companies care about your experience (internships/projects), and less about the degree.
Engineering Pathways
General
Besides industry, many Harvard engineers enter the finance/consulting fields, as well as academia. Given the more theoretical approach Harvard takes to teaching engineering, many engineering students also graduate equipped with the critical thinking skills desired by finance/consulting companies. Going into academia follows an bachelors -> PhD -> Postdoctoral Fellow -> Associate Professor -> Tenure Track timeline. Typically, you should do research as an undergraduate and ideally write/publish a paper while you are an undergraduate. A great, more structured way to do this is through a thesis (required for the SB track and highly recommended for the AB track).
Mechanical
At Harvard, there are many ways to explore Mechanical engineering. Students who want to get involved in mechanical engineering can be involved in different stages of the engineering process from product design and concepts to manufacturing engineering and mass production. Some clubs include HURC, HUAERO, and HPVT.
An intern at SpaceX/Waymo recommends joining a club if you want first-hand experience building things. If you prefer a more structured experience under the guidance of a professor/PhD student, research is another great option.
Electrical
In industry, electrical engineers can choose to focus on pure electrical engineering concepts (analog circuit designer, chip designer, etc.) or go into a role that combines electrical engineering with software (lower level code) or mechanical design. At Harvard, there are many ways to explore Electrical engineering. Some clubs include HURC, HUAERO, and HPVT.
For electrical engineers, an interest in being a principal engineer in industries like construction/civil engineering/aerospace/etc. typically requires an accredited degree in order to sign off on drawings and climb the ranks. However, other industries like the automotive industry/consumer products are much more relaxed and don’t require an SB degree. In general, the degree choice comes from what industry you are interested in, and how you envision your college experience looking (if you want more freedom to discover other areas, etc).
Bioengineering
Bioengineering is a very broad field, with four major pathways people choose to take: medicine, academia, startups, and industry. The biomedical engineering track is great for people interested in both medicine and engineering; many often do the AB track to offer more flexibility in course selection. Students hoping to break into industry typically focus on either the mechanical or electrical side. There is no limit to the biotech industry: medical devices, prosthetics, surgical robots, biomaterials, etc.
At Harvard, there are many ways to explore Bioengineering topics. For clubs, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) is usually the primary option. If you have an interest in biology or medicine, clubs such as the Harvard Undergraduate Biological Sciences Society (HUBSS), CrimsonEMS, and others, are also available.
For one bioengineering student, doing CrimsonEMS was one of their most valuable experiences. It made them realize that they were comfortable participating in the role of an EMT and didn’t need to become a full-fledged physician to still have a huge impact on the medical field.
Wyss Institute is a research institute composed of several bioengineering-focused labs.
Environmental Science
ESE is a fairly new concentration at Harvard, but concentrators go on to work in a variety of different fields: industry, policy/law, academia, and consulting. Most students interested in industry pursue the SB degree and do another higher education degree (Masters in engineering), due in part to an interest in further research and also to gain access to greater career prospects. Students not interested in industry usually go on the AB track, and work in environmental consulting, at an environmental law firm, or do other policy/social justice work.
A student interested in environmental policy and law chose to do so because they were interested in the socioeconomic justice component of environmental policy. They went on to intern at 350 raising climate awareness through grassroots outreach, and Facebook and Mozilla for technical policy.
At Harvard, there are many ways to explore Environmental Science and Engineering. Some clubs include Engineers Without Borders, Divest Harvard, and HUCEG on campus.
Requisite Skills
Mechanical
Computer Aided Design (CAD): Solidworks, NX for Design
Finite element analysis (FEA)
Excel - basic modeling, calculations, etc.
Basic hardware knowledge from research/school clubs: HURC, HUAERO, HPVT, etc.
Machining: lathe, mill, welding, cnc machining
Electrical
Printed circuit board (PCB) design: Altium, EagleCAD, KiCad
AutoCAD
Some understanding/expertise in either software or mechanical domain: general programming language (Python or other variant), coding with a Raspberry Pi/Arduino, Solidworks/Fusion 360/CATIA
Hardware: circuits, embedded systems
Bioengineering
The appropriate qualifications depending on the bioengineering industrial focus (if it’s more Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering oriented). Not necessary, but can be helpful for competitive industry jobs.
Skills learned through classes: Matlab/Python/COMSOL - fluid mechanics simulation software
General interest in healthcare, basic understanding of biology and different body systems
Wet lab experience: working with lab samples, doing research, writing lab reports
Environmental Science
Atmospheric chemistry
Radiative balance work (effect of greenhouse gases on Earth’s warming)
Climate modeling
A solid understanding of all the different energy sources
Remote sensing/Technical mapping
Environmental toxicology, knowledge of environmental health hazards/pollutants
Environmental risk assessment
Lab experience; the newer nature of the concentration means there are fewer courses with hands-on lab work
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