Engineering applies the knowledge that the pure sciences provide. Engineers can be found in research, product development, manufacturing, marketing, management, consulting, and teaching.

Two kinds of four-year programs lead to a Bachelor’s degree related to engineering; you should think carefully about which is more suitable to you.

• Engineering programs prepare graduates to do research and to design and develop new technologies and devices. Their students are given a comprehensive understanding of higher mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
• Engineering Technology programs prepare graduates for practical application of existing technologies and sub-systems. Mathematics and the sciences are important in these programs, but are not treated in as much depth as in engineering programs.

Engineering programs are available at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, SIU-Edwardsville, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. A student majoring in engineering spends the first two years in a pre-engineering program. Pre-engineering programs are available at many community colleges. Many private colleges also offer pre-engineering programs.

Engineering Technology programs leading to a Bachelor’s degree are available at various universities.

Computer Science usually (but not exclusively) refers to software, the programming of computers. Computer Engineering refers to the design of hardware. Nearly every four-year institution in the state offers a degree in Computer Science, sometimes as a liberal arts or a business degree.