To anyone considering doing an engineering double degree,
I am studying a Bachelor of Engineering (civil) and Bachelor of Arts!
Before you make those silly faces and roll your eyes at me, I would have you know, I think choosing to do the double has been the best decision of my life!!
Why?
Some of the reasons i will state below will have already been mention, but i will say them anyway.
1. Diverse thinking - more well rounded person
Doing a double degree = double the knowledge, double the experience.
As you know Engineering is very different from Arts.
In engineering, I have learnt skills in spatial thinking, analytical technical skill, creative problem solving, technical research and general logical minded thinking.
In Arts, i train my brain to do something completely different - critical thinking. I learnt to read lots and lots and lots of stuff and critic it like a maniac, then come up with my own thinking and get it down on paper in a logical, readable but critical manner. I learn about things from all over the world, history, art, language, culture, changing societies and all sorts of random things like that.
I feel sorry for people who do straight engineering, because engineering is so hard and changes so fast, you really need to totally immerse in it, and if you don't do a change of scenary once in a while, you become a thick-headed stuck up righteous snob, who can't think outside the engineering relm of life.
If you do engineering, or you have met wives of engineers, you will know EXACTLY what I am talking about.
2. Broaden my opportunities
Although I don't intend on doing an "Arts related profession" (whatever that means), I have noticed my skills used in my double degree are starting to come in handy.
Recently, I did some development work in a poorer nation abroad. Being about to think beyond "how can we get these people clean water quick and fast" to "how does putting a pipeline through here clash with cultural values associated with the land"
made a far more valuable person than the simple engineer who solves technical problems. Development is a touchy issue, as most development projects that get started usual fail to some extent. So being about to bridge the knowledge helps.
Similarly, in my past, I have put on a comedy stage show for engineering students. this included contacting more than 100 corporate companies for sponsorship, organising the theatre, tickets, money, props, costumes, band, technical equipment, advertising - THE LOT! successful project management doesn't come from being about to crunch numbers. A very important part of engineering (or any job for that matter) is being able to deal successfully with people. The hardest thing to master.
3. Employment advantage
Yes, doing a double, may not mean you get to specialise in a specific field of engineering. But Engineering degrees are NOT about learning everything there is to know about engineering. It is about learning HOW to think. and HOW to apply it to new situations. In civil, you don't learn to solve every beam-column case there is out there. you learn one or two. you learn METHODS.
That is what engineering is about "inventing the future" YOU come up with the solutions.
At sydney Uni, it is a more theoretical uni, as they say because "we don't teach you use technology, we teach you to change technology"
What better way to expand you skill than to do a double degree?
Furthermore, engo/com or eng/sci will achieve the same thing
the field is becoming more competitive and people are coming out with more degrees. The key word in today's society is "flexibility". Everyone wants flexible Everything! Having a broad range of skills will definitely be a heads up for an employer.
3. More fun!
If you don't know already, engineering is challenging degree. Doing a double degree is FANTASTIC in helping "pace" your studies.
4. Double the Friends! Double the Parties!
enough said.
On a final note, i would like to say, you don't know where your life may take you! Don't choose engineering, because you want to be an engineer, and you might make lots of money or you might change the world. Do it because you love it! Because you love solving problems and working on projects. You may love engineering, but you may not even end up doing it!
Why restrict yourself when you are young and have so much enthusiasm to learn???
