Engineering is the work of designing and building structures, infrastructure, and machines. It is a quintessential applied science, as it harnesses physics, chemistry, and calculus to achieve practical goals such as designing a new museum or a bridge. Learning about engineering is important for understanding the way our world works as well as for developing solutions to make our world work more effectively and efficiently.

Because engineering encompasses such a wide variety of aspects of the built environment, engineers typically become specialized in different areas of the field. Civil engineers, for example, develop public infrastructure such as highways or water treatment systems; mechanical engineers build machines such as electric generators that power our energy systems as well as energy-using equipment such as refrigerators; and electrical engineers are responsible for the design of safe electricity systems for devices and buildings. Engineers may also become project management professionals who supervise the planning and scheduling of delivering on-time engineering projects.

A background in the fundamentals of engineering can be a gateway to an incredibly wide range of careers, depending on what types of engineering problems interest you the most. The Bureau of Labor Statistics profiles many different types of specialized engineering jobs, such as civil engineers, biomedical engineers, electrical engineers, industrial engineers, materials engineers, and more. Most of these jobs are in high demand, and, with median annual salaries in 2019 ranging from $80,720 for agricultural engineers to $116,500 for aerospace engineers, these are all well-paying roles.

Yes, absolutely. Coursera gives you opportunities to learn from top-ranked schools about engineering topics ranging from fundamentals of physics and mathematics to specialized topics in materials science or project management. No matter where in the world you live, you can take individual courses as well as Specializations spanning multiple courses in engineering from schools like Rice University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California, Davis, and University of Michigan. And, because you can learn remotely on a flexible schedule for lower tuition costs than on-campus students, Coursera is a great option for current students as well as mid-career professionals looking to build their engineering skills.