For engineering students one of the most difficult decisions they may find that they have to make is what engineering specialty should they pursue.  This can feel like an overwhelming decision since there are so many options in the engineering field.  One can become an engineer of computer sciences, petroleum, mining, electrical, chemicals, aerospace, biomedical and many others.  For students who are not certain what particular field they wish to specialize in they may find that their best solution is not to make a decision at all.  Some students may do best by just pursuing general engineer studies.

There can be many reasons why this may be an ideal solution for a student.  For some students it may simply be that they are not knowledgeable in the different types of engineering that there are.  They may need time to really research and understand what the different fields entail and for them it may be most practical for them to start with general engineer studies before they progress on to a specialty field.  Students who start with general studies will develop a good basis for their engineering career.  They will learn much about the different fields that are within engineering and this can be highly beneficial when they decide and later on in their careers.

Some students may not want to pick just one specialty.  Because technology is so rapidly advancing, it may be that the area they are interested in is not really just one specialty field. It may be that it is more a combination of one or more fields.  For them to pick just one field may not be sufficient for the work they wish to do.  These students may find that pursing general engineer studies may give them more of the knowledge and skills they will need for the career they are planning to go into.

There are some employers who find more value in a student who has a degree in general engineer studies than in one who has a specialty degree.  Many times a specialty degree can be very limiting and in a field that works with so many technical advancements, this can at times be a negative.  Some of the newer technologies that an engineer may work with may not yet have a specialty term, it may be a combination of several specialized areas and by having a general degree one may seem more adaptable and better able to think of these new technologies.  

When a student is deciding what type of degree, whether it be a specialized degree or a general engineer studies degree, it is important that they consider their interests and talents.  Some students may do well with a specialized degree, it may give them the direction and focus that they require to achieve their best work.  Some other students may feel limited and find that their creativity is silenced if they are held to one specialty.  It is important to know what will work best in your situation and for the type of work you are interested in pursuing.  Both specialty degrees and generalized degrees have their place, it is up to you to figure which suits your needs.