The Northern Light

Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: Opinion

In this series, TNL scouts the academic paths available at UAA, featuring a different degree program or field every other week.

From computer chips to concrete design, engineers create many of the major components of modern life. They can work in an office or in the field, conceptually or hands-on, and are respected professionals in society.

Four to five years of hard work can vault a UAA student from mere student status to an engineer in one of four accredited programs in the school's engineering department.

Civil engineering has been a part of UAA's diverse academic offerings for over twenty years. Students learn what it takes to work in this very broad field, studying things like structures (buildings and bridges), water and wastewater handling, and road construction.

Civil engineers are in demand across the country and particularly in Alaska.

Orson Smith, a professor in the civil engineering department, said students from this program generally receive a lot of job offers, many even before they graduate.

"They mostly get snapped up even before they're out of school," Smith said. "Internships and summer jobs lead to full-time employment before they even graduate."

Grant Baker, a professor and program chair of the new computer, electrical and mechanical engineering program at UAA, agreed.

"There is a very strong demand for civil engineers in Alaska right now," Baker said. "In fact, there are more civil engineers in Alaska than the other specialties combined."

Jobs are plentiful in other areas of engineering as well.

Baker said graduates in other fields of engineering, like mechanical or electrical, command slightly higher salaries than civil engineers due to their low supply and high demand. He expects graduates of his program (there are none yet since it's new) will have ample job opportunities, especially if they have completed an internship while they were in school.

The computer, electrical and mechanical engineering program was approved in February 2005. It's a bachelor of science in engineering degree, and students specialize in mechanical, electrical or computer systems engineering.

"This program was patterned after Colorado School of Mines," Baker said, "with a little bit of MIT stuff put in there too. Oil and engineering companies really like their graduates, so we started with the best and tried to improve on it a little bit. When our students graduate, oil companies and any major company will be hiring them."

Before the new BSE program, Alaskan students could only study mechanical or electrical engineering at UAF or out of state.

The new BSE program is already attracting a lot of student attention.

Since its inception, more than 200 students have enrolled (UAA expected about 50 by the second year). Many of them are transfer students.

Derek Blake left home to attend Colorado State last year. He was majoring in communications when he heard about the new BSE program at UAA.

"I came to UAA because I live in Alaska and wanted to do the ME [mechanical engineering] program," Blake said. "The staff have really helped me make a smooth transition from communications."

Students often choose engineering for both the job opportunities and for the high starting salaries.

Smith and Baker both estimate starting salaries for their graduates between $40,000 to $60,000 per year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which currently employs 256 engineers in the Alaska District, has a special program for hiring new engineers specifically targeted toward UAA and UAF engineering graduates.

JoAnn Walls, a supervisory environmental engineer in the Alaska District and Engineers-in-Training supervisor, said the Corps hires students as summer hires and part-time student workers in the engineering departments. They also hire newly graduated engineers through their Engineer-in-Training program.

"The EIT program takes students straight out of school with no experience required," Walls said. "The intern program allows them to rotate through all of the divisions to see what they would be interested in."

Starting base salaries at the Corps range from $32,755 to $40,569 depending on GPA and work experience. Additionally, those salaries would be augmented by the current (and untaxed) Cost of Living Allowance in Alaska of 24% of the base salary. A well-qualified graduate could make just over $50,000 a year working 40 hours a week.

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