5 Minors for Mechanical Engineers

5 Minors for Mechanical Engineers 5 Minors for Mechanical Engineers 5 Minors for Mechanical EngineersYou major in mechanical engineering and are excited to learn the ins and outsbut there are other skills that can be a strong complement to that invaluable degree, and they may not be so obvious. With this in mind, here are a few minors for mechanical engineers to consider.Data Scienceprestige seewhatmitchseeBig data is hot right now and knowledge of data analytics can be a potential boost to job performance for a ME, says Alexis Abramson, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Case Western Reserve University. We are collecting more data on everyday life, she says. What used to be dealing with hundreds of pieces of data is now seemingly endless. By being able to use this data to inform their plan process and their understanding of failure, the lifetime of engineered devices can be improved. You used to have an engineer with years of experience to make a call on an inventi on but now you also have years of data to run analyses.BusinessAbramson is quick to remind that you cant usually just hide in your workand a business minor is a great way to improve interaction skills and relating to the selling of a product you might even create. Were talking about the professional softer skills you need to pick up somewhere, she says, Here you can talk about real world problemsthe market, competition, a key in for-profit settings. Also, in business classes youre practicing presentation skills and theres often an emphasis on gruppe projects which is coveted in the job market.The HumanitiesThis covers more than one minor, but Abramson likes the humanities because they often force you to improve critical thinking skills and are another place to further develop conversation skills. Many humanities minors can fit the bill but she does see English and History as two standouts. Its helpful to write papers on a topic that isnt actually a technical report, she says. You le arn to have an argument and clearly articulate it. Exactly what could help you in defending your product when you have to find a way to appeal beyond just the numbers.Image seewhatmitchseePsychologyA key factor in a successful product? Understanding the mentality of the potential user. A psychology minor could be just the ticket, says Ryan Towles, an undergraduate academic advisor for Michigan Technological Universitys mechanical engineering school. We have some students who get really interested in human factors and its often involving operating machines, Towles says. Theyre interested in how people react with controls, how do they look at signals with an interface. And it allows them to understand how the human brain relates. But it also can assist when you get ahead on the corporate ladder. In a management position it can help you get a sense of how that employee is doing and what will motivate them, Towles says.Electrical EngineeringAnd, just in case you dont want to stray from engineering for even a minor, Towles likes electrical as a leg up in many areas. It just has so many things it crosses over to, he says. Youre talking robotics, aerospace, hydroelectric, and more. Having that background will give you the advantage of speaking that language better, and also help with fitting into that fabric.Eric Butterman is an independent writer.In business classes youre practicing presentation skills and theres often an emphasis on team projects which is coveted in the job market. Prof. Alexis Abramson, Case Western Reserve University