What is the difference between a Master’s in Civil Engineering vs. Mechanical Engineering?

Engineers have a particular set of skills that often put them in the lead of new technology initiatives and discoveries. For example, M.Emin Kutay, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University is researching ways to enhance pavement technology to improve Michigan’s roads.

They say there are only two seasons in Michigan: Winter and construction. Professor Kutay’s research will help to address both by creating software that can identify longer-lasting pavement materials and help civil engineers design materials that are resistant to specific types of stress and wear. This is just one of the many challenges that engineers work on, and we wanted to take a closer look at some of the other careers and opportunities available in the field.

While there are many different types of engineering, this article compares two classic branches —civil vs. mechanical engineering—in terms of skill requirements, salary and job responsibilities.

What is the difference between civil and mechanical engineering?

Though civil and mechanical engineering have some overlap in the types of work they do, there are some key differences—one being the scale of the structures being worked on. Civil engineers work on large infrastructure-based projects, such as roads and bridges, whereas mechanical engineers focus on mechanical, thermofluid, and chemical systems, such as robots, heating and cooling units, engines, and mobility systems.

Civil vs. Mechanical Engineering Master’s Programs – Course and Career Differences

The following are course topics graduate students can expect to study in their particular engineering field. For example, Michigan State University’s online MS in Civil Engineering features many courses in pavement engineering, such as Advanced Concrete Pavement Analysis and Design, or Bituminous Materials. Michigan State University’s online MS in Mechanical Engineering has coursework in Advanced Turbomachinery, Combustion, Fluid Mechanics, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced Dynamics.

In addition, civil engineers and mechanical engineers have different day-to-day job responsibilities. The chart below details how the two careers differ:

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Study.com, TargetJobs and CareerPlanner.com

Civil Engineering Career Overview

Civil engineers build and design infrastructure projects, like roads and bridges. The skills required for civil engineers include critical thinking, leadership, project management, technical skills and—of course—communication. PayScale lists project management and construction site inspection as two of the most beneficial skills to have in terms of commanding a higher salary.

According to Burning Glass, a platform that aggregates job posting data, the top occupations that utilize civil engineering skills (aside from civil engineer) are project manager and construction manager.

According to U.S. News & World Report, five of the top states to work as a civil engineer, based on mean salary potential, are:

Civil engineers have myriad expertise—from knowing the particle size of different types of soil to what different types of trusses are used for. They are also responsible for many of the fun things we love. For example, we can thank civil engineers for figuring out just the right amount of water needed to make a water slide slippery.

In today’s increasingly urbanized and highly connected world, civil engineers will be responsible for shaping the cities of the future. Although trends like the smart city movement, for example, may create new efficiencies for civil engineering, these shifts in urban design also create challenges.

As suggested by Ellie Cosgrave, an engineer and researcher at University College London, the transition period between old and new technology is particularly challenging; organizations will need to decide when to leverage existing technology and when to make investments in newer technology that may have a higher upfront cost, but more long-term benefit. Engineers will be central to these decisions as well as determining how to best apply innovations to the design and optimization of transportation systems, city structures and other civil developments.

Mechanical Engineering Career Overview

Mechanical engineers solve problems that exist within the fundamental nature of materials and physics. Their work can include almost any device or part of a machine as well as thermal devices, fluidic devices, or solid structures and the design and manufacturing associated with machines, devices, and structures.

Mechanical engineering is thought to be the broadest engineering discipline because it overlaps into other engineering specialties, including civil engineering. Successful mechanical engineers need analytical, problem-solving and communication skills as well as creativity. In addition, PayScale lists project management and finite element analysis as skills that can benefit a mechanical e