What is a good degree that complements civil engineering ? (1 Viewer)

I am currently completing a traineeship at TfNSW. As part of the program, I have to work full time from 8:30-4pm but I am also required to enrol in Western Sydney University for associates Civil Engineering. The workload there is very light as I only do it part time so a 2 hour lecture per week and the content is REALLY basic (like year 10 to 11 shit) and I am finding myself wasting lots of time and doing nothing in my free time.

SO, I've decided to join my friends at UNSW by undertaking another degree. I've looked at other engineering degrees like electrical which I'm not too invested in but I also found that most engineering degrees require physical attendance lab test every week which is not possible for me to do (but I'm fine with going to uni once every couple weeks). However, I do find some interest in the physics department although I'm not sure wether it will complement civil engineering. Right now, I just want some recommendations and guidance on what degree I should do. Thanks!

btw I don't like compsci and coding lol

these are the double degree options with engineering. imo do adv math or adv science or commerce.

idk what you mean by this "I'm fine with going to uni once every couple weeks", but you really should be going in every week for at least 1-2 days. you get marks and stuff for stuff you do in classes at uni for engineering i think - at least what i heard from my engo friends.

also wdym "undertake another degree" at unsw. are you gonna go both unsw and wsu?!? if so, thats wild.

Have you thought about Mining Engineering?
There are plenty of jobs and they pay way above market rates for good people.

As a fresh engineering double-degree grad (no regrets), don't take a double degree for the employment prospects. It literally will not improve your employment prospects except under some extremely unique circumstances. +BSci in Physics, in particular, will not increase employment prospects.

The best one, however, would 100% be business or commerce. B. Math would also not help you - especially in comparison with 1 yr of work experience.

Consider, instead, 1 year masters after completion of engineering degree if required.

Duskheaven said:

As a fresh engineering double-degree grad (no regrets), don't take a double degree for the employment prospects. It literally will not improve your employment prospects except under some extremely unique circumstances. +BSci in Physics, in particular, will not increase employment prospects.

The best one, however, would 100% be business or commerce. B. Math would also not help you - especially in comparison with 1 yr of work experience.

Consider, instead, 1 year masters after completion of engineering degree if required.

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Since you have no regrets, what do you reckon are the advantages of an engineering double degree?

qldbulls said:

Since you have no regrets, what do you reckon are the advantages of an engineering double degree?

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For the average person, not much.
I did MechEng, BSciChem
As MechEng, double degreeing with STEM is pointless as MechEng will already be a sufficient prerequsite to get any STEM job - with extremely few exceptions. Eg. I would be able to obtain a chemical engineering for a position that only will hire explictly chemical engineering grads - this is extremely rare.

With a BSci it would also be marginally easier to navigate into a environmental science / chemistry relevant position (eg. waste water).

Basically, nothing is every going to beat that extra 1 year experience.

BCommerce can actually open upsome new job possibilities - but this will on average be paid less than stock standard engineering jobs. Engineering can also get you into business degree jobs as well - if you really want it. For niche fields (like management consulting) it can be good.

But really, just get a 1 year MBA instead. I had no idea that 1 year master's degrees existed in highschool as they were never advertised. Australian masters (by coursework) degrees are actually easier than undergraduate degrees because it is expected that the students will be working while studying. Masters also DOES look better and the difference MAY be important in your life at some point.

Note; Before covid I was, however, offered 2 internships at ANSTO - 1 in Cancer research 1 in materials science. Then the labs got shut down, supervisor couldn't get funding. Had this not occured perhaps Id be saying something different now.

From what I've seen, double degeeing for normal grads was pointless monitarily.

The extra year of uni, however, I think was quite good for me because I really like chemistry. I worked for a year in engineering anyway (somewhat minimising but not removing the opportunity cost of working as a grad) and got a quite a large scholarship during my extra year.

The extra year has also given me some more time to consider what I actually want to do as I am seriously considering going into international trade role, rather than engineering. If that worked out, the extra year (regardless of the lucky stuff mentioned) did make an impact on my life. (1yr mba still better tho)

Duskheaven said:

For the average person, not much.
I did MechEng, BSciChem
As MechEng, double degreeing with STEM is pointless as MechEng will already be a sufficient prerequsite to get any STEM job - with extremely few exceptions. Eg. I would be able to obtain a chemical engineering for a position that only will hire explictly chemical engineering grads - this is extremely rare.

With a BSci it would also be marginally easier to navigate into a environmental science / chemistry relevant position (eg. waste water).

Basically, nothing is every going to beat that extra 1 year experience.

BCommerce can actually open upsome new job possibilities - but this will on average be paid less than stock standard engineering jobs. Engineering can also get you into business degree jobs as well - if you really want it. For niche fields (like management consulting) it can be good.

But really, just get a 1 year MBA instead. I had no idea that 1 year master's degrees existed in highschool as they were never advertised. Australian masters (by coursework) degrees are actually easier than undergraduate degrees because it is expected that the students will be working while studying. Masters also DOES look better and the difference MAY be important in your life at some point.

Note; Before covid I was, however, offered 2 internships at ANSTO - 1 in Cancer research 1 in materials science. Then the labs got shut down, supervisor couldn't get funding. Had this not occured perhaps Id be saying something different now.

From what I've seen, double degeeing for normal grads was pointless monitarily.

The extra year of uni, however, I think was quite good for me because I really like chemistry. I worked for a year in engineering anyway (somewhat minimising but not removing the opportunity cost of working as a grad) and got a quite a large scholarship during my extra year.

The extra year has also given me some more time to consider what I actually want to do as I am seriously considering going into international trade role, rather than engineering. If that worked out, the extra year (regardless of the lucky stuff mentioned) did make an impact on my life. (1yr mba still better tho)

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Thanks that was insightful.