Discussion Thread

Hello, 

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences? 

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Your four main material systems are steel, concrete, masonry, and wood. Design courses and advanced design courses will certainly help you. Commercial buildings most often require steel and concrete knowledge with masonry required fairly regularly as well in my experience. Residential construction requires woods primarily, with a little bit of concrete, steel and masonry for small portions of the structure. In my area, there is much more money to be made in commercial work, but my company does do a good deal of residential repairs as well, so while I recommend prioritizing steel and concrete, wood and masonry are likely going to crop up inevitably and should be seriously considered as well.

As far as internships, I recommend a place that clearly demonstrates an intention and passion to teach you. Nothing is more valuable than that. An internship in a structural design position is obviously great, but I think I would have gained a ton from a construction or steel fabrication internship as well. One of the things I've had to play "catch up" on in my career so far is learning how what gets designed actually gets detailed and constructed in the field and all the additional design considerations because of field conditions.

------------------------------
Paul Chabot P.E., M.ASCE
Structural & Forensic Engineer
Metro Detroit Area MI
(313)717-2137
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Structural engineering does have two branches: buildings and bridges.

Both buildings and bridges can be constructed with a wide variety of materials, which many universities offer design courses that cover that specific material and all the unique design criteria. Which should be included in your studies so that you have a good knowledge of the material prior to entering the industry. 

Bridges mainly use reinforced concrete and steel. Buildings can use reinforced concrete, steel, masonry, or wood depending on height, desired use/look, etc.  

Many aspects of the design do lap, but often universities have some course offerings to help better understand everything that goes into the design of buildings and bridges. 

Be sure to review your university's course catalog as well as any suggested course lists they may have for the different branches.

------------------------------
Daniel Taylor P.E., M.ASCE
Mulhern + Kulp
Ambler PA
(215)646-8001 EXT 155
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

​I agree with everything that's been said so far but will add a few courses that aren't materials based. You want to take a dynamics and/or earthquake engineering course. Understanding how the materials behave and are detailed is very important, but you also want to make sure you have a good exposure to general load calculations and overall load path going through a building - especially for your lateral systems. A lot of times people don't get into dynamics until grad school, but if you have the opportunity to take it as a undergrad I would highly recommend it.

If you're interested in bridge design I would take any class that will give you exposure to AASHTO as it's a very different code from the ASCE 7-10/IBC world and it's helpful to have an understanding of what requirements exist.

As for internships - I've found that they're the best way to try out different parts of the industry to see what you like since you're only committing for a few months. If you think you want to do structural then go for a structural internship that will expose you to different types of project sizes and materials, and evaluate what parts of the internship you like and what you don't so the following summer you can look for an opportunity that fills in any blanks you may have had.

------------------------------
Taygra Longstaff EIT, A.M.ASCE
Graduate Structural Engineer
Arup
Boston MA
(857)324-2202
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Class courses as in electives: Geo-technical engineering I & II, Finite Numerical methods, structural dynamics. steel design as undergrad.
Building codes certification. 

Software, depending on what you like to specialize in: 

CivilFEM

Finite element structural and geotechnical analysis and design software

STAAD.Pro

3D structural analysis & design software

LEAP Bridge Concrete	Concrete bridge design and analysis software	[88]
LEAP Bridge Steel	Steel bridge design and analysis software

MSC Nastran

Multidisciplinary structural analysis

 Aerostructural is probably the most attractive one in every aspect, for me at least. But I lost interest in structures after knowing how little they make and how much they work, study, and do exams.

Hopes this helps.

------------------------------
Eugenio Alonso
Project Engineer/Assit. Project Manager
LEAD Engineering Contractors
Email: Ealonso@...
5757 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 240
Miami, FL 33126
Mobile: (786) 521-0723
Office Fax: (305) 615-3283
www.lead-ec.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2019 09:37
From: Taygra Longstaff
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

​I agree with everything that's been said so far but will add a few courses that aren't materials based. You want to take a dynamics and/or earthquake engineering course. Understanding how the materials behave and are detailed is very important, but you also want to make sure you have a good exposure to general load calculations and overall load path going through a building - especially for your lateral systems. A lot of times people don't get into dynamics until grad school, but if you have the opportunity to take it as a undergrad I would highly recommend it.

If you're interested in bridge design I would take any class that will give you exposure to AASHTO as it's a very different code from the ASCE 7-10/IBC world and it's helpful to have an understanding of what requirements exist.

As for internships - I've found that they're the best way to try out different parts of the industry to see what you like since you're only committing for a few months. If you think you want to do structural then go for a structural internship that will expose you to different types of project sizes and materials, and evaluate what parts of the internship you like and what you don't so the following summer you can look for an opportunity that fills in any blanks you may have had.

------------------------------
Taygra Longstaff EIT, A.M.ASCE
Graduate Structural Engineer
Arup
Boston MA
(857)324-2202

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Hi Alonso,

Thanks for your input. How much can an entry level civil engineer/ structural expect to make the first year? I'm in the NYC area.

------------------------------
Matias Pinto S.M.ASCE
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2019 10:16
From: Eugenio Alonso
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Class courses as in electives: Geo-technical engineering I & II, Finite Numerical methods, structural dynamics. steel design as undergrad.
Building codes certification.

Software, depending on what you like to specialize in: 

CivilFEM

Finite element structural and geotechnical analysis and design software

STAAD.Pro

3D structural analysis & design software

LEAP Bridge Concrete	Concrete bridge design and analysis software	[88]
LEAP Bridge Steel	Steel bridge design and analysis software

MSC Nastran

Multidisciplinary structural analysis

 Aerostructural is probably the most attractive one in every aspect, for me at least. But I lost interest in structures after knowing how little they make and how much they work, study, and do exams.

Hopes this helps.

------------------------------
Eugenio Alonso
Project Engineer/Assit. Project Manager
LEAD Engineering Contractors
Email: <maskemail>Ealonso@...</maskemail>
5757 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 240
Miami, FL 33126
Mobile: (786) 521-0723
Office Fax: (305) 615-3283
www.lead-ec.com

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2019 09:37
From: Taygra Longstaff
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

​I agree with everything that's been said so far but will add a few courses that aren't materials based. You want to take a dynamics and/or earthquake engineering course. Understanding how the materials behave and are detailed is very important, but you also want to make sure you have a good exposure to general load calculations and overall load path going through a building - especially for your lateral systems. A lot of times people don't get into dynamics until grad school, but if you have the opportunity to take it as a undergrad I would highly recommend it.

If you're interested in bridge design I would take any class that will give you exposure to AASHTO as it's a very different code from the ASCE 7-10/IBC world and it's helpful to have an understanding of what requirements exist.

As for internships - I've found that they're the best way to try out different parts of the industry to see what you like since you're only committing for a few months. If you think you want to do structural then go for a structural internship that will expose you to different types of project sizes and materials, and evaluate what parts of the internship you like and what you don't so the following summer you can look for an opportunity that fills in any blanks you may have had.

------------------------------
Taygra Longstaff EIT, A.M.ASCE
Graduate Structural Engineer
Arup
Boston MA
(857)324-2202

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Matias,

I asked a similar question concerning entry level salary of a P.E. mentor of mine. He said:

"Take a look at the ASCE Salary Survey: https://www.asce.org/civil-engineering-salaries/

You should have access to this if you're a student member of ASCE.

Here is another tool I've used that is surprisingly accurate: https://engineersalary.com/m.asp

ASCE is the best source of salary data."        - William K., P.E.

I hope this helps!


------------------------------
----------------------------------
Benjamin Pettingill
South Bend IN

"What is needed is a harmonious blend of earth, water, and good old-fashioned civil engineering." - Francis P.
-----------------------------------
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2019 13:23
From: Matias Pinto
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hi Alonso,

Thanks for your input. How much can an entry level civil engineer/ structural expect to make the first year? I'm in the NYC area.

------------------------------
Matias Pinto S.M.ASCE
Lynbrook NY
(516)360-4877

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2019 10:16
From: Eugenio Alonso
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Class courses as in electives: Geo-technical engineering I & II, Finite Numerical methods, structural dynamics. steel design as undergrad.
Building codes certification.

Software, depending on what you like to specialize in: 

CivilFEM

Finite element structural and geotechnical analysis and design software

STAAD.Pro

3D structural analysis & design software

LEAP Bridge Concrete	Concrete bridge design and analysis software	[88]
LEAP Bridge Steel	Steel bridge design and analysis software

MSC Nastran

Multidisciplinary structural analysis

 Aerostructural is probably the most attractive one in every aspect, for me at least. But I lost interest in structures after knowing how little they make and how much they work, study, and do exams.

Hopes this helps.

------------------------------
Eugenio Alonso
Project Engineer/Assit. Project Manager
LEAD Engineering Contractors
Email: <maskemail>Ealonso@...</maskemail>
5757 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 240
Miami, FL 33126
Mobile: (786) 521-0723
Office Fax: (305) 615-3283
www.lead-ec.com

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2019 09:37
From: Taygra Longstaff
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

​I agree with everything that's been said so far but will add a few courses that aren't materials based. You want to take a dynamics and/or earthquake engineering course. Understanding how the materials behave and are detailed is very important, but you also want to make sure you have a good exposure to general load calculations and overall load path going through a building - especially for your lateral systems. A lot of times people don't get into dynamics until grad school, but if you have the opportunity to take it as a undergrad I would highly recommend it.

If you're interested in bridge design I would take any class that will give you exposure to AASHTO as it's a very different code from the ASCE 7-10/IBC world and it's helpful to have an understanding of what requirements exist.

As for internships - I've found that they're the best way to try out different parts of the industry to see what you like since you're only committing for a few months. If you think you want to do structural then go for a structural internship that will expose you to different types of project sizes and materials, and evaluate what parts of the internship you like and what you don't so the following summer you can look for an opportunity that fills in any blanks you may have had.

------------------------------
Taygra Longstaff EIT, A.M.ASCE
Graduate Structural Engineer
Arup
Boston MA
(857)324-2202

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------

Matias,

There are so many factors that go into this question that there really isn't an answer. 
It depends on things like, experience, industry interests, self marketing (Linkedin is a powerful platform you should definitely be on). I can tell you New York is one of the higher paying states but also highest taxable. Easiest answer: Minimum 60k, this is without counting anything. with more info maybe i could better answer your question. But get your LinkedIn page up to date and start networking, and pay the gold subscription, its worth it.

Hope this helps, sorry for the late response. 

Feel free to ask with anything, I can help. 

------------------------------
Eugenio Alonso
Project Engineer/Assit. Project Manager
LEAD Engineering Contractors
Email: Ealonso@...
5757 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 240
Miami, FL 33126
Mobile: (786) 521-0723
Office Fax: (305) 615-3283
www.lead-ec.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2019 13:23
From: Matias Pinto
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hi Alonso,

Thanks for your input. How much can an entry level civil engineer/ structural expect to make the first year? I'm in the NYC area.

------------------------------
Matias Pinto S.M.ASCE
Lynbrook NY
(516)360-4877

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2019 10:16
From: Eugenio Alonso
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Class courses as in electives: Geo-technical engineering I & II, Finite Numerical methods, structural dynamics. steel design as undergrad.
Building codes certification.

Software, depending on what you like to specialize in: 

CivilFEM

Finite element structural and geotechnical analysis and design software

STAAD.Pro

3D structural analysis & design software

LEAP Bridge Concrete	Concrete bridge design and analysis software	[88]
LEAP Bridge Steel	Steel bridge design and analysis software

MSC Nastran

Multidisciplinary structural analysis

 Aerostructural is probably the most attractive one in every aspect, for me at least. But I lost interest in structures after knowing how little they make and how much they work, study, and do exams.

Hopes this helps.

------------------------------
Eugenio Alonso
Project Engineer/Assit. Project Manager
LEAD Engineering Contractors
Email: <maskemail>Ealonso@...</maskemail>
5757 Blue Lagoon Drive, Ste 240
Miami, FL 33126
Mobile: (786) 521-0723
Office Fax: (305) 615-3283
www.lead-ec.com

Original Message:
Sent: 02-04-2019 09:37
From: Taygra Longstaff
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

​I agree with everything that's been said so far but will add a few courses that aren't materials based. You want to take a dynamics and/or earthquake engineering course. Understanding how the materials behave and are detailed is very important, but you also want to make sure you have a good exposure to general load calculations and overall load path going through a building - especially for your lateral systems. A lot of times people don't get into dynamics until grad school, but if you have the opportunity to take it as a undergrad I would highly recommend it.

If you're interested in bridge design I would take any class that will give you exposure to AASHTO as it's a very different code from the ASCE 7-10/IBC world and it's helpful to have an understanding of what requirements exist.

As for internships - I've found that they're the best way to try out different parts of the industry to see what you like since you're only committing for a few months. If you think you want to do structural then go for a structural internship that will expose you to different types of project sizes and materials, and evaluate what parts of the internship you like and what you don't so the following summer you can look for an opportunity that fills in any blanks you may have had.

------------------------------
Taygra Longstaff EIT, A.M.ASCE
Graduate Structural Engineer
Arup
Boston MA
(857)324-2202

Original Message:
Sent: 02-01-2019 03:00
From: Hassan Elhassan
Subject: Training for a Structural Engineer

Hello,

I'm interested in specializing in Structural Engineering. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses or valuable internship experiences?

------------------------------
Hassan Elhassan S.M.ASCE
-
-
Khartoum
249116696130
------------------------------