An engineering education is preparation for a vast range of careers that concern technologies of value to people; engineers advance humankind's reach in any way possible. Engineers acquire the intellectual skills, knowledge, experience, and cultural understanding that prepares them to render their professional services. However, they are obligated to be responsible for how every person is affected by their work. McCormick graduates possess these professional attributes, and they have established an admirable record of impacting the modern world with their life work.

At the center of the engineering profession are discipline-specific societies that serve the career needs of their members and husband progress in their respective fields. The largest of these societies is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; many smaller, but nevertheless influential, engineering societies abound (search at http://www.nae.edu/nae/naehome.nsf). Furthermore, each state in the country offers engineering licensure as a way of assuring the quality of practitioners whose work affects recognized concerns for public safety; see http://www.nspe.org.

Order of the Engineer

In addition to societies, McCormick students are invited at the time of their graduation to participate in the Ring Ceremony of the Order of the Engineer. In this ceremony graduates repeat the Obligation of an Engineer, determining forever thereafter to extend to each person with whom they deal in their capacity as an engineer the utmost of respect and responsibility. Recognition for having sworn this oath is a stainless steel ring to be worn with honor on the small finger of the working hand for the rest of their life.

Engineering Ethics

In addition to being organizations that serve as central foci for engineers in their specialties, the following professional societies make available their respective statements on engineering ethics:

• The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, AIChE, is a professional association that provides leadership in advancing the chemical engineering profession.
• The American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE, has members of the civil engineering profession worldwide, and is America's oldest national engineering society. See:
• The American Society for Mechanical Engineers, ASME, is a membership organization for mechanical engineers.
• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE, is an organization has advanced the theory and application of electrotechnology and allied sciences.
• The National Society of Professional Engineers, NSPE, is the only engineering society that represents individual engineering professionals and licensed engineers across all disciplines.
• Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, is the only engineering society representing the entire engineering profession.