How I Would Learn Structural Engineering If I Could Start Over

In this video I share how I would relearn structural engineering if I were to start over. I go over the theoretical, practical and experience related topics that I think are the most crucial to your development while at university. I also briefly share the study techniques that I would use to relearn all of this content. Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:56 Engineering Mechanics
01:17 Mechanics of Materials
02:13 Steel Design
03:10 Concrete Design
03:36 Geotechnical Engineering/Soil Mechanics
03:56 Structural Drawings
04:45 Construction Terminology
05:32 Software Programs
06:11 Internships
06:54 Personal Projects
07:44 Study Techniques

CONNECT:

WHO AM I:
I’m Ben, a graduate structural engineer. I make videos about tech, engineering, productivity and self-development. On this channel I hope to provide entertainment, advice and knowledge for aspiring and young students and professionals.

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[Kalvin]

I'm a structural engineer myself with ~5 years experience, going back into the basics to move more into design roles for residential after a while being on site for large projects. Just want to say thank you for this video, makes it clear and easy for me to systematically look what I need to!

[jefftc]

Great video. I agree, grasping the "big picture" is very important. Being able to appreciate how some of the tricky theoretic stuff applies in the real world is a game changer. I would also suggest that students keep their minds open to all aspects of "civil engineering" (civil-structures-geotech) thus allowing for a change of interest. For myself, after 25 years designing high rise and low rise buildings, i was looking for new challenges and transitioned into heavy civil structures, marine, hydraulics and civil works. This video should be mandatory viewing for ALL engineering students.

[notachannel]

That was a great video Ben!
I enjoyed it. Being an undergrad civil engg. student, we are not guided well at university as a result you can't build skills and knowledge. Thankfully there are some helpful mentors like you which are so helpful especially for students.

[VALUE-INVESTOR]

We had 2 architect teachers who taught us different BIM-softwares, aswell as our laws, standards and regulations for constructional drawings for our country. We had 1 exam in Autocad first semester, then an exam in Revit the semester thereafter. We keep using BIM software in other courses throughout our bachelor, such as in constructional projects, constructional physics and LCA(Life Cycle Analysis) where we import data from our buildings on Revit to Oneclick LCA to calc the CO2 emissions and other type of pollution from our projects.

[coniston]

you summed all of it pretty well mate. Most of the seniors I talk to are basically of the same words & ideas as well. I guess what I learned from this is that we shouldn't really go to uni hoping to pass the exams but actually to learn external skills & getting the hands one experience of being an engineer. Anyways newly subscribed mate here loved the video, heading into my civil engineering degree pretty soon, just on a summer holiday. Love the channel keep it up!

[Motion.Lotion]

These are really good advice.

When I took concrete and reinforced concrete design class, I worked on actual projects given to us by our lecturer in classes.


And when I took design of steel structures, my assignment was to design a warehouse.


Great video once again.

[MarieOLooney]

Great work Ben. As a senior engineer i'm looking for concise and interesting ways to share information with my interns and graduates and this video is excellent. Keep up the great work 👏

[viniciusmedeiros]

Fantastic video! I’m a Civil Engineering student from Brazil going for my last year at the University. I’m planning to follow my career in structural engineering and this video will be extremely helpful when it comes to organizing my studies and reviews for these next steps of my life. Thank you for the advices, hope u keep growing with a lot of success!

[tacs]

Your explanations and presentation of this video is so concise and clear. You’ve made me less worried about applying as I’ve been having major impostor syndrome and also you have given me a good guide on things to brush up on. I can’t thank you enough, you’re a true educator 🙌🏽

[IsaacL-bz]

I found this video extremely useful as a student still at uni. I used to be confused by all the content I learned (geomechanics, solid mechanics, structural design, concrete design, etc., ) and what are they capable of. Now I figured out with this road map. Huge credit to the creator!!

[navaneethkrishnan]

Best video for structural engineering aspirants.

[randomimmigrant]

Thanks for this video. Watching from a very cold and windy Cape town. I've moved from civil Eng to structural engineering 3 months ago and agree with everything you say.

Compared to civil Eng, structural has a much deeper level of detail. It did become overwhelming when I started off but now I just enjoy learning new things every day.

[LouDelannay]

Thanks for your videos !
I'm a student in civil engineering and your videos are very helpful

[Ooze]

Interesting. Over here (Portugal) we first learn Concrete design and steel usually not far off, when you follow structural branch into the masters, they you'll have laminar elements concrete and prestressed concrete. A lot more challenging than steel in my opinion.

[davidnamasaka]

Hello. Am a first-year Civil Engineering student at BME, Hungary. Your videos are very insightful. I shall follow your words and plan my studies accordingly. Thank you!

[dangorelik]

What a great video, Ben!
I wish I had seen it in my 1st year in Uni... But now when I finished studying it would be useful for work👌

[Christabelegbeama]

I'm so happy that I came across your video, this video in particular. I was just thinking about how to become a fully rounded civil engineer, because I'll be graduating this December. It can be hectic thinking about where to begin and how much of these knowledge from my undergraduate years I'll be applying in real life. I'm glad I've finally seen a guide to becoming a sound female structural engineer. Thank you so much 🙏

[brunodepascaossete]

I really hope I could have seen this video sooner, I'm in my late 20s, and is so relevant to every student lucky enough to see this video you don't know how lucky you are and to the Creator of this videos thank you.

[bogdangavril]

I came across with your video, some fresh air for a junior engineer

[ignatiusv]

Thanks for the advice. I'm currently trying to transition from an architecture to a structural engineering major.