Should Every Engineering Student Learn Programming?

 Arya College of Engineering & I.T. says Coding will no longer be just an additional useful skill for computer science students but rather will become a practical requirement in practically all engineering branches by 2026. The point is not to develop into a software engineer but to acquire some level of programming literacy comparable to math and physics literacy.

Why coding is important for different branches

The modern world of engineering is impossible without simulations, analyses, automation, and design, and all of these processes rely heavily on programming.

•             Use Python or MATLAB for thermodynamic calculations, finite element analysis, and CAD automation called Mechanical engineers.

•             Write scripts for structural analyses, traffic modelling, and working with survey or sensor data called Civil engineers.

• Microcontroller-based applications such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, embedded system programming in the C language, and signal processing using Python or MATLAB are examples of electrical and electronics engineering.

• Engineers in chemical, biotechnology, and industrial branches use process simulation, data logging, and statistical analysis through programming.

As per a 2024 NASSCOM report quoted in today’s career guides, over 75 percent of engineering careers require coding skills even outside the field of computer science.

What is enough?

No need to learn several languages and complex frameworks.

•             Know how to work with variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and file management and write scripts to do calculations, plots, and data analysis.

•             Read and change code of lab equipment, simulation tools, or open-source projects.

Python and MATLAB are very useful to start due to wide libraries for engineering purposes.

Career and academic benefits

Coding will have direct impacts on career and academics.

•             Skills testing by recruiters is becoming increasingly common through coding tests, even for core jobs.

•             Present-day projects, internships, and research work require coding abilities to perform tasks such as analysis of data, simulations, and even building simple models.

•             Even in advanced education (M.Tech, MS, PhD) level coding skills will help you become more competitive and proficient.

The balanced approach

Coding skills are very important and necessary; however, coding cannot substitute the knowledge of the field itself. The mechanical engineer should know their mechanics; the electrical engineer should have good circuit knowledge. Coding only makes it easier for the engineers to use that knowledge.

Conclusion: Coding is not turning all engineers into programmers; it's just allowing them to be more efficient in solving tasks.