In my case in the first two years there are some courses that aren’t necessarily engineering, like writing or history, but the last two are math and engineering sciences. The extra courses give a more rounded education but other than writing might not be used at work. There are “trade schools” for just engineering that give a 2 year degree. Like a trade school you learn the skills after you leave school and go into the workplace. School gives you the tools, work gives you the skills to use the tools. I learned how to weld, fabricate steel, run a lathe and mill all after school. On my own time, as a hobby and to make me a better engineer.