Education Advice 2

[rllucas]

My background (only because its relevant) I am 42 years old, in the Navy I used to teach electronics from analog all the way through RCL circuits and devices, and of course all the theories such as Thévenin's, Kirchhoff’s and ohms law, I will be starting my BSEET degree in August through Old Dominion University teletechnet program, I thought about BSEE but the only accredited school in my area is 2 hours away and I work 40 hours a week, so my only real option is the BSEET degree I plan on taking calculus and physics further than is required for my degree path. Now my question is after I graduate with my BSEET should I then go for a MSEE degree, UW will take BSEET folks but I have to take a bunch of make up courses for a MSEE or should I go the MEM route, I am kind of leery about the MEM degree since its relatively new and not that much information on the degree is available. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[shamsdebout]

I checked out the MEM degree and it looks promising if that is your goal, based on what I see it looks pretty good. What is it you are trying to accomplish though with secular education?

 

[TheTick]

Keep digging to see how much college credit you can get for your navy years. Some schools give more than others.

I missed out on credit for nuc school. My school didn't have a way to evaluate and grant credit. A year later (too late) I found that another school in the same city would have given me credit, and the credit would have then transferred. That would have saved me 3 semesters.

 

[rllucas]

What is it you are trying to accomplish though with secular education?

Good? At first I wanted a piece of paper saying I can do what I already knew I could do since most employers want more than just work experience, so I settled on BSEET degree since ODU is basically giving me enough credits to start my junior year in august and I knew with my background I would breeze through it. Then I decided to research BSEET and BSEE and dig into what each field really does. My first assumption was wrong that BSEET folks did the hands on whereas the BSEE folks did the thinking and designing, so I would much rather get a BSEE unfortunately I can't do that and work 40 hours a week at my current job. I found a way to get a MSEE from BSEET and figured that would be the best way to go to work in the engineering field however I stumbled upon MEM degree and been thinking it will probably take 5 years total to get both degrees putting me at 47 which is old by employers standards to just start out in an advanced technical field. I need to be challenged I work for the GOVT. so any of the above listed degrees will help me where I am at currently however I want to use my education in a more meaningful way and not just coast. So after many months of research I stumbled upon these forums gathered up my courage and decided I would just ask the folks that have been there done that. Again thanks for any advice. I just don't want to make another choice based on a wrong assumption.

 

[shamsdebout]

I understand, truth be told I would do things a little differently too, I have a BSEET, I didn't think I would be hampered by it for what I want to do, work in electronics, digital branch of electrical engineering, boy was I wrong then I ended up in conulting and I have to have more years of experience to be able to sit for my PE exam.

I would suggest getting the BSEE, doing night classes.

 

[KENAT]

Not an expert but, if your eventual goal might include becoming a P.E. then look into what your states requirements for that are and if the BSEET meets them.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484

 

[rllucas]

Thanks everyone and yes i can take the EIT/PE exam in my state with a BSEET. Since BSEE is out of the question for me due to time of classes and commute length i am gathering that MSEE would be better than MEM after i graduate. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[FeX32]

MEM?

Fe

 

[Eleceng01]

Maters in Engineering Management

 

[RossABQ]

Check into it very closely; they may not accept a BSEET grad into a masters program for MSEE. Yes, you can sit for the EIT/FE, but not til you have 5 yrs experience and a whole bunch of references from PE's in that state. Then another 5 yrs for the PE. State laws and employers are both "down" on Tech degrees thanks mostly to pressure from the professional certification authorities.

 

[FeX32]

Yes. BSEET is no where near equivalent to a BSEE....
I have a friend who went the ET route. He decided to go into the MS route afterward, in which, he had extra courses as the OP is suggesting. In doing so, he had much trouble making up these 10-15 classes....

Fe