I have a BS and MS in math. Want to become a PEng. in Canada. BEng or MEng? 4

[trueblue221]

I am a math professor from the US. I have a bachelor's and master's in mathematics from a US university. I desire to change careers from a mathematician to an engineer (mechanical engineering). I am immigrating to Canada and would like to get an engineering degree at a Canadian university, and later get work and a PEng license in BC.

I would like to make the most efficient use of my time and money. Is it necessary to go back and get another bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or could I just get a master's degree in mechanical engineering? And if a master's, should I get a MEng or a MAsc? I want to take the best path to a job and later a PEng in Canada.

(Please note that I have asked a couple of Canadian universities and they said that I would qualify for admission to either program even though I don't have a bachelor's in mech eng.)

 

[IRstuff]

"Yes, junior year as I recall - at least that's when we started the topic."

Ditto in US, if you are took AP Calculus. If not there, then either freshman or sophomore year in college. Junior year in college was for AMa 95, Introduction to Complex Variables (Shwartz. Other DE related material was taught in an EE class for Intro to Fourier and Laplace transforms.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[Lomarandil]

Wow, in my part of the US, you could take AP Calc as a Senior in HS (some really sharp Juniors got in). Then the first few years of University were additional calculus. Got into DiffEq and Prob/Stats late Sophomore or early Junior year, then some room for matrix methods, complex variables, transforms and pDEs late in an undergrad degree.

Granted, to put this all in context, probably less than 5% of the math I do daily involves any of those subjects.

 

[rotw]

Out of curiosity...

For mechanical engineers, have you guy studied "error functions" (i.e. "erf") ?
This was prompted long time ago by a discussion I've had with a lecturer on the subject of the validation of numerical methods.

Typically what you see in technical publications is people comparing numerical methods and derived results against a set of data already available (verified empirically or even analytically thru simplification) and when it is matching, it is supposed to be validated...BUT according to this lecturer (a very sharp guy) validation is a pure mathematical approach consisting in finding a range of upper / lower bounds to variables. In other words, the validation consists of proving that the numerical method leads to a solution that is always bound within a certain range which is demonstrated analytically. To do this you need some very sharp math and error functions is one of the things which was mentioned to me (I guess not taught in engineering class).

Thus my question, how familiar are you with this (off) topic of error functions?

 

[IRstuff]

My sons' high school is admittedly churns out likely college applications, so for college-bound students, the recipe is AP Calc junior year with college credit from the state U across the way. Senior year is Calculus II or AP Statistics, ditto with college credit. My older son actually had sufficient college credit and advanced placement that he graduated in 3 yrs.

Speaking of statistics, it was not a required class in my, but you can learn more than enough to get you into trouble. Unless you are doing bleeding edge research, that level of rigor is grossly unnecessary.

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[miningman]

I feel I have to comment on the way this thread has gone so far off topic that it is now totally irrelevant to the original question raised by the OP. He made it very clear he was seeking advice on gaining P.Eng status in BC , Canada. As such, any and all comments as to the way things are in the 50 states within the USA are totally irrelevant. As are any discussions on the difficulties we as individuals had with maths in our academic lives, especially anything that related to USA, UK or Australia. He DEFINITELY needs to register with the local engineering authority if he wants to legally practice engineering in Canada. No exceptions. TLHS is the only person to have provided usefull advice.

 

[trueblue221]

Thanks for all your comments. Most mechanical engineering job postings that I see, both in the US and Canada, say that a degree in engineering is required. Are they generally talking about a bachelor's degree, or will a master's degree suffice?

 

[trueblue221]

lol miningman, actually, the posts, at least about the US, have been helpful, because we haven't immigrated yet from the US and there's a chance we may end up here. Things are up in the air right now, but our sights are set on Canada.

 

[IRstuff]

If they say degree, the assumption would be a BS. Typically, they would say "advanced degree" if they're looking for MS or PhD

TTFN
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
faq731-376 forum1529

 

[moltenmetal]

He DEFINITELY needs to register with the local engineering authority if he wants to legally practice engineering in Canada. No exceptions. TLHS is the only person to have provided usefull advice.

Not only was that a bit rude miningman, it was also inaccurate.

I double-checked on the APEGBC website, and though a brief review does not reveal whether or not they have a C of A program like Ontario, I confirmed what I said to the OP earlier: you DO NOT need a license to work as an employee engineer- you merely need to work under the supervision of a licensed engineer. Ultimately, to get a job, the only person you have to convince you're able to work as an engineer is your boss- unless you want to hang out your shingle and provide services directly to the public, in which case you likely ALSO need a C of A as well as a license (again I haven't confirmed that's the case for BC but it certainly is in Ontario).

As to the modestly off-topic conversation, it certainly didn't bother me. Perhaps you were having a bad day?

 

[PicoStruc]

moltenmetal is right... But in theory, because the engineering act is done a non-engineer, it must be supervised all along...

 

[miningman]

Check the original post again. He said he wanted a P.Eng in BC. He did not imply he wanted to work as an EIT for the rest of his life..

 

[SNORGY]

It was actually miningman who said in the sixth post:

"Once you get registered in one province, transferring is easy."

That is why, in the eighth post, I provided the links to the APEGBC *and* the APEGA websites. Alberta is the closest Province to BC, and an appreciable number of engineers and geoscientists who are licensed in one Province are also licensed in the other. Indeed, work is often done on both sides of the border, so that the only true complication really becomes making sure you don't pull the wrong stamp out of the drawer when you're about to issue something. Well, that and making sure the stamp isn't upside down...but let's not go there. Actually, some of the stuff that I do lately is dual-stamped for use in both Provinces, and I am seeing more of that ever since the requirement to have the signature and date applied on the APEGA Permit To Practice stamp was replaced by the requirement to simply state the Permit Number in the title block.

Per miningman's post, thus, it might be easier to get licensed in Alberta and then follow up with an application for licensure in BC on the strength of the former. I know in my particular case 20 years ago, it was certainly easier to do it that way.

Ergo, it was not only TLHS who provided useful advice, it was also miningman.

One thing I will say, though, is that the review of application for licensure tends to be case-by-case, so an individual is never sure of exactly what requirements will be imposed, and I personally have seen variations in this regard over the years with people who have undergone the process. The best thing to do is apply and see where that leads, after they have had the time to assess your academic credentials and work history. What they end up imposing on you might not be the same as for someone else.