Masters Degree

[cancmm]

I'm trying to debate whether to obtain a masters of structural engineering or not and would appreciate anyone's advice, preferably on a senior level. I'm simply wondering if education means as much as experience? (Simply put, is a masters really a consideration after 15+ years on the job? I'm currently working at a great company and have about 6 years experience.

I do have a couple graduate courses under my belt, but with a young family, time is obviously precious and 2-3 years part time is a lot of effort and time I'd rather spend with my kids. I feel the degree would teach me some things but a lot of it would be redundant since I've learned a good deal on the job through the years. I don't want to close any doors for myself in the future, however, and therein lies my dilemma.

Thanks!

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Depends on what you want to do in the future. Some very big firms LOVE SE's with a Masters- some want more experience.

When I graduated from college - a couple of my profs asked me if I wanted to stay on for a Masters. I wasn't that great a student grade wise - I had to work almost full time to pay for school -- but apparently they felt I was good and I was.

By that time - I was so broke and tired of school - I just went and got a job...

Maybe I should have stayed??

Good Luck -- If you are going to do it - do it NOW!!

 

[JedClampett]

As Mike says, some companies expect that their Structural Engineers have a MS. I won't lie to you, it helped me get my current job. And I had 20 years in when I interviewed. We end up hiring a lot of very good engineers with Bachelor's degrees, but in our Employee Practices manual, it says that the minimum requirements for an engineer is a MS. It's just hard to find engineers with MS's.
In short, if you're good, you'll still be able to get a job, but a MS is a differentiator.
But I can't say I would of done it after 15 years.

 

[zdas04]

I always say that an MS with relevant experience is an asset and an MS without relevant experience is a liability.

You've got 6-years relevant experience. If you feel like you would get personal benefits from grad school (I found it difficult, but loved expanding my brain and really liked the challenges), then there is a good chance that there will be career benefits as well. If you resent the time away from your kids, then no amount of future possibilites makes any sense at all.

David.

 

[cancmm]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated and helpful.

A second aspect of this decision lies in the actual degree designation. Granted I have little time to pursue a thesis-based masters, I would take the course-based track. I understand that this is the difference between a "M.Sc." and "M.Eng." - though not everyone recognizes this. In anyone's experience, is an M.Eng. considered as credible as an M.Sc.?

Furthermore, my local university does not offer a focused structural masters so I'm left no choice but to go the distance ed route. To maintain credibility, I would likely go through a reputable university offering distance ed, such as Auburn or NC State. Anybody look at this route negatively?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

A Masters is a Masters - thesis or not. If you want to teach - go the thesis route - if you just want a Masters - go for the 30 hour route.

Local or long distance - who cares - except you will have to travel there once in a while.

 

[ash060]

I did a thesis and got a Master's of Engineering, like Mike wrote a Master's is a Master's

 

[abusementpark]

What's making you think about a masters?

 

[MacGyverS2000]

I was headed down the classes-only track until luck fell in my lap, hanging tightly onto a professor with a thesis idea.

Either way, it would still have been an MSECE...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[JAE]

cancmm,
I have a BS in Civil Engineering and worked a couple of years in a consulting firm - saw that most of the talented (if not all of the talented) structural engineers were M.S. degreed.

I went back and got an MS in Structural Engineering and was very glad I did. I was a good, but not great, undergraduate and after two years of working and growing up my return to school was a very good experience. I was hungry to learn and the education I got there really made a huge difference in my technical abilities.

In undergraduate school I learned a lot about engineering.

In graduate school I learned engineering.

 

[JAE]

I might add that graduate school also taught me how to teach myself.

 

[frv]

JAE,

I think that is one of the very valuable lessons learned in graduate school. Unfortunately, uninterested mentors forced me to learn how to teach myself.

 

[abusementpark]

I will say that getting the masters degree gave me a lot more confidence in my understanding of how structures behave through such an enriched technical background. However, sometimes the old adage "the more you know, the less you know" rings true when I think about all the things we truly need to consider and sometimes neglect.