ME as a second degree or even masters degree? 1

[7moore7]

I'll try to be brief, but I want to give as much info as possible on this. I have found forums to be very helpful with other projects, so I figured I'd see if I can get some career advice as well.

I currently hold a salary job in the degree field that I graduated with (BS in Industrial Design). I am very happy with it, but have always been interested in mechanical engineering and tend towards the engineering side of my field when possible. For those that don't know ID it is an architectural and art based degree with much product lifecycle understanding but very little mathematical theory. My current company employs one ME, but knowledge in the subject would be helpful to myself and my employer (as well as open up my future opportunities for myself). I'm not sure whether or not I could get help paying for school from them as it is a small company, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

My skillset (if it matters): I am very good at CAD modeling- Solidworks in particular. Analysis I have very little experience with but I learn fast with this stuff. I also tend to do well with calculus and physics, but haven't taken those since high school (which was eight years ago for me). I earned AP/college credit for physics and calculus and then didn't take a single course in college. I have worked with a lot of engineers in my life so far, so many of the conceptual things I suspect will be easier for me than, say, someone entering a program right out of high school. Plus I don't have to deal with social drama or non-related required classes, haha!

With all of that, I'd like to get to working on a ME degree of some sort in conjunction with working full time. I just don't know where to start. I don't know if a four + one year degree program is the only way to go in this field... or if I should take night or online classes for a few years or something else I'm not thinking of. I'm more interested in the knowledge than the paper at the end, but if I'm putting in work I might as well make sure it is applied in the best way possible. My naive opinion is that with my current degree and experience it won't be as overwhelming as a first degree, but I could be way off there.

Hope this is making sense and I hope I don't sound like I'm talking in a pipe dream. I just don't really know the field that well or ways people have earned their degree. I'd like to be as professional as possible and don't want to spend four years earning an associates when if I did it another way I could have earned a masters. Thanks in advance for any tips!

 

[7moore7]

Let me mention one more thing

I am at the very beginning of researching the degree process, so I know my questions may be answered or change in the next few weeks, but I wanted to start posting in case anyone had tips at this point.

 

[TomBarsh]

One of my teaching assistants was working on a MS in Engineering. Her BS was in teaching physical education...quite a stretch. But it was quicker for her to make up the undergrad engineering classes and get the MS in Engineering than to get a second Bachelors. She was smart and made a good TA and probably a good engineer.

Good Luck.

 

[zdas04]

My undergraduate degree is in Industrial Management. About 12 years into my career I decided that I wanted to have the certificate to go with my interests (I was already in an Engineering position, but was always explaining my silly degree). I did the research that you are anticipating and went to a local university and talked to the head of the ME department. His very strong advice after reviewing my credentials was for me to take the 3 undergraduate ME courses that he saw as pre-requisites to starting an MSME program that I was lacking, then get my MSME. What wonderful advice. I followed it and 2 years later I had an MSME and stopped having to explain why someone with a "management" degree was working as an Engineer.

There is no way to avoid the drama of an undergraduate program, it is all around you. A BSME as a second degree would have (in my experience) no advantages over an MSME, and employers have looked at my MS and said "The University of Colorado thought you were enough of an Engineer to let you into their MSME program, why should I question that?"

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[GregLocock]

You'll probably find the maths and thermodynamics side of things is the hardest bit. As you already design stuff you should have a better than average understanding of materials (well frankly the average student has near zero), and with structures I'd recommend both of JE Gordon's books as a bit of an eye opener.

I've known several draughtsmen/designers to get engineering degrees, they already speak the lingo, I got the impression that the coursework was hard but not unmanageable.

The downside to a lecture room based engineering degree is that you don't spend the time in the labs. That's pretty good, in terms of a saving of time, but pretty bad, because in my opinion the labs were the best bit.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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

 

[jpankask]

I completed a MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, but my undergraduate degree was closely related and I had already taken all of the pre-requisites. With the BS degree you mostly learn "how" to do something. With the MS you learn a lot more of the "why" you do it that way. If you can get into the MS program with a minimum amount of prerequisites, you will probably be better off in the long term.

 

[77JQX]

I have a BS in Chemistry and an MS in Civil Engineering. I had trouble getting licensed with my MS because my state requires licensees to have an "ABET accredited" engineering degree, and ABET does not accredit graduate programs. I wound up being on a ten-year track toward licensing that didn't require any degree at all! Yes, they did give me some credit for education toward the ten years, but in all, it took longer to get there than if I had gotten a second BS in engineering.

If licensure is something you're going to want, then you should consider what your state's position is on whether they'll license you with a Master's but no Bachelor's in engineering.

 

[zdas04]

77JQX,
What state was that in? I've had two states that were fine with my undergrad "business" degree and my MSME. The third state (Wyoming) was fine with the degrees, but was unwilling to accept my testing out of undergrad physics. Every state is different and every examiner brings their own baggage.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"

 

[77JQX]

zdas04 - The state is Nevada. I was licensed in both Utah and California (both were fine with the MS degree) before Nevada.

 

[zdas04]

Keep moving east (but not too far), Colorado and New Mexico were fine with my MS too. I've often wondered if I resubmitted to Wyoming (or you to Nevada) if the next examiner would take a different position.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"