ME or BME masters

[RunSomewhere]

I have spent some time reading various threads on the boards here, but this is my first post. I have my undergrad in Biomechanical Eng. I went straight to work, and have been at a pharmaceutical company a little over two years. It's heavy on chemical engineering, which is not my favorite cup of tea.

On one end my undergrad covered a broad range of topics. On the other hand, part of me feels like I didn't get into enough detail in any one area to be useful. My dream job is working for a medical device company. I started going for a MS in Biomedical, but I'm doubting whether that is the best option for me. Should I pursue a MS in Biomed. or go for a MS in Mechanical? The Biomed. degree involves research and a thesis, the Mechanical degree has a course-only option. Because I'm in industry, my thinking was a research-based degree isn't necessary. Any insight is appreciated!

 

[Noway2]

At the univ I attended, the biomedical department was more closely related to the electrical engineering dept than the mechanical engineering dept. While my exposure was limited, a lot of what went on in the biomed borrowed from the modeling and what would now be DSP and digital control theory from the electrical disciplines. The biomed department also made heavy use of software, which at the time was a subset of the electrical program. Though others may prove me wrong, my impression of the mechanical engineering is that it involves a lot more calculation of 'physics' (meaning statics, dynamics, thermodynamics) and materials science which may or may not be relevant to your desires.

 

[Jmadamek]

My school doesn't have a formal biomedical department, but in the electrical department there are a few scholar team/student project groups that relate to biomedical.

 

[MechEng2005]

I wouldn't do the MS in mechanical unless they had a program specifically for medical applications, or at least a good selection of electives. As Noway2 states, I think most unspecified MS in mechanical will be physics/thermo/etc that is only vaguely relevant. One good option is to look for postings for jobs that seem like what you want and look at the requirements. If they generally say MS mechanical is acceptable, and if that's an easier route, maybe it will work out for you.

-- MechEng2005

 

[dougantholz]

First thing I would do is find a company you want to work for. Doesn't matter where it is, it only matters what they do. Then try to find an engineering manager there - someone who does the hiring - and ask them. Most engineers are nice enough to take 10 minutes to talk to a young engineer. They will give you advice for what they look for so that is the direction to lean toward.
Another option besides cold calling is to find a professional society where you can meet other engineers who do the things you WANT to do (not what you are doing).
As for the practicality of a masters with thesis - us in industry don't really find it useful. I've done several interviews in the last 3-4 years and it has never come up what a person did their research in during grad school. We often talk about master's projects and coursework, but never research.

 

[geostruct]

dougantholz-

I'm considering an online MS degree in structural/geotechnical engineering. The school I am considering may not be the most recognizable namewise, but the courses offered and course descriptions appeal to me the most. I am really interested in the classes and they are the type of work I want to pursue. A lot of MS degrees have some obscure courses that are offered, while this one is very practical with modern geotech/struct engineering methods.

What are your thoughts on online schools, and also schools that may not have a big name attached to the degree, but would offer me excellent classes and courses I could really apply to a job?

 

[hokie66]

MuEagle05,

Your question cannot easily be answered without knowledge of the actual specialties offered in the universities. I think your interest in medical devices is more closely aligned with mechanical and electrical engineering than with pharmaceuticals, but you will have to do some research to find a program that suits.

 

[dougantholz]

geo-
I'm not a fan of the entire graduate course work in online classes. I would not value that as much as a local university that offered some courses that you don't need. The reason is that not only is the local university a known product, I probably have familiarity with the type of students who graduate. Its better to do mediocre at a great university than great at a mediocre university. GPA's don't matter unless it jumps off the resume as terrible. I don't value a 4.0 over a 3.0. I want to talk to a person to know if they get it or not.

 

[RunSomewhere]

"Its better to do mediocre at a great university than great at a mediocre university."

Would others agree?

I am currently attending the University of Akron (Akron, OH) but although it's a stretch, I am considering trying to get in to Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH).

 

[dougantholz]

MuEagle05 - that looks like a great new thread for this forum. Why don't you start it!