Post graduate education accreditation? 4

[WVbridge]

Hi everyone. So I'm in a bit of a pickle... I'm in my 3rd year as a civil EIT, working in bridge design in WV. I'm wanting to get started on a graduate degree, but am running into hurdles so I have a few questions:

1. The only college I can physically attend while keeping my job is Marshall U. Their undergrad is ABET accredited but none of their grad programs are. How important is accreditation for the graduate degree?
2. ME vs MSE in regards to professional advancement and usefulness?
3. What about an online grad degree? I've seen some offered from colleges like University of Louisville and North Carolina State... anyone have experience, recommendations, or advice on going that route?

Thanks!

 

[77JQX]

I just used ABET's search function (

http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

) to search for accredited master's programs, and found only one (Maybe I did it wrong?). When I was in graduate scholl, ABET didn't acreddit any graduate programs. In my state, as long as you have an accredited bachelor's, there isn't any issue with licensing. I've never had an employer care beyond whether I had my PE.

 

[beej67]

Since a Masters degree is not required for a PE, the accreditation of your masters program won't matter for your PE. You can still sit for your PE, but the years spent getting your Masters probably won't count towards your professional experience prior to sitting for the exam. If you continue to work while going to get your Masters, then that shouldn't matter, since you're accumulating real professional experience anyway.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[Otaku]

[ol 1]
[li]While it's not a requirement that your graduate degree be ABET-accredited, it sure comes in handy if you're ever in need of credentials verification. In terms of actual real-life work prospects, I don't think it really matters.[/li]
[li]I have an ME. It's simply a Masters degree as far as everybody is concerned. It may help with your research/writing skills if you do have a capstone or thesis, though.[/li]
[li]No experience here with that one, although I've toyed with the idea of an online masters degree from Penn State.[/li]
[/ol]

Since a Masters degree is not required for a PE, the accreditation of your masters program won't matter for your PE. You can still sit for your PE, but the years spent getting your Masters probably won't count towards your professional experience prior to sitting for the exam. If you continue to work while going to get your Masters, then that shouldn't matter, since you're accumulating real professional experience anyway.

Actually, many states may knock off time from the experience requirements for the PE Exam if you have a graduate degree. According to the State of Florida, for example: "Advanced degrees obtained as a full time student can count for 12 months equivalent experience"​

 

[WVbridge]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Still not completely certain what I want out of it but you definitely cleared up some gray areas.

@77JQX - no, you're right, I'm only getting one for Civil as well. Guess that answers that question.

My state (WV) credits 1 year experience for the graduate degree as well, but the way it was explained to me was that I couldn't get the credit for the graduate degree AND get the credit for experience from work while pursuing the degree. Basically, I'd have to pick between claiming the two years of work experience, or claiming the 1 year from the degree. (Perhaps this is a common practice in the other states too?) So I don't think I'd be claiming the degree for the experience to sit for the PE, it'd be more for professional development and expanding my education.

 

[beej67]

Actually, many states may knock off time from the experience requirements for the PE Exam if you have a graduate degree. According to the State of Florida, for example: "Advanced degrees obtained as a full time student can count for 12 months equivalent experience"

Be careful with that. I don't think you get to double count your time. If you spent the year of 2015 working under a PE while getting an ABET Masters degree, I don't think that counts as two years of experience, only one. You'd get the year by doing either or both, but you don't get two years for doing both. At least I don't think you would. It might vary by state, and you'd be wise to verify with your state board before banking on it.

I believe the rule is interpreted in Georgia as "up to one year of your life in post graduate engineering education can be applied toward your experience," not "we tack a year onto your experience if you've got a Masters degree."

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[BigH]

Personally, I would look at it thusly: You are 3rd year of 4 year requirement to site your PE (If my old grey cells are correct). You try to get a "Masters" for what? Sitting the PE Exam quicker? For the status? For more money? To me, it would boil down to the money - I don't see that it will make any difference to sitting the PE quicker. There are too many darn fine engineers out there with only a bachelor's degree so the status isn't so much - but for some, perhaps. If getting a Masters degree leads to a bigger pay cheque, then that makes sense but would the company care if it was ABET accredited or not? Likely not.

You might want to look at taking the night courses in order to develop your craft without regard for the above.