Second engineering degree?

[MrNE]

Hello all.

I'm about to pick up a bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering. I field that I am very interested in and would most probably enjoy working in.

The choice had always been between nuclear and electrical, and I had choosen nuclear because I thought it would make me stand out.

However I was forced to take an electrical course during my time here (just so I know the basics) and I loved it. I went on to take the follow up of that course and another EE course (both of which were not required).

Now I really love EE. The classes that I have taken I have really enjoyed.

I have a few questions to the engineers who would know:

- How would I benifit with a Nuclear engineering degree and an Electrical engineering degree?

- Would just any job say it would be okay to work and go to school. Or go to work, take time off school, and then go to work? (For a degree that probably has nothing to do with them)

- Would it be easier and more benificial to get a masters in nuclear engineering while working? (Many have suggested this)

- How are most companies about continuing your education?

I'm definetly willing (and used to) putting in the extra hours and effort to pull this off.

I'm thinking hard about this and would like any and all suggestions.

I will get this degree, sooner or later, so not doing it is not an option for me.

Thank you!

 

[ctopher]

I'm not sure if you would benifit with a Nuclear engineering degree unless you had your PE.
But, I have very little experience in the nuclear field.

Chris
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ctopher's home (updated 03-13-07)

 

[MrNE]

From what people tell me, a nuclear engineering degree is good to have.

But I'm curious about having both.

 

[JRLAKE]

I think any and all education is good to have. I think most people will agree that they dabble in many different fields of engineering in their jobs.

If I could, I would definitely get an electrical engineering degree.

 

[MrNE]

If you did though, how would it help you.

It may be true that you dabble with this and that but if something seriously needs to be done, they have electrical engineers for that.

How would it help me in: salary, job placement, advancement, things like this.

Would a job be readily okay, and willing to work with me, when I claim to want a EE, or would they say get lost. I'm curious if anyone out there knows answers to these concerns.

 

[COEngineeer]

Just get a graduate degree in EE.

 

[JRLAKE]

Your questions depend on the job and the employer. You would be suprised how many employers don't have qualified engineers in positions.

For example, I get a call from a the utilities engineer (mechanical) retired and rather than replace him, they moved an electrical engineer into his place. He knows nothing about mechanical engineering but he is in charge of sizing cooling towers, HVAC systems, chillers, compressed air systems, boiler operation, etc. If someone had been available who was an EE and ME, he would have likely gotten the promotion. Things like this happen all over.

I agree with COEngineer. Get a graduate degree in EE. There is a demand out there for people with multiple degrees, that means better chance for higher salary, advancement, etc.

 

[CarolinaPE]

I would go straight through school and double major, I would not try to work full time and take night classes. Once I had 2 degrees I would work 3-4 years in each field after researching what seemed to be jobs in demand AND ones that I would want to do. It will be painful to start over again in the second field (financially). However, you will now be skilled in two different fields and have greater opportunities. I earned my bachelors in 1994 and spent 3-5 years doing 3 different types of jobs within my discipline. To an extent I am a jack of all trades (and it has hurt financially to do this) but have a lot of flexibility in the job market. If the economy makes a turn for the worse in one sector, I have 3X the number of jobs available compared to someone in my field who has done the same thing for 10+ years.

 

[GregLocock]

I think getting two BS degrees is a poor investment. Mostly your degree is teaching you how to learn - you shouldn't need to be taught that twice.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MrNE]

GregLocock:

I can understand this and have been told this before. Would you agree with the statement that getting a MS in electrical engineering would be a good investment? Or is any education that deviates from my main one (nuclear) a poor investment?

Newfella:

Now that you have flexibility after all this time, I'm thinking to myself, to do this there must be opportunity costs. If you had to do it all over again, would you do it the same way?

 

[Senselessticker]

Go after a masters in E.E. Of course, you'll have to choose a specific EE area. I imagine some kind controls type EE master's would go well with a nuclear B.S. And there's probably a market for it.

I think having more than one B.S. in Engineering is simply a waste of time/money.

In a perfect world, I think the engineering world would be better served if Engineering diciplines were only choosen at a graduate level. Opps, I'm getting off the OP subject. Sorry.

 

[GregLocock]

I'd have said a Masters in electrical engineering makes more sense than another Batchelors, yes.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[jpankask]

I would echo that two bachelor's degrees will not be as beneficial to you in most jobs. The flexibility that you get from NE and EE could be an asset, though. Since you are getting a nuclear engineering degree, I'm going to assume that you want to work in the nuclear industry (power plant) or possibly for a national lab. There is great need at nuclear power plants for engineers who are multi-talented, especially as we face a lot of retirements in the next 5-10 years. However, you will not get much credit (salary and promotion-wise) for a second BS vs. a master's degree. Most companies I have seen will give you 2 years of credit for a MS towards advancement where you get nothing for having a second BS. Also, many companies will pay for all or part of a master's degree. Add a PE license to that and you are in the drivers-seat for your career. It is very hard to work full time and get a master's degree part time but that is the best way to do it, in my opinion, if you do not plan on going for the PhD. Good luck and you made an excellent decision on the nuclear degree! Hang on a few years and it will really pay off.
Jason

 

[MrNE]

Alright, this is what many had told me at the university but it's great to hear it from engineers on the field.

Only a few questions I had thought of are:

How exactly would I be able to jump from a BS in nuclear to a MS in electrical. I don't expect anyone to know this but, I'm thinking out loud.

One thing that depresses me is that I'll miss all the fun 200-400 level classes in electrical. I really do enjoy this stuff.

I guess years down the road, some get their corvettes, I'll just get my EE.

 

[jpankask]

Well, you are not really going to miss out on all of those 200-400 level classes. To go from a BS in Nuclear to a MS in Electrical, you will have to take several of the prerequisite classes required by the MS program. If you can identify a master's program now and figure out what the prerequisites are, you can get those taken while you are still doing your undergrad work. Depending on the field you want to go into, the prerequisites may be many or few. Power, for example, would not take as many prerequisites as Instrumentation (how many and what will depend on your background now and the specific college).

Also, if you play this right, you won't have to give up on your corvette to get your MSEE. Just go to work for a company that will pay for it. Good luck.
Jason

 

[plasgears]

My favorite boss was a combined ME/EE. He could handle most challenges with confidence. He had bachelor degrees in both. The ME/EE combination is very complementary in that they address each others weaknesses.

To earn a BSEE would be straightforward; you already have a number of credits that would apply directly to the EE. If you insist on having a masters, get it in business or other related field.

 

[csd72]

You would never benefit from the second degree.

The cost of education and the loss of the 3 or 4 years salary would far outweigh any benefits.

If you are only part way through your course then you may be able to transfer over to electrical. I would advise this rather than 2 separate degrees.

 

[KENAT]

If you were nearer the begining of your course I's ask why not just study electromechanical or mechatronics? May be a bit late for you now.

 

[csd72]

The other option is to graduate as nuclear and try to get work more towards the electrical type. You may find that you can end up working as an electrical engineer with a nuclear engineering degree.

If this works out you may be able to do your masters in electrical after some years of experience. Talk to a university advisor about this.

 

[MrNE]

jpankask: This sounds logical. I must probably would go into power. I want to go into power with my NE. Now, I don't know the numbers for prereq into power but I do know that it'll take me 42 credit hours to complete a EE. That makes 21 for two or 15-18 for three. If the prereqs take maybe one or even two semesters to finish, I might as well go for it all, I guess. But I don't know the hours for prereq into power. Until I find out, this is cheep talk (type) from me.

csd72: It would only take 1.5 years to finish. However this in itself is a big opportunity cost. I want to work in the nuclear industry but I also love this electrical stuff. Somehow someway I want to do both, at the same time. Most probably impossible. If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know.

KENAT: Yeah, it's a little late, I have all the credits I need to leave, but I'm here doing some elctrical classes.