Switch from IE to CE and validity of CET 1

[arokisbobcat]

I have a two fold question here. I am strongly considering pursuing a second bachelors degree in Civil Engineering in addition to the BS I have already in IE. I find that Civil Engineering attracts me more with the variety of tasks and nature of work.

I live in Atlanta and it looks like I have two options. Obviously, Gtech is here and a very strong engineering program. However, I don't think I could realistically take off two years from work to go back to school full time and pay mortgage (and also finance an upcoming wedding). There is also the option of a BSCET from Southern Polytechnic State Univ which would give me the flexibility to take night classes; hence, I could still maintain my current job and financially, would be less stressful.

I know the CE degree is more coveted than a CET degree. Should I forget the CET degree and just go for the CE degree? Would I be limiting myself with only a CET degree?

Also, have any IE's on the board switched over to CE or another discipline?

Please let me know thoughts, opinions, etc...

 

[jgailla]

If you get a CET degree you will probably not be able to get a PE.
Civil engineers need to have a PE.
Unless you just want to do drafting, a CET is a waste of time.

 

[arokisbobcat]

Jgailla -

Thanks for the insight. Actually in 35 states I believe CET's are eligible to sit for the EIT exam and also the PE years later. I think they may have to take an additional year between the two exams. In the other states that don't allow CET's to sit for the PE, they are able to do so IF they obtain a Masters in CE.

It seems like the end result could potentially be the same however, I agree with you that a CET degree does seem to be inferior to a CE degree. Not to mention the CE degree allows you to obtain that PE with no questions asked in any state.

Thanks for your response and look forward to hearing others chime in as well.

 

[TheTick]

Just an ME's perspective. Seems to me, MEs aren't nearly as snooty as CEs about the "T" thing, and I wouldn't really recommend it for an ME.

 

[photoengineer]

I have a MET. I generally recommend a ME over a MET degree.

However, I'd recommend a MET long before no degree at all. I switched from ME to MET because I didn't think I could finish a ME degree. Now I am working on my MSME.

Note that the OP has a degree in industrial engineering, so he should qualify to be a Professional Engineer as long as it was ABET accredited.

What would I do? I'd go for a masters in some field of engineering rather than a second bachelors. You can do those online and you don't have to take very many undergrad classes to get in a program.


Cedar Bluff Engineering

http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com

 

[Lion06]

I have an ET degree (in structural). While I actually believe it has been more valuable to me than a CE degree, I would not recommend it to others. It causes all kinds of problems for graduate school and I'm sure it's going to cause problems trying to get a PE in certain states.

I'm currently in a grad program, and have taken all but 1 of the classes that I would consider "hard". I've taken Advanced Structural Analysis, Advanced Structural Mechanics, Plates and Shells, and some other less intensive courses (Advanced Concrete, Masonry). I've gotten all A's (save for 1 A-). The only "hard" class I have left is Structural Dynamics.
The only point I'm making is that a CE degree is not some holy grail that will make you smarter or actually learn more in the way of engineering. What it does do, however, is open doors that wouldn't otherwise be open.

 

[arokisbobcat]

StructuralEIT,

Thanks for your post. As I do more research on this, many CE firms that I have spoken to echo the same thing you mentioned saying they prefer the CET's over the CE's because of their knowledge in application. A handful of CE firms here in Atlanta have spoken highly about the SPSU program and speak highly about their graduates.

My question for you is in terms of salary. Have you been hindered at all in terms of compensation because of having a CET degree or do you find it comparable to the CE's?

Also, how did you get into grad school and did any schools actually turn you down because of not having a CE degree?

Photoengineer - thanks for your post too. I've often wondered to about my IE degree (which is ABET accredited) and if I'd be able to purue the PE in the regular 4 years because of that degree. That would certainly be ideal!

 

[Lion06]

I have not been hindered in salary, job performance, or job opportunities by having the ET degree. When I came out of undergrad I was ahead of my peers at my workplace from a technical point of view. I'm not saying that it's related to the degree necessarily as everything is person-specific. I was one of only two engineers in our office without a graduate degree (most from bigger name schools like Cornell and VT), and I feel like I'm more ahead of the curve than behind it (again from a technical standpoint, I'm still struggling to catch up on the documentation side of the job).

As far as graduate school goes, I didn't have any schools outright reject me (but my undergrad GPA was 3.9?), but several did want me to fulfill come undergrad requirements that, in my opinion, were completely unnecessary. Why would a structural engineer going for a grad degree in structral enigneering be required to take undergrad water and traffic engineering classes? It makes no sense to me, but it's what I've got to do to get the degree from the university that I want. I haven't taken any of the undergrad classes yet, but they won't confer my degree until I complete them.

 

[Ron]

I'll give you another perspective. I have interviewed and hired both over the years. The "average" CE graduate is better equipped to step into and progress in an engineering position than the "average" CET graduate. The CET graduate will generally have an uphill battle to gain technical and professional acceptance.

There are exceptions on both sides of that fence. From my observations in these forae, SEIT is probably one of those exceptions...but that appears to be a result of personal motivation, not educational background. I've seen honors graduates progress to being poor engineers and I've seen average graduates excel. It is very much a personal motivation and journey.

With regard to licensing, the CET will often have a more difficult time proving relevant experience. The assumption is that they have not been given those opportunities to practice being in "responsible charge" of engineering works.

Bottom line, if you can do either, take the CE route...or even better, take photoengineer's suggestion and get a Master's in Civil.