switch from mechanical to structural engineering

[pspe]

My original posting was deleted since I posted in the wrong forum.

Here is my latest post, I am looking for advise on what to do to switch from mechancial engineering to structural engineering...

Thank you all for the responses.

As my previous research on the subject indicated, there is quite a range of things I can/should do. Obviously I do need to be competent in the field in which I would like to work (practice). The question for me is, how do I get this competence in structural engineering quick and with the least expense?

Going by state rules, I would need ABET accredited degree in an engineering discipline, 4 years experience and pass the PE test. I did not mention that I am a registered PE, however, in mechanical engineering. As far as the PE goes, I could take the exam again in civil engineering (my state MI does not offer a SE exam). Cost would be about $1,500 including a prep course.

Or I could go back to college and get a masters degree in civil engineering which was suggested by a prof/advisor at the local university I met with. (Of course, they want me to go for the master’s degree...). Originally I met with him to discuss the possibility to get a second bachelor in civil eng. After reviewing my credentials, he quickly suggested the master’s degree. He also pointed out that I would have to take the undergrad "soil" class as a pre requisite to go into the structural concentration of the MS in civil. Total cost would be about $17,000. In my state I would not necessarily have to take the civil structural concentration PE exam to practice structural engineering. As long as I am competent (have evidence of training and practice) I would be o.k. according to the state board of PEs.

Then there is the "in-between" option. Taking some classes (the important and necessary ones) not necessarily resulting in a degree. Cost TBD somewhere between $3,000 to $5,000 would be my current guess.

The big question now is what would the industry classify as "important" and "necessary"?

As already indicated by Ron:" There's not a great stretch between structural and mechanical engineering." Jetclampett agreed above and that was also confirmed by the professor I met with.

A class in concrete and steel seems to be necessary as jsdpe mentioned above. Which I concluded also during researching differences between mechanical and civil.

That civil master's degree would look good on my resume and I could see that a HR person would use that to decide to put my resume in the pile for the next person for review or the trash can. However, I don't have the $17k mentioned above so I am looking for a different way.

demayeng, you mentioned that you did 4 subjects of a structural bachelor degree online completing a graduate certificate, can you tell me which university that was? Do you think that was helpful? Is that what got you in the door at your "structural" employer?

Thanks

 

[271828]

Why does the MS cost anything? Assuming that your grades are good, you should be able to get it paid for, plus receiving a salary. Unless you have family obligations or some other compelling reason to avoid the 12-16 months of MS program, I'd say that's the no-brainer way to go.

BTW, structural engineers are closer cousins to MEs than they are to the rest of civil engineering, except for maybe geotech, so you'll have no trouble making the switch.

 

[pspe]

Hi 271828,
I assume you are referring to an employer education reimbursement program. My current employer would definitely not pay for a degree in a different discipline.

So, my plan would be to do what ever I can (within a small reasonable budget) while keeping my current job, to increase my chances of getting in the structural field - above an entry level pay grade. I do have family obligations.

Thanks for the structural/mechanical cousins comment. I just hope a lot of people know about that (especially HR people)...

 

[Hurricanes]

pspe,

I got a postgraduate certifcate in Stuctural Engineering through the University of Southern Queensland (Australia). It consisted of 4 courses over the web; steel design, concrete, composites and design with fea.

While this is not sufficient for a complete switch over to structural, I can (and am trusted to) do a lot of work which other mechanicals in the company don't touch.

 

[plasgears]

The masters in CE makes good sense. CE was the original engineering discipline, and with the machine age, ME came to the fore. Same story with EE, ChemE and AeroE, etc. Good luck.

In ME at my school, we also had bridge/beam analysis, reinf concrete, fluid flow, matl test lab, and prep for the PE. In fact all non-CE's took this foundation in CE. It was an apt reminder of where we all came from.

 

[HgTX]

It's been said here and there that a master's in CE/SE is almost becoming a requirement, so you might as well get it.

Funding options...are you going to try to get this degree while working full-time? If not, then with good grades you might be able to get an assistantship or fellowship that will pay for your tuition and give you somewhat of a stipend to live on. They're harder to get for MS than for PhD, but if you're good enough, it can happen. For that matter, you could compare the value of such support to your regular salary minus tuition costs. If the difference isn't very big, then you might as well try for a degree from a "name" school and take a shorter time to get the degree because you can study full-time.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[ShaggyPE]

student loan not an option?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist

 

[MatthewR]

pspe,

I have an ME degree and I work as a structural engineer. I took some post-baccalaureate classes when I started my structural job. Whether or not you decide to get a master's degree you will definitely need these undergrad classes:

-Soil Mechanics (if you will do any foundation design)
-Foundation Design (again if you will do any foundation design)
-Reinforced Concrete Design (you might be able to learn this from a textbook)
-Structural Steel Design (much more in-depth than the simple beam and column analyses you learned as an ME student, and teaches you the AISC code)

Almost everything I know I learned on the job but at least I had the background from these classes.

 

[Gumpmaster]

Getting funding from a university (not your employer) should be a no-brainer. Talk to some of the professors at the school you're thinking about. Mine had tons of money for MS students in structural engineering. You might have to be a research assistant for a project that doesn't sound like much fun, but the schooling is free.

 

[mtu1972]

Check out the following from the Univ. of Idaho's Engineering Outreach Program.


ACADEMIC CERTIFICATES
An academic certificate is a coherent body of work designed to reflect specialized expertise, and signifies that a student has successfully completed a series of courses predetermined by the academic department; the courses designated in a certificate already exist in a department's approved curriculum.



For Structural Engineering they require 12 credits of graduate level courses that are offered on campus and delivered via on-line and DVD to students at home. They could then be part of a MS degree.

GJC

 

[demayeng]

I did the same course as Hurricanes in Australia and now work full time as a structural engineer.

I agree with the approach of do the basic concrete/steel etc study that will get you employed and then learn on the job.

I wrote a longer reply to this but it disappeared. Anyway, yes the course helped me get in the door to a structural firm.

 

[Hurricanes]

demayeng,

Were you a mechanical or structural (or other) engineer before doing the certificate?

I ask because after completing the course I don't feel as if I could practice structural engineering full time. I back myself to do pretty much all aspects of steel design (big overlap with mechanical here anyway) and some concrete work, but I wouldn't really have a clue when it comes to soil mechanics.

 

[RoyTyrell]

structural engineering is an interesting field - but don't do it for the money. you'll make more as a mechanical.

you can learn concrete and steel design in your free time if you really want - and it can be helpful, you already know the basics. (I'm learning what I can about process design on my own time)

unless you have a burning passion for it - don't waste your time getting more credentials and degrees, you have all you need. Focus on making money instead.

Industries such as oil and gas, power, utilities hire plenty of mechanicals for non-building "structural" work such as pipelines, storage tanks, general industrial facilities (think plant work).

But commercial buildings? forget it - commercial real estate is absolutely dead right now - you won't find work designing buildings. or bridges for that matter.

you can do plenty of "structural engineering" for industry with a just a mechanical degree and a PE and make lots of money doing it (I say this as a person with a civil/structural degree and a PE)

my $0.02

 

[pspe]

Roy,
thanks for your input, taking a step back and looking at where I am right now, I do have to agree with you on each statement.