Advice on M.S. Materials Science and Engineering

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm in my final year of Automotive Engineering now. After months of failed efforts to narrow in on a particular course I have made my decision... Does it commensurate with my bachelor's degree and is it a sensible decision? Honestly, I've had a passion to work in research facilities like they show in sci-fi movies (I know its childish but still :\"> )
Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>Yes, it should be quite possible to move form Automotive to Materials. You might have a few remedial courses to take but nothing too extensive. However, it might be in your best interest to work for a couple of years and then return for the Masters or even a Ph.D. since those research jobs you are interested in usually require the Ph.D. to really be able to access.</p>

3

<p>Thank you…
Well, my course did include subjects like Engng Materials and Metallurgy, Production Tech, Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Strength of Materials, FEA as of first three years of study so do you still think I would need those remedial courses? :expressionless: </p>

4

<p>You might need a course in crystallography or solid state physics but not too much else.</p>

5

<p>Thanks again and how do you think my career could proceed after that? I mean, approximately how much percentage of chance do I have of staying with Automotive and how much of chance do I have in other fields?</p>

<p>Also, is this legit? I will be applying after perusing this list and grading myself based on the rankings given for the universities for this particular program.
<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Materials Science and Engineering”>http://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-/124742/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Engineers are flexible and often work in fields different than what their degree states.</p>

<p>The NRC survey is from 2007 and is somewhat out of date. I also note that some Ph.D. programs are not listed and this is probably because they are part of a bigger department. For example Duke has a very good materials program but it is in the Mechanical Engineering Department. The same is for my university, Illinois Institute of Technology. You should probably look further than just that list.</p>

7

<p>Ok I know if I were to stay within Automotive I will have to choose Michigan but are there any states or regions where pursuing MSE would be better for career prospects like jobs compared to a better ranked uni from another state?</p>

8

<p>It is not so much your location but your thesis advisor who makes a difference in finding jobs after a Ph.D. Find the people who are working in the field you are interested in and then apply where they work. Once you have a Ph.D. expect to move anywhere in the country.</p>