I am a chemical engineering undergrad going into my junior year of studies next fall. Recently, I have been thinking about the next academic step I should take in order to enter the industry in a field that suits me. The reason I initially decided to become chemical engineer was because I wanted to work in the energy field, specifically with biomass, fuel cells, and solar, or work on fuel systems of transportation vehicles. However, now I fear, that with a chemical engineering background alone, I will not be considered for many opportunities in this field (especially in the solar industry). To help counter the perceived limits of my major, I am now considering pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering to help broaden my background and be a better-suited candidate to chase my dreams. My question is, basically, is this a good idea? Specifically, how feasible is it for a chemical engineer to get a master’s degree in a different engineering field and, if it is, what steps (such as learning autocad or reading introductory mechanical engineering material) should I take now to make this plan work?
It’s perfectly feasible to do a graduate degree in mechanical engineering after getting a degree in chemical engineering. What sort of preparation you would need depends on what sort of specialization you choose.
You can certainly work in the solar field with a chemical engineering degree (solar is not merely photovoltaics but concentrated solar is also an option and that involves a lot of heat transfer). Look for internships next summer in the field and see how you like it. You might not want to go for a Master’s degree right away but work in the field and then figure out which kind of Master’s is the right one for career advancement. It might be Mechanical Engineering or something else.