<p>So, the question is, in engineering, which degree is the most beneficial in the long run. S is due to grad next year and is looking forward to working full time, of course, but...</p>
<p>There is a possible opportunity for s to apply to a special program to tack on one extra year and qualify for a combined bs/ms in ME (for a total of 5 years)...no guarantees, of course, but something to look into... </p>
<p>If a masters is the most useful end degree, then this would make sense to look into this, since one extra year of school beats two, especially while still in the frame of school mind -as much as he wants to get done, and start working already, correct? </p>
<p>However, obviously, if the PhD is ultimately more valued, then it would make sense to go ahead and go into the the work force, and let an employer pay for the combined masters/PhD program down the road, correct?</p>
<p>So, here are some additional questions/issues
-my concern is that a PhD may be overkill in engineering and ultimately make it a problem to get a job since some employers may not want to pay the extra money for the extra degree...? is that a valid concern or completely wrong? (hubby thinks employers would want PhD at highest positions...I keep thinking of a friend who was let go recently after 30 years and had trouble finding work...)</p>
<p>-is it better to get a masters and/or PhD from a different school than undergrad or no difference? </p>
<p>-s may want masters/PhD in discipline other than ME to give more breadth so if the only way to shortcut the masters degree is to get in ME ....will it make that big a difference?</p>
<p>There is no best in the long run. What are his career goals?</p>
<p>Generally, getting an MS can do nothing but help. Getting a PhD can close a lot of doors for you and should only be undertaken if the goal is getting into research and/or teaching.</p>
<p>Also, if the decision is that a PhD is potentially desirable, then it is usually better to not go into the workforce. The overwhelming majority (nearly 100%) of engineering PhDs are funded through research grants. Most companies won’t pay for a PhD anyway, as there is really no way to do it part time. Shoot, there’s barely a way to do it full time.</p>
<p>If the MS is the terminal degree, it usually doesn’t matter if it comes from the same school as the undergraduate school. In the case of a PhD, it is generally better to go elsewhere except in circumstances such as already being at the school that has the perfect research position (and most undergrads don’t really know what is perfect yet, so it is usually just better to go elsewhere). This is a bigger deal for those shooting for academic positions than those going into industry.</p>
<p>You don’t get a graduate degree for breadth. That should not be a concern. The point of graduate degrees is to specialize. Getting a graduate degree in something other than the discipline of the undergraduate degree is common and not usually too difficult, but that should be done because the desired specialization is in the other field.</p>
<p>There are many different engineering sub-fields and types of jobs within those fields that a blanket statement as to which degree is most beneficial is impossible. The other big factor is the on-the-job training that goes with any engineering job. </p>
<p>IN GENERAL, the more analytical the job, the more useful the additional education becomes. Many of the design engineers I know stopped at the BS level. Almost all the structural analysis engineers had their MS degrees while the loads and dynamics engineers were a mix of MS and PhD degrees.</p>
<p>If your son knows what area he wants to go into then a combined BS/MS might work for him. If he is unsure where his niche will be, then he may end up gaining knowledge that will not be useful to his career. Most larger companies will pay his tuition (but not board and room) to get his MS and with a few years of experience he will know where to focus his education. The BS -> job then MS path is the path that I have recommended to my two kids who are both ME majors.</p>
<p>Sometimes, the job market at the time of BS graduation may be relevant. If there is an economic downturn when BS graduation occurs, such that the student has no worthwhile job offers then, staying in school another year to complete an MS may be worth it to avoid an extended time in the unemployment line, which can make it more difficult to get a job in the field later when the economic downturn is over. Of course, the cost of the extra year of school is relevant to this decision.</p>
<p>PhD study is for preparation for research jobs (academic or industry). Note that PhD study should be funded.</p>
<p>My suggestion is, if you have any doubt for a Ph.D. program, that you better not go for it unless you cannot find a job. It takes years to accomplish it and the working experience in the same period of time may give your more advantage in your career path (although not the same path). I don’t know how many times I had a feeling of regret although I was very determined when I started graduate school 25 years ago. </p>
<p>I’ve been noticing that with my companies current average 3% raise that we’ve been seeing over the last few years, that it is now faster to obtain a PhD level salary by actually getting a PhD than by working, though you are a bit in the red while you are in grad school, though I think grad school stipends are around $30K. </p>
<p>For example, suppose that BS (75,000), PhD (100,000) and it takes 5 years. </p>
<p>at 3%, after 5 years you’re only at $87K. </p>
<p>Now of course there are a lot of variables, but even THIS scenario is very new. When I was getting out of school in the 80’s, inflation would take you from the BS to the PHD salary much faster. </p>
<p>I’m just saying that getting the PhD is not the financial crapshoot that it once was, and working in research is a lot of fun. </p>
<p>On the other hand, with the advent f Facebook, PhD students now get to watch their peers who didn’t gonto graduate school buy houses and start families while they look on writing their dissertations.</p>
<p>This is sort of how I see it (FWIW, I stopped at MS):</p>
<ul>
<li><p>If you prefer a more balanced lifestyle (i.e. you work to live, not live to work), you will probably be happiest stopping at a BS/MS.</p></li>
<li><p>If you find that solving problems in engineering/math/science is the reason you exist on this planet, and that other things/activities outside of engineering/math/science are of less importance, then a PhD might be something to consider.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>There is no “better” choice here. It’s really a matter of choosing which lifestyle suits you best. </p>
<p>That’s really not a good characterization. Getting a PhD is more involved and lasts longer than getting an MS, but the lifestyles afterward are not dramatically different, especially for those who go into industry. Of course, if you look at those who stay in academe, your characterization is probably more correct, though I know a lot of professors who do a whole lot more than just work. Of course I also know plenty of professors who could use a hobby or two.</p>
<p>Upper echelons of management at aerospace companies or biotech companies, and many of the principal engineers who are in the rooms when the fun systems-level decisions are made are often Ph.D.s these days. MS is a great stopping point, too. And, of course, to work in a research lab (industry or university) or a “think tank” such as policy research, it helps to have a PhD. Having 30 years experience, with any degree, is a good way to have trouble finding a job as an engineer- Ph.D.'s aren’t special that way.</p>
<p>So, to be in on the architecture or pursuit decisions, it helps to have a PhD. If you want to work on work packages that are assigned to you and figure out the details of implementation, any level works (BS, MS, or PhD). The only thing that doesn’t work so well for that is a BA :).</p>
<p>Definitely not true for me. The PhD has been a prerequisite for me to do cutting edge research. In my last startup probably the first 10 or so technical employees had PhDs. No doubt you can become really useful with an MS, but getting the PhD gives employers more confidence that you have the breadth and vision to really create knowledge for them. The more cutting edge the venture, the larger role PhDs are likely to have. </p>
<p>@ClassicRockerDad I’m not talking about at work. I’m talking about in terms of the life outside of work. I was responding to the person who claimed one should only pursue a PhD if they want their life to be their work and not have time for many other things, and that simply isn’t true.</p>
<p>Lake Jr. is working on his B.S. He tells me that during his search for a co-op job, he was surprised to discover that some companies want a Masters/PhD candidate. Not surprising to me was that these companies tended to be large chemical firms.</p>
<p>If temporarily relocating your family is on the table, look into the accelerated Mechanical Engineering M.S. at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The program includes both the Thesis and Non-thesis options at SDSM&T. This is not a combined BS/MS program. Note that the relatively low tuition at SDSM&T is very attractive.</p>