<p>All right, i am considering going into civil engineering at Wisconsin Madison after I graduate hs next year, so I got a question. </p>
<p>Eventually in my career I would like to move up the corporate ladder so to say, and get into more mangement positions. I think an MBA from a solid B-school would be good for this, so which way would you go. I am going to get a bachelors in CE specializing in construction management. Should I double major with a bachelors business degree, go into the workforce, and then get an MBA. Or should I skip the bachelors in business altogether, go into the workforce, and then get the MBA. Do most MBA programs require a bachelors in business to get into, or would an engineering degree and some solid work experience be just fine? Would this depend on what MBA program and how selective the MBA program is?</p>
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Do most MBA programs require a bachelors in business to get into, or would an engineering degree and some solid work experience be just fine?
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<p>The latter would be just fine. </p>
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Would this depend on what MBA program and how selective the MBA program is?
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<p>Doesn't seem to make any difference at all.</p>
<p>Most Civil Engineers require a PE to really move up the ladder. This takes successful completion of the EIT/FE, which in Civil's case is pretty tough. Then the PE exam is also difficult. Most Civil Engineers I know take a year or two to get the FE and then you need to work for 4 or 5 years to qualify to sit for the PE, which take several tries. Perhaps a Civil Engineer can enlighten us more on this method and timeframe, as my numbers are off the top of my head.</p>
<p>This will give you some time before hitting the ceiling, which will happen after your PE if at all. I wouldn't necessarily plan on getting an MBA until you reach that point, if you do. However, if you want to best prepare yourself for MBA admissions major in Civil, for get the business degree, and get a good gpa.</p>
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Most Civil Engineers require a PE to really move up the ladder. This takes successful completion of the EIT/FE, which in Civil's case is pretty tough.
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<p>All engineers take the same FE exam. If you take it in your senior year or right after, you'll be fine with minimal studying (maybe 10-20 hours). I didn't take the CE P&P, so I can't attest to that specific exam. But at least when I took my P&P, most people passed on the first try, but studied a considerable amount (maybe a hundred hours over 3-4 months). It really wasn't bad at all.</p>
<p>The people that failed were mostly people that didn't study at all or people that weren't engineers (some states allow people with 10+ years of experience to sit for the exam without a degree).</p>
<p>But a license isn't really required to "move up the ladder". It's required to work in certain industries and on certain projects (I won't really get into specifics here, since state laws vary). Most CE's get licensed, though.</p>
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Do most MBA programs require a bachelors in business to get into, or would an engineering degree and some solid work experience be just fine?
<p>Since the OP intends to go into construction management, a PE is most likely not necessary. In most instances, it won't even be possible since construction management is not really engineering (not to be confused with construction engineering, which is very much engineering). Most PE's I know in construction management got their license when they were working in design, not construction. </p>
<p>A PE in construction can't hurt, it may even help at times. The one thing to be wary of is that if you work for a contractor, they might push you more into an engineer role than a management role. It certainly doesn't "push you up the ladder" in construction management like it does in structural engineering.</p>
<p>In short, many experienced civil engineers get licensed, but not many construction managers.</p>
<p>I am aiming more towards construction engineering, then construction management although they are both under the same specialization in Civil Engineering at Madison so that's why I listed it the way I did. Sorry if that confused anyone.</p>
A PE in construction can't hurt, it may even help at times. The one thing to be wary of is that if you work for a contractor, they might push you more into an engineer role than a management role.
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From my experience, they push you to stamp and sign, but they don't care whether or not you know what your signing...</p>
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In short, many experienced civil engineers get licensed, but not many construction managers.
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A couple of CM that I've meet got their PMP certificate instead and move up to becoming a project manager. Depending on where you work, it may or may not be necessary to have a PMP before becoming a PM.</p>
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I am aiming more towards construction engineering, then construction management although they are both under the same specialization in Civil Engineering at Madison so that's why I listed it the way I did. Sorry if that confused anyone.
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I would do a couple years of design, then go for an MSCE in CM before jumping into CM field. Some design experience will help in managing projects... just my 2 cents..</p>
Rubber stamping is illegal in every state I know.</p>
<p>You'd lose your license and probably face several thousand dollars in fines for that.
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Yes, I know that it is illegal.
It's just that I had one experience where this one CM made his employee sign a fabrication shop drawings right after our meeting although the guy didn't know anything about the project.</p>