Career Options

<p>Can someone either explain or point me in the direction of threads that outline the BS in Engineering/MBA path that many people choose to take? I was just wondering how a career unfolds as a crossover between business and engineering (or do you choose one or the other but not both?).</p>

<p>Engineers do an MBA because they do not want to be working as engineers there whole life, rather their goal is to manage an egineering company or group of engineers.</p>

<p>A masters in engineering is good if you want to teach engineering or be envolved in very complex type of engineering work.</p>

<p>A MBA is a business management degree and is typically earned in hopes of entering/continuing into management, finance or any business sector. </p>

<p>For business majors, it might just be the typical requirement to rise the ranks in a consulting or ibanking firms. In other industries, the MBA might help someone shift away from technical skills and more into management or to enter the finance/business sector--a MBA from a top rated program opens up the Associate path at Ibanking/consulting firms.</p>

<p>In the scope of engineering, I feel that a B.S then MBA (not together!) track will groom a rising engineer into a management position and ultimately an exectuive position. Though, is it important to note that an MBA is by no means a requirement and in most engineering industries, experience and leadership count more. </p>

<p>In my experience, engineering managers do retain technical skills and knowhow but are more involved in project planning/budgets rather than engineering calculations. I'm not saying that managers in engineering are random MBA goofs but instead former engineers who have the experience to make key decisions based on their subordinates. You won't have to "choose" between being technical or a manager specifically but as you move up the ranks, managers are more concerned with project planning rather than engineering.</p>

<p>okay, I think I get it...thx for the reply</p>

<p>Can you manage an engineering company or a group of engineers without an MBA (just a BS in EE/M E/other engineering disciplines)?</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>I looked online via google finance at some companies (Chevron, Exxon, GE, National Instruments and etc) and the CEOs held degrees that varied from just a B.S to a PhD.</p>