<p>i'm currently a sophomore student majoring in electronics engineering technology, but i want to switch to electrical engineering ,since i have being told that an engineering degree will pay off better in the future. while my professors keep telling to continue with my engineering technology degree and do my masters in an engineering degree. Will i still be able to measure up an an engineer in the future? or do i switch to electrical engineering before it's too late.
Which degree is more valued in the industry?</p>
<p>Engineering. Transitioning from engineering technology to engineering too far down the road is setting one’s self up for trouble.</p>
<p>I did the same thing: engineering tech to engineering proper; I went ahead and took the lumps before upper-division classes.</p>
<p>It really depends on what you want to do with your life. The technology degree will give you more hands-on work, typically as an advanced technician or field engineer, and is more resistant to outsourcing. The engineering degree will give you more design and theoretical work, pays better, and gives you more opportunities for advancement down the road, but involves harder coursework and a career that is easier to farm out to India.</p>
<p>As far as when to transition, I would heartily recommend doing it soon. If you are an engineer, many of the technology courses will be unnecessary, and you will be skipping over vital coursework especially important if you want to go on to grad school. For that matter, BSEET to MSEE is a hard transition, and not all schools even allow it - I was told that my alma mater (PSU) did not consider technology degrees to be adequate preparation for a masters unless there were unusual circumstances (like you had taken a bunch of the theory courses as well).</p>
<p>However, a BSEET does allow you to become a PE (should that be needed) and you can fill those engineering positions not requiring much design or theoretical understanding. The downside is that these are the positions that are less in demand and that do not pay as well.</p>