<p>I am in the middle of a Physics Phd program now. I took a year off for a leave of absence to work as a programmer, but found out that I don't have a passion for it. Although I no longer want the PhD, I can re-enter the program to get the Masters. I want to eventually work as a materials or electrical engineer. </p>
<p>The downside is that to obtain the Masters, I have to work on a thesis for at least 2 semesters. I really just want to get the degree and get out asap. If I do the MS in EE or MatSci, I don't have to do a thesis. However, I will get funding in the Physics program and can enter in Fall 2014. For EE or MatSci, I can't start until Fall 2015 and won't get funding.</p>
<p>If you guys recommend I do the MS in engineering instead of Physics, what could I possibly do until I'm admitted? With my lack of engineering courses or skills, I'd imagine it would be almost impossible to get a job or internship in EE or MatSci now. Since its fairly easy for me to get interviews for programmer jobs, should I just work as a programmer until the MS in engineering program starts?</p>
<p>I think you answered your question with your last question. Yes, do that, save as much as you can to support yourself through the EE program. Just my opinion but it seems like the most responsible choice if you truly don’t wan’t to go the Physics route.</p>
<p>Don’t spend time on a thesis when you need a professional masters degree. Perhaps you can find a program which will let you transfer in some of your physics coursework and reduce the time to degree. You have a bit of time to find such a program while you are working as a programmer.</p>
<p>I work for a research organization, and the majors we recruit are engineering, physics, CS, and applied math. If you want to work in industry, however, the engineering major will be more widely recruited.</p>
<p>If I can get jobs that are strictly modeling/simulation without hands-on work (like maybe CFD or computational materials science/molecular dynamics/DFT jobs) with the MS in Physics, then I guess it makes sense to return. But is that possible? I’ve heard that those jobs require a phd. Is that true?</p>
<p>That depends on what you want to do with modeling and computations. You don’t need an advanced degree to basically just mesh up a geometry operate the software, but you generally find you are trying to develop new codes.</p>
<p>It certainly helps to have a background in the field though in terms of interpreting results and preventing cases of garbage in, garbage out.</p>