Hello,
I’m a junior (about to be a senior) majoring in civil engineering. I’ve taken some classes required for both mechanical and civil engineering majors at my university: thermodynamics, mechanics of solids, and fluid mechanics, and basic programming, to name a few. These classes have made me consider working as a mechanical engineer rather than civil, if that’s even possible. My question is, is it possible to go to graduate school in mechanical engineering with a BS in civil? And if so, can you work as a MechE given your history in CivE? I assume I would have to take some prerequisites, such as heat transfer, mechatronics, and other courses before I get into the nitty-gritty of grad courses. And unfortunately, it is too late for me to change my major in undergrad (can only do so before the end of your sophomore year).
What do y’all think about this? Is it possible to work as a mechanical engineer with a BS in CivE, and a MS in MechE? I’ve heard of people going to grad school (engineering, specifically) with a non-engineering bachelor’s degree. I’m pretty sure I want to continue my education after undergrad, rather than immediately going to work.
Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.
It is almost cetain that you would be able to change fields for grad school. Go have a discussion about this with the professors in the department that you would like to switch to. Find out what electives you should be taking now and what research activities you should participate in now so that you will be a good grad school applicant.
No only possible but expected. Employers who are looking for an MS engineer will be mainly interested in what you studied in your graduate program. I have a BSCE, worked a couple years, went back to my alma mater for a thesis MS in Engineering Mechanics and then a PhD at a different school in Theoretical & Applied Mechanics. The BS in CE never came up.
Thank you for your response! If you don’t mind me asking, were you glad that you took a couple of years to work before going back to school? Some people (who worked for a few years before going back to school) have told me that they struggled because they forgot how to study (although they eventually got the hang of it).
I was burned out by spring of senior year so I needed a break and, at that time, I didn’t have any idea what I would want to study. I did take a couple graduate level classes in CE while working so I guess that kept me in the studying habit. As I considered going back for an MS, I went back to campus to visit the Industrial Engineering department, but a chance visit with an Engineering Mechanics professor who knew me changed my mind. I’ve never regretted working for a while first.