<p>I already have a Bachelors Degree in Architecture and a Masters of Science in Architecture from an ivy league university but find the architecture profession an absolute bore and without a grand purpose. I pay close attention to the work being done at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and have realized the research conducted there is the type of work I want to contribute to the world. I want to help expand the collective knowledge of our place in the universe. Architecture simply is unable to provide this. What are some suggestions for how and where I could go back to school to one day pursue a career at JPL or a similar institution? Am I destined to start from scratch as an undergrad? Admissions officers have been of little help and I know only other architects.</p>
<p>I want to pursue this new career path because I love learning, I love mechanical things, and I love complex problems that at first seem insurmountable but through trial and error can be elegantly solved. I am eager to contribute to the world in a way that benefits future generations. Architecture doesn't quite embody those things for me.</p>
<p>I apologize if I have come off grumpy. I am just straight forward. Any advice is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I suggest you take a look at MS programs for MechE. I don’t really know whether they would take you or not, but it’s very possible (you will have to make up some classes) and it would get you a higher degree and save you time.</p>
<p>That is what I would prefer to do. Having looked around at MSME programs and their prerequisites I have found the list below from UPenn’s MSME program. It may or may not be the right school for what I am trying to do (I am pretty sure it is not) but I would like to think I will need to have taken these courses to even stand a chance being accepted anywhere.</p>
<p>Math 104 Calculus I
Math 114 Calculus II
Math 240 Calculus III
ENM 251 or MATH 241 Calculus IV
MEAM 110 (or PHYS 150) Intro to Mechanics</p>
<p>Course work in the following:
Thermodynamics
Solid Mechanics
Fluid Mechanics
Dynamics
Heat and Mass Transfer
Vibrations</p>
<p>I have only taken Calc I and have literally no related course work. Contrary to what most people think, going to school for architecture is just a bunch of talking about non-existent buildings and meaningless abstract ideas. There is hardly any math, although I consider myself rather adept at math. </p>
<p>I fear I will have to start from scratch as an undergrad taking the appropriate courses before I can apply to an MSME program.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>Taking a few calculus and intro physics classes is no big deal. Just go to a community college or something and take them there when you have the opening in your schedule. Calculus I+II+III, Physics I+II, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra you will probably have to take before you apply. CCs are pretty cheap though.</p>
<p>The major-related classes are a different story, but you might get some leeway there if you show you have an unrelated BS. Send an email to the admissions staff, they should be able to tell you what you have to do if you want to get through the program more quickly. A lot of schools have graduate classes that are basically accelerated versions of undergrad classes, which might help you get up to speed quickly.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your help.</p>
<p>In a typical undergrad education in engineering which of these courses are taken simultaneously?</p>
<p>Calc 1+ Physics 1, then Calc 2+ Physics 2. Calculus 3, differential Equations, and Linear Algebra typically get taken in separate sequential semesters.</p>
<p>Would it be overwhelming to take Calculus 3 and either Differential Equations or Linear Algebra at the same time? Or potentially even worse, all three in the same semester?</p>
<p>I know I may be getting a bit ahead of myself here, I am just trying to gather as much information as possible.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>As I recall, here’s how it works:
Calc I is a prereq for Physics 1, Linear Algebra, and Calc II
Calc II is a prereq for DiffEq and Calc III
Physics 1 is a prereq for Physics 2.</p>
<p>The fastest way to do this is something like:
Sem 1:
Calc I</p>
<p>Sem 2:
Calc II
Linear Algebra
Physics I</p>
<p>Sem 3:
Calc III
DiffEq
Physics II</p>
<p>Thanks NeoDymium, you are a wealth of information.</p>
<p>I luckily have a community college not far from me that offers all of these courses and application deadlines are still open.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Calc III is a prerequisite for DE. Seems like I’ll have to take a fourth semester of just DE.</p>
<p>I guess it just depends on the school. Might want to take an engineering mechanics course or something just to make the most of your time (that is, a statics+dynamics course)</p>
<p>DiffEq is by far the hardest course in the sequence though. Maybe taking it separately is for the best.</p>
<p>That’s probably a good idea. Are there any other courses you can suggest that would help make the most of my time? I am primarily interested in robotics, both their mechanical design and control systems. I’m sure an electrical engineering class wouldn’t hurt.</p>
<p>Hmm…</p>
<p>A C++ class wouldn’t hurt. Programming is a very useful skill to have and as far as classes go, this one really isn’t that hard.</p>
<p>The basic EE class is Circuits, which has DiffEq and Physics 2 as prereqs. Take that in graduate school if you really want to, but I personally think that unless you are into repetitive, memorization-heavy monotony, you would be well-served to stay as far away from electronics as you can. This is of course only an opinion, but EE in general is very heavy on monotony.</p>
<p>That’s a better idea. I already have extensive programming experience with VBScript and Python. Not as sophisticated as C++, but I do love programming. And I’m definitely not one for monotony.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>NeoDymium, I am not sure you will have the answer to this, or I may already have the answer, but is there a difference between Calculus I and Calculus & Analytical Geometry I? Judging by the course descriptions they sound identical.</p>
<p>They are identical.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say identical. Each school is different and might mess up your transfer plans. Take the class that is recommended for engineers. Will save you time when you try to transfer and the school wants to say thats not the right class. </p>
<p>In general take the class that follows the transfer pattern to schools in your area.</p>
<p>Calculus I and Calculus & Analytical Geometry are the same course. Some colleges just prefer to use the longer name. I’ve had my Calculus I, II, III credits transferred to a University that used the second name and it was a direct transfer.</p>
<p>I know and I also went to a school that used different names for Calculus. One is for math majors/engineering the other is for science majors (probably). It will be less of a hassle to pick the one geared for engineering as it is a direct transfer. </p>
<p>Petitioning for class credit from another school is such a hassle. Dont just pick one that suits you, follow the course catalog in what it says is the class to take.</p>