I apologize if this should be in “Majors/Engineering” instead. It’s about which discipline of engineering within Grad school, and I needed to choose one forum.
I am almost halfway to my (course-based) master’s degree in an online course of study, and I am in my mid-30s. My courses include 4 classes related to fluids and thermodynamics, 2 FEA courses, and 4 courses on product design, such as design for manufacture or concurrent engineering. I started out thinking I would get a degree in aerospace engineering with a focus on propulsion, as it would be an application of the thermodynamics and fluids that interest me, but I have since found out that most propulsion-specific courses are only offered on-campus in another state. This course plan will satisfy the requirements for a MS in either aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering, as my school has a combined department for the two. Regardless of what the degree is called, these courses are a good fit to my experience, interest, and career goals.
I am wrestling now with whether there is enough in my 10 courses to make it particularly aerospace, rather than only mechanical. I worry that an employer would look at my degree, look at what I studied, and think there is a disconnect or that I don’t know the difference between the two. I liked the sound of a degree in aerospace engineering, but feels harder now to defend calling it that, now that propulsion is not in the picture. I am wondering whether to trade the “prestige” of an aerospace degree for the clarity of calling it a mechanical engineering degree. I will take the same courses, but I am trying to figure out which degree will help most in getting future job opportunities.
So to sum up, does a course of study with 4 fluids and thermo courses, 2 FEA courses, and 4 product design courses sound like aerospace engineering (MSAE), or does it sound like it should be mechanical engineering (MSME) instead?
Whatever it sounds like, if your university awards it to you then it is clearly sufficient for them. More important is the question of what will be the best for your career. You don’t need a degree that says aerospace to be able to get a job in the industry. Conversely, the degree in aerospace should not be too limiting for jobs outside of that field, particularly if your undergraduate degree was in mechanical engineering.