<p>Is it worth it to get a masters degree in an engineering field or is it not worth it?</p>
<p>It would be easier for people to help you if you told them a bit more specifically what fields you were talking about.</p>
<p>Sure thing.</p>
<p>Mechanical, Civil, or Electrical.</p>
<p>You have to be more specific than that. There are variations even within a major. For example, in civil engineering, if you want to be a structural engineer, grad school is a must. For the other concentrations within civil engineering, it is potentially helpful, but not always. I'm getting a master's degree because I felt taking a few extra courses in my concentration would be beneficial considering that I only took one during my undergrad (there was only one offered). </p>
<p>It also depends on what you expect to get out of a MS. Knowledge? Then yes. Higher salary? Probably, but will it be enough to offset the cost of tuition. Maybe. It depends.</p>
<p>Based on you not knowing what major you'll pursue, I'm assuming you're in high school or are a freshman. Either way, it's way too early to determine if you want to do it or not. I decided late in my junior year to get a MS, and was also considering working a few years before going back to do my MS part-time.</p>
<p>It's definitely better. You should really try and do it right after your Bachelor's if it's possible.</p>
<p>Well, ken285 pointed that the increase in salary may not offset the tuition costs and foregone salary, so doing it right away may not be the best choice. Some companies sponsor their employees to get additional education, so that may be something to consider.</p>
<p>I wouldn't delve into a Masters program right after getting a Bachelors unless you really know what you want to do, or have some other desire to focus your knowledge. I am an Engineering Physics major, basically an applied physics degree, so I can see myself pursuing a Masters at some point to focus more on whatever field of engineering I find myself most interested. Not right after graduation though since I have no idea how I want to focus yet and seeing an industrial application will hopefully allow me to decide what it is that I want to study. </p>
<p>If you an ME then there are plenty of opportunities simply based on your major, so I would work and then either use an employee education program (why pay for it if your employer will help?) or pay for it yourself, but then use it to focus your knowledge, hopefully directing you or making you more attractive in whatever industry/job you are seeking.</p>
<p>Even still, if you can get an all expenses paid graduate program and have an idea of what you want to study then it is certainly something to consider.</p>
<p>How do you get recommendations for a degree after having worked for some years? Do grad schools treat employer/boss recommendations as they treat faculty recommendations?</p>
<p>Talk to professors who you would want recommending you as you finish undergrad and let them know you may need them in the future for grad school. 1 maybe 2 employee recs are ok for grad school adcoms, but at least 1 really should be from a professor. </p>
<p>Agree with the points everyone else is making about knowing why you want to go to grad school, but I should point out that if you do a research thesis, you will generally get tuition paid + a stipend from the school while doing MS. This is very common in engineering - it does take longer than a pure classwork MS(1.5 -2 years as opposed to 1) but with some MS projects you can finish in year or 1 year + the following summer.</p>
<p>If you are absolutely sure that you want to get your MS right after undergrad, consider doing summer research with professors. This can turn into a forth year project, which then turns into the basis of your master's thesis.</p>
<p>The bad thing about not doing your graduate studies immediately after your bachelor's is that it's going to be a tougher transition. After having worked for a few years, you'll have more responsibilities, which won't go away when you're taking classes part-time. So you'll have to be able to balance a 40-50 hour work week in addition to one or two classes. It's definitely not the best option for everyone, but it is for some.</p>
<p>
[quote]
For example, in civil engineering, if you want to be a structural engineer, grad school is a must. For the other concentrations within civil engineering, it is potentially helpful, but not always.
[/quote]
Most civil engineers will need a PE license to advance in their careers. There is currently movement towards requiring the MS degree (or equivalent coursework) as a pre-requisite for the PE license. The "MS as first professional degree" concept has been endorsed by ASCE and by NCEES (the national organization of state licensing boards). </p>
<p>The NCEES "model law" for state engineering boards has set a goal of 2015 for states to adopt the MS degree as a PE licensing pre-requisite. This may or may not actually happen nationwide (in most cases, it will take an act of the state legislature to amend existing state laws). However, the MS degree willl likely become a formal requirement for PE licensure in at least some states.</p>
<p>It typically takes 4 years to get a civil engineering BS, then it typically takes 4 years of professional experience to qualify for the PE exam. So if you are starting school now in civil engineering, you should be thinking about possible PE licensure requirements in 2015. It's obviously impossible to predict how your state laws may change in the next few years, but there's a good chance that the MS degree will turn out to be a smart investment for anyone in the civil field.</p>
<p>It depends. If you're a degree freak who really care about others looking at you by a degree, then you should get a master. But keep in mind that it doesn't necessary help you make more money than someone with a bachelor. </p>
<p>masters usually make $70sk / year right out of school and bachelors make $50sk/year. But if you're lucky, you might make $60k with a bachelor degree. Then during the 2 years, you will get a raise and might make $70k anyway (plus around $120,000 for the past 2 years). Whereas with a master degree, you might come out making the same thing $70k but you made nothing the past 2 years and owe $50k of tuition. Then it might not worth it. </p>
<p>But in general if you get into a good top school with some money, you should do a master.</p>
<p>If you're doing a 2 years engineering masters you most definitely should not lose $50K. If you do a non-thesis masters you should be done in one year, 1.5 max. If you do research, you will be paid for your 2 years, probably around $20k a year. Then again, a masters alone probably won't justify a $20K pay raise. I think the agreed upon benefit is MS typically advance faster than BS, assuming the MS was on work related to what you're doing for the company. So again, if you're unfocused or unsure what you want to do, a MS right away will probably not be the best option.</p>
<p>What about combined BS/MS programs?</p>
<p>I don't think there's a difference. Combined programs take an extra year anyway, during which you can complete a coursework master's.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Most civil engineers will need a PE license to advance in their careers. There is currently movement towards requiring the MS degree (or equivalent coursework) as a pre-requisite for the PE license. The "MS as first professional degree" concept has been endorsed by ASCE and by NCEES (the national organization of state licensing boards).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>To clarify on what I said, I was not talking about the future, but rather not the present. I spoke with Simpson, Gumpertz, and Heger, which is a well-respected structural engineering firm a few years back at a career fair, and they said flat out they would not hire anybody for a structural engineering position without a MS degree. Four years is simply not enough for this concentration, regardless of licensure requirements.</p>
<p>Perhaps it's best to get the masters after receiving the BS. As you leave college (with BS or MS), you'll have the best opportunity you will ever have to interview for a top job; recruiters will come to you on campus to view 'the pool' and you'll be able to view many offerings at once.</p>
<p>Once in the work force with a BS, you may be required to travel, work odd hours, work overtime (and maybe LOTS of overtime). Studying for an MS may not be easy, or even possible. You must offset this risk against the employee tuition reimbursement programs that exist now, but may not when your time comes.</p>
<p>If you're employed with a BS when you receive an MS, you may have to interview, and subsequently quit your current job, for a real improvement in pay and responsibility. Employers don't necessarily correlate the fact that you have received your MS with a new you, capable of new things and worth more than the standard raise. A new employer will give you a fresh look. Generally, based on my experience, obtaining a MS while employed only helps if the employer's priorities mesh with promoting you at that time. There's some luck involved with making a part time masters pay off at your current employer.</p>
<p>Generally, a MS will help you at interview time, and will gain you higher pay, but once employed it won't matter anywhere near as much as your skills and track record.</p>
<p>My husband and I have BS degrees, and have no regrets about not having obtained MS degrees. In fact, in today's 'cheaper is better' job market, a masters can be viewed as a liability - not at interview time, when they'll hire masters if they want them, but later, when the payroll begins to look top heavy.</p>
<p>Comments?</p>
<p>I agree with you treetopleaf. One of the reasons I decided to continue with a MS immediately after bachelors was that I felt it will be tough to balance work responsibilities, which may require 50+ hours a week in addition to courses. Factor in commute time, and it'll be nearly impossible, even with great time management skills.</p>
<p>As for an MS being a liability, that may be a concern, but you really have to look at each situation separately. How is the long term outlook in your industry? Are there any licensing requirements in terms of education, either presently or possibly in the future? Does the material you learn during your MS studies give you skills or knowledge that you otherwise wouldn't have? If you're going to do your MS as some place other than where you did your bachelor's, do the new networking opportunities help you? Each person's case has to be looked at separately, so it's hard to generalize that a MS is or isn't a liability.</p>
<p>A lot of companies say they don't hire BS for structural engineering, but when they have positions they cannot fill with masters students, they do look at the BS resumes. This happened to me and a couple people I know when we came out of undergrad--we all got offers from companies that say they don't like to hire structural engineers without a MS. Given the job market today, I think BS candidate should be able to get jobs without a problem, though the pay maybe lower.</p>