MechE vs MechE Technology

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I've recently been looking at Purdue, and one of the programs that caught my eye was Mechanical Engineering Technology. Does anyone have any insight on this (or any of the "technology") programs versus regular engineering?</p>

<p>They claim the technology degree is more hands on, and more about implementation than theoretical stuff. Of course, that's the College of Technology staff talking, and I'm sure students of the College of Engineering might say differently. Also, the MechE Tech degree is a lot less math than the MechE degree. </p>

<p>So would you guys recommend this program? I doubt I'd get in to Purdue's Engineering program, so is this a good alternative if you still would like to design and create? I'd love to work in the Automotive industry or for an Aeronautical type company (Lockheed, Boeing).</p>

2

<p>If you can get a ME it is regarded higher in the workplace but if you can’t get into the ME program that a MET is the next best thing.</p>

3

<p>What’s the real difference in the day-to-day job between the two? That’s the main thing I’m asking, I guess.</p>

4

<p>I don’t know for sure but I would guess that MET would get you a more technician type role, your duties would be much more hands on and less theoretical. The pay would generally be lower though.</p>

5

<p>In my brief experience, the engineers were the ones who wrote and implemented procedures while the technicians collected, inputted and analyzed data.</p>

6

<p>OP: A technology degree best prepares you to work either as an “advanced” technician or as an engineer working in areas like test, integration, manufacturing, or field engineering. You get less theory, which means you are not generally as well prepared for either graduate study or for design work, and this means you are often not eligible for the highest-paying engineering positions.</p>

<p>However, by taking coursework above and beyond the MET minimum, you can overcome at least some of these deficits, and after a few solid years in industry you might be eligible for ANY engineering job.</p>

<p>So a typical, no-experience, technology degree graduate will go to work in a lab or factory providing supervision (nominal, at first) and/or technical expertise to the processes of manufacturing, testing, installing, or repairing equipment. You will spend relatively little time at a desk or in meetings compared to a straight engineering graduate.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the insight everybody, I appreciate it! </p>

<p>Would you say a MechE Tech has a good chance of getting a job for an automotive company? Or is that all dependent on different factors?</p>

8

<p>What type of work at the automotive company?</p>

9

<p>Design, testing, R+D? I’d like to be “hands on” in designing or testing different builds/bodies.</p>

10

<p>Definitely testing, but design and R&D would be more for an ME.</p>

11

<p>I agree with ulianjay. You might be in charge of implementing a test designed by an engineer. But as far as design and R&D, I would imagine you wouldn’t play a very active role in either of those two areas. In fact, even with a BS in MechE, you might not play a very active role in R&D.</p>

12

<p>[ABET</a> - Engineering vs. Engineering Technology](<a href=“http://www.abet.org/engineering-vs-engineering-technology/]ABET”>http://www.abet.org/engineering-vs-engineering-technology/)</p>

13

<p>[Architecture</a> and Engineering Occupations : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm]Architecture”>http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/home.htm)</p>

14

<p>Here is another comparison:</p>

<p>[Engineering</a> vs. Engineering Tech](<a href=“http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/majors/engineering-tech-or-engineering]Engineering”>http://www.rit.edu/emcs/admissions/academics/majors/engineering-tech-or-engineering)</p>

15

<p>Thanks for the help everyone. I’ve also considered applying to Purdue’s First Year Engineering program, but I doubt I’d get in due to my low ACT math score and the fact that I haven’t taken physics, even though I’m in-state.</p>

16

<p>If money is not an issue check out Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, MI. Back in my days in Detroit they placed lots of people in the auto industry.</p>

<p>The general question is what it takes to get into design or R&D, from what I remember the auto industry suffers from Big10-ism, and the schools that are over-represented are the usual Big 10 powerhouses in engineering (Purdue, UIUC, OSU, and of course U of M). Also the university that was once part of General Motors in Flint, GMI, now changed to something else, I’m not sure they’re part of GM any more. </p>

<p>How about other in-state Mechanical Engineering schools then a graduate program in a Big 10?</p>

17

<p>GMI is now Kettering University.</p>