<p>Seeing as one cannot become a PE with a master's degree, only bachelors degree in engineering qualifies. So, what is the point of doing an engineering masters if you'll have a very difficult time finding a job? And even if you get really luck and do find a job, you'll have a real PE sign off on all your projects.</p>
<p>So, isn't it generally pointless to do an engineering masters after a physics bachelors? Why do they even allow non-engineering students into these programs, knowing full well they will never be allowed to practice as PE's?</p>
True for ChemE and CompE, but for mechE, EE, and CivE a PE or an engineering bachelors is needed if one ever wants to find a job and actually move up. So, why not just accept students with no engineering backgrounds into ChemE and compE masters programs, but only reserve mechE and EE programs for students with engineering bachelors? As in the industry, most employers in both disciplines will not hire anyone without an engineering bachelors degree, knowing full well that they will never be able to be eligible for the PE license, so instead hire a fresh grad with an engineering bachelors.</p>
<p>I can understand Civil and Mechanical Engineering needing PE’s. An EE who specializes in signals and electromagnetics can work in the defense industry without a PE license.</p>
<p>I do agree that the educational portion of the PE qualification should include those with M.S./M.Eng degrees also.</p>
What if one wants to work in the industry or manage projects at some point in their career? I would imagine that most people would get tired of being treated as a fresh engineering grad for the rest of their careers, and would at least enjoy some seniority after several years of working. Even so, you will still have a PE sign off on all of your projects, despite the fact that you are much more educated and hence more competent than they are if they only have a bachelors. </p>
<p>
Yes, unfortunately however, that will never happen. I doubt the government will ever change the stringent licensing requirement of a bachelors degree in engineering.</p>
<p>I work in the defense/INTEL sector and don’t recall any of the EE’s or lead EE’s having a PE license. These high-level engineers still give top-level guidance and direction of multiple projects and/or programs as it relates to signal analysis, etc. Now I cannot speak on ME’s and Civil-E’s because I do not come in contact with too many of those engineers. Let me take that back, some Civil-E’s are specialists on Geographic Information Systems, so I would work with some of those and I know they are not PE licensed. I guess my overall point is that it depends on the specialty and industry niche to determine if the PE License plays a role in advancement.</p>
<p>Y’know, I just thought of something. B.S. Engineering degrees are ABET accredited and most M.S. degrees in Engineering are not. That may be the reason why the B.S. degree is required and not the M.S./M.Eng.</p>
<p>The problem is, I am more interested in mechanical at the moment, and hence would like to practice as one after earning a master’s degree. Would you say it is a better idea to just do another bachelors degree after my physics one in mechanical engineering? At least then, I would be able to qualify for a PE license.</p>
<p>In general, a PE is unofficially “required” for civil engineers, but for everyone else it isn’t. Trust me, you don’t need a PE to be a mechanical engineer. ME is probably the field where a PE is second most useful (after civil) but it is still a relatively small percentage of ME’s who actually get it because for most jobs it isn’t necessary. Same for EE, except a PE is worth even less.</p>
<p>Seriously though, the PE isn’t necessary. I think only like a third of my graduating class for ME even took the exam.</p>
<p>So an EE major graduating without an ABET degree or PE license will still have lots of lucrative and fulfilling career options? Could you give some examples?</p>
<p>First, you can’t get a PE without ABET. Second, Without ABET you will have a tough time finding the great jobs. Without a PE no one will care. Go to Intel’s job site and see how many have to do with a PE license. I bet it will be ~0.</p>
Doesn’t that just reinforce my point? Since M.S degrees are not ABET accredited, then they will have a tough time finding a job? Wouldn’t it be a better move to just get a physics masters and try to market myself?</p>
<p>^ So, for example, Dartmouth’s BA in engineering (non-ABET) would be pointless for going into EE or ME? Their grads with this degree will suffer?</p>
<p>Some industries won’t care, but the lack of accreditation will raise red flags for sure. There is no guarantee that you would have learned what you are expected to have learned.</p>
<p>On a semi-related note, as a prospective science or engineering student, is a physics/chemistry undergrad at a liberal arts college going to allow me flexibility in selecting a graduate program likely to be in engineering? </p>
<p>More specifically, Macalester vs U of Minnesota.</p>
<p>Getting into a graduate engineering program with a science or math degree depends on two main things:</p>
<p>1) The school that you select for the graduate engineering program…and
2) Does you undergraduate major allow you to take the graduate engineering program without too many deficiencies.</p>
<p>For example, a physics major who specializes in either circuits or electromagnetics could go into a graduate EE program. An undergraduate applied or computational math major could easily get admitted to a graduate computer science program because of common “core CS” courses.</p>
<p>Your graduate school selection will also play a role. Some schools are sticklers about having a ABET-accredited undergraduate degree while some schools will admit math and science majors.</p>
<p>Well, if you ask me, while it is possible to do this, it does usually put you at at least a slight disadvantage not only getting in but also once you get in. In my opinion, you have to have a pretty good reason to go to a liberal arts school that doesn’t teach engineering as opposed to a true engineering program if your goal is engineering.</p>