<p>I have a bachelors in physics, and I’ve been offered a place on a MS program in electrical engineering (at a university ranked just outside top 10, if that makes any difference). Since the MS is non-ABET, should I even accept the offer?? </p>
<p>One of the reasons why I applied for the MS in EE in the first place was so that I can get a more ‘marketable’ degree and open more doors…but will the MS really open more doors? Or will engineering companies throw out my CV simply because I don’t have that ABET BS degree?</p>
<p>Okay, I am going to say this one last thing. ABET doesn’t matter for an MS program. ABET only accredits BS programs. In other words, there is no such thing as an ABET-accredited MS or PhD program so no one is going to care if you have one of those degrees that isn’t ABET.</p>
Interesting, because here you said this on the first page:
</p>
<p>Are you therefore implying that a master’s degree in engineering without an ABET-accredited engineering bachelors is useless altogether (unless it is biomedical or CS)?</p>
<p>What I think Boneh3ad is saying and what a couple of others are saying is that unless you need the P.E. then doing the B.S. Math/Science-to-M.S. Engineering route will NOT hurt you IF you are in an engineering specialty that does not need P.E. Licensing.</p>
<p>Example:
Let’s say you completed a B.S. in Applied Physics and you specialization is electromagnetic theory. You work a few years in EM and decide to get a masters in EE. Since most Physics majors in EM have taken the circuit courses of EE and probably the signal courses too, you probably could get admitted to a graduate EE program with EM as the specialty/track. As for the EM industry, THEY WILL NOT CARE that your B.S. was in Physics. EE’s correct me if I am wrong but you don’t need a P.E. license for EM work (well at least not in defense).</p>
<p>As long as your job doesn’t require a PE, the hiring company is going to weight your highest degree the most. Getting a graduate degree in something typically implies that you know the basics of that field regardless of your undergrad.</p>
<p>I’m a little late but I think, although you guys have been very helpful to everyone who may read this, you are a bit off. First, ABET accreditation for physics, and probably math, does not exist even for bachelors degrees. Second, you do not need ABET accreditation to get a PE, at least not everywhere. I have not found an area that requires it. To acquire a PE license in four years, yes you need ABET accreditation according to my research. Sadly it seems that it may take seven years under a PE licensed engineer to qualify for a PE license if you do not have an ABET accredited ENGINEERING degree. The four year requirement that I have read about applies only to engineering degrees anyway so a BS in physics would require a seven year period regardless of any sort of accrediting society, of which I have only found one that extends solely to the UK and Ireland. (the IOP)</p>
<p>P.S. I am in all senses fallible, so please correct me if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>Upon further research, the amount of time logged under a licensed PE varies a bit but I still see no need to even be degreed in some regions to get a PE license. Keep in mind that it requires something on the order of 12 years experience to qualify to take the PE exam without the educational requirements in those areas. </p>
<p>P.S. Please do not check this on wikipedia. Go to the state or governing body’s website concerning the matter for the applicable area. The wikipedia page is horribly wrong in that it omits all the alternative options to get a PE license. ABET accreditation really doesn’t seen to mean that much. It simply provides a quick route to a PE license from what I can tell.</p>
<p>EE here. I have a PhD, but no PE. I do fine. </p>
<p>You can certainly get hired with a MSEE after a BS in Physics in many different areas of EE as long as you’re good. Especially if you do an impressive thesis and can talk about it.</p>
<p>I’d like to hear more about why a ME graduate does not need to pass the PE exam. I tried to search a bit and the only thing I found noteworthy is that a ME grad may not need a PE license as long as they are working under someone who does.</p>
<p>So at my son’s school (he is an ME major) they of course told them need to take the exam in order to work as an engineer. But it isn’t clear to me then why they would be told that if they really don’t need to.</p>
<p>This is from NCSU website (which is not my son’s school)</p>
<p>Why Become a Professional Engineer?
Being licensed as a Professional Engineer is an important distinction and can enhance your career options. Many engineering jobs require a PE license to work as an engineering consultant or senior engineer, testify as an expert witness, conduct patent work, work in public safety, or advertise to provide engineering services. Although you may never need to be registered for legal reasons, you may find that you need to be a PE to be eligible for engineering management positions.</p>
<p>On the average, PE’s make significantly more money than unlicensed engineers. Even if your first job does not require a PE license, you may need it later in your career. In today’s economic environment, it pays to be in a position to move to new jobs and compete with others who have a PE license or are on a professional engineering track. It is also highly unlikely that a job requiring a PE license will be outsourced overseas.</p>