Post-Baccalaureate Engineering Program

<p>I'm graduating this Spring with a liberal arts degree (English and history), but over the past several months I've been considering pursuing an alternate career path having to do with engineering and/or physics. I've been doing some digging on possible post-baccalaureate programs that enable me to make the switch, such as Boston U's LEAP, but I am curious if anyone could offer some alternatives/advice.</p>

<p>I'm hoping to find a program in California, and I think that I'd like to focus on Materials Engineering, which narrows the pool considerably. Cal Poly seems to offer a post-baccalaureate program, but their requirements for admission suggest I need to have a Bachelor's degree in a related field (as opposed to Boston U's program, which encourages people coming in from liberal arts). Does anyone here have experience with Cal Poly's program, or knowledge of any other post-baccalauereate engineering programs offered in California?</p>

<p>In the event that I don't pursue a post-baccalauereate program, what is the best way for me to pursue a Master's (and eventually a Doctorate) in Engineering? I'm coming from a background with only a handful of college mathematics/science courses. Is the best plan for me to pursue another Bachelor's, to take the requisite courses via an accredited community college and then apply, or something else entirely?</p>

<p>Any advice would be much appreciated. I noticed a thread discussing a similar topic, but it hasn't been updated in over four years, so I figured I'd reintroduce it. Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>In interested in the same. LEAP looked interesting, but I also want to look into other programs. Could you post here, or message me directly, if you find any information?</p>

<p>I think the LEAP program is very worthwhile. I phone interviewed someone impressive who did this program. Some other company scooped her up before I got the chance.</p>

<p>The best way for you to pursue and MS and possible PhD is to have the bachelors degree. Unfortunately, unless your undergraduate degree is a hard science and therefore somehow related to your engineering discipline, your prospects are grim. You simply won’t have the required background to understand anything going on in the graduate program</p>

<p>In California, one route is to attend a CC for the lower division courses (math, physics, introductory engineering courses), then transfer as a junior for a second bachelor’s degree to a university that accepts second bachelor’s degree candidates for engineering. However, it is likely that most of the universities are much more selective for second bachelor’s degree candidates than those without a bachelor’s degree.</p>

<p>UCs: [University</a> of California - Second baccalaureate](<a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors)</p>

<p>CSUs: [CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - Transfer Students - Seeking a Second Bachelor’s Degree](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>

<p>Private universities: see their web sites</p>

<p>California CC to UC and CSU course articulation: [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org)</p>