Hello,
So I attend Penn State University and just finished my sophomore year and i am leaning towards the architectural engineering route. Now its hard for me because I also like mechanical engineering. Just wondering, If i obtained a bachelors in Arch E, would a Masters in ME be possible in about 2 years. I know it would be harder for some engineering degrees to get masters in opposing ones. Such as a software/electrical engineering getting a masters in like civil or mechanical. I know for sure I will get a masters in engineering because it opens many door. Id like to get a masters in mechanical so i could expand my career path also. Just wondering what my possibilities are. Thank You.
If you compare the undergraduate curriculum between architectural engineering and ME at Penn State, you’ll notice that they don’t share many classes, after your sophomore year. They are two very different disciplines. Architectural engineering has much more in common with Civil than mechanical.
You would only want a master’s in Mechanical, if you DID NOT want to work in the architectural engineering field. If that’s the case, don’t bother to earn your BS in architectural engineering.
If you do want to work in the architectural engineering field and want to “expand” your career options, look at options to add minors or certificates that support a career architectural engineering. I know, for example, that Penn state offers a Residential Construction minor. Talk with some other, more senior architectural engineering majors, I’m sure they can give you a lot of feedback.
If you want to go to grad school, after earning your BS, look at a program that would build on your architectural engineering degree. A master’s program in architectural engineering or similar field. Of course, grad school can still be an option to move into a different career field. For example, going to law school. However, I don’t think a mechanical engineering master’s program would make a lot of sense.
What would be some relatable engineering majors to mechanical?
My kid is completing a bachelors in architectural engineering with a masters in structural engineering. That’s a common combination. I think construction management is common as well. I haven’t heard that’s it’s common to get a masters in mechanical with undergrad in architectural. Architectural engineering is multidisciplinary and focuses on all the systems in buildings. Her internships before she added the structural masters were focused on electrical systems. She’s had a lot of coursework in fire protection, security, hvac, and of course electrical and structural systems, etc. There’s mechanical engineering in there, but it’s specific to buildings. she’s taken some classes with mechanical engineers but I don’t know how many. you can head in a lot of different directions with architectural engineering, but if you really like mechanical, it’s fine to focus on that for your undergraduate degree and it will give you plenty of options.
It’s not really clear what you’re asking, but I think I get it. You want to broaden your marketability.
If that’s the case, right out of the gate, I’d caution you just as @Gator88NE has. By adding extraneous breadth, you compromise depth. Your resume will look like you have been distracted. Additional disciplines will certainly broaden the number of positions you can apply for. Once in that applicant pool however, you’ll be at a distinct disadvantage relative to all the applicants that poured themselves deeply into a single field.
Why not simply ME for ME’s sake? It’s a crazy broad field. Just deciding what you like within Mechanical Engineering can be challenging enough.
Once you determine what really interests you, you can branch out from ME, if you so desire. It is most common to simply get a ME MS, but an Aerospace MS after a ME BS is a very logical path. I would think Materials and Industrial could be among the possibilities too. Certainly there are others.
Your biggest task is to determine if you want to be an Arch E or an ME.