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It may have something to do with the fact that if you don’t have an engineering degree, your chances of getting a job in industry as a pure science or math graduate is very slim? Just ask physics graduate students the same thing, and you’ll probably end up with similar results.</p>
<p>40-50 years ago, they could have expected to find jobs easily in industry. Now, with the advent of the parasitic HR department and this obsession by companies for applicants with engineering degrees, they have a much better chance becoming a tenured professor than finding employment in industry. I should know, I along with many of my close friends have had this experience with employers in industry.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, for most scientists and mathematicians, academia is their only hope for a chance at decent employment.</p>