<p>Does anyone have experience with getting a second bachelor's in engineering, specifically environmental? Are there any specific colleges that support students with a second B.S., or that would allow them to apply as a transfer? After looking through many forums, I can see that many people have a negative view of a second degree. I also held this same opinion until I spoke with engineering department heads from several universities, who informed me that even if I got an M.S. in engineering, I could never get my Professional Engineer license without a B.S. in engineering. If you skip a B.S., you miss out of the fundamentals of engineering exam, which in turn allows you to get an EIT (engineer in training certification). Many jobs require both of these. In addition, many top master's programs don't accept student without an undergraduate engineering degree. If they do, you have to take many calculus, physics, chemistry, and engineering courses that get you close to a B.S. anyway. My particular problem is that I got my B.S. in biology, so I have taken most of the prerequisites and I do not want to take them over. At most colleges, you cannot use any courses from your first degree towards the second. If anyone could share any information/experience they have, I would be really grateful. Also, in case this helps anyone, each state has a professional engineer licensing board that dictates what qualifications you need to become a licensed engineer. I looked at nearly all of the states, and almost none of them will allow you to get a PE license without an undergraduate degree in engineering. An M.S. is not enough, which does make sense because a B.S. is roughly 130 credits, whereas a M.S. is 30. </p>
<p>this very topic has been addressed since yesterday on this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“Second Bachelors in Engineering - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Second Bachelors in Engineering - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
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I don’t know who is telling you this, but I suspect it is completely wrong. I now someone who got a 2nd degree from a UC school and every applicable course from the 1st degree counted towards the 2nd.
On this, perhaps, perhaps not. Some colleges (for example the UC system) have different tracks for classes like calculus, physics, etc. There is a “life science” series, and a harder series for engineers and some other majors. If you didn’t take the one suitable for engineers…
That sounds a little strange, but in any event you could ask any MS programs you consider whether they would give you a BS and MS. This is common in the PhD world; those getting a PhD are often awarded a Masters when they finish their studies or even along the way to the PhD.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice. You are absolutely right about the different tracks. For universities that don’t have these specific tracks, they have told me they are more lenient and as long as they are university level and you took labs separately, they will accept them. Some of the smaller schools, Northern AZ and Humboldt (good environmental eng. programs), actually told me that I could not use anything that counted towards my first degree. I completely agree that sounds insane, but it is true. Yes, I was skeptical that an M.S. was not sufficient, but I looked at the state PE boards and they back up what I was told. In addition, after talking with some engineers, a person who skipped an engineering B.S. is kind of looked down upon in the professional world. I know that you can get jobs without PE and EIT certificates, but I have to admit that if I were an employer, I would want the person with the entire engineering degree and licenses. It just seems like you are hurting yourself for the rest of your career to spare yourself about two extra years of schooling. These same professors did tell me that a Ph.D. would allow anyone to get PE license. Also, in case anyone is in the same situation, there are many universities with an accelerated B.S./M.S. that will allow you to take some graduate courses as part of your technical elective and make getting both degrees more reasonable.</p>