<p>Looking to go back to school for a second bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. I currently have a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering with focus on electrical power engineering; however, want to work in the field of automotive engineering and design electric cars or performance cars such as the Tesla Roadster or Dodge Viper.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it's been years since I've graduated, and I haven't done much electrical engineering as a career. I've worked as a contractor and pulled low voltage wire installing distributed audio systems, hung flat panel TV's/projectors, and installed home theater systems including pre-wiring and construction. One thing led to another and I got into the home automation world of home theater, so I started learning programming of home automation systems and this is where my engineering background became useful.</p>
<p>I'm going to be 26 soon, and want to go back to school for Mechanical Engineering, but don't know where to start. Not sure if any of my credits from my BSEE would transfer over to a Mechanical Engineering degree, as I have all the prerequisites from 1st year Physics/Calc so I don't want to take those courses over again if possible. For example, the Physics courses (went up to E&M) and Calculus courses (up to Differential Eq's) should count towards a Mechanical Engineering degree, I'd hope.</p>
<p>Just looked at my transcript and I have the following ME related courses - </p>
<p>Physics A, B, C</p>
<p>Calculus, I, II, III (Multivariable), IV (Differential Equations), plus Linear Algebra</p>
<p>Electromagnetics and Transmission Lines
Electrical Power Systems
Electromechanical Energy Converters</p>
<p>Which of the above would apply to a ME major and which courses would I have to take in a ME department? The power systems course covered motors and generators, so I’d think there is a similar ME equivalent.</p>
<p>The rest of the courses such as DSP, Signals, Embedded Systems, etc. I know would not apply.</p>
<p>My guess is there may be a couple that can transfer, but I doubt there is any way for anyone here to know for sure. Call the schools that you are interested in attending and ask them. There is nothing like getting it right from the horse’s mouth. Besides if you have more than one school in mind, transfer credits could be the determining factor.</p>
<p>Thanks. I’m basically trying to avoid “repeat” courses while completing a Bachelor’s of Mechanical Engineering, so that I can eventually go for a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering which I don’t think I can go for right now because I don’t have the prerequisite courses (somebody correct me if I’m wrong).</p>
<p>If there is any way to study a Master’s in ME without having a Bachelor’s in ME, I’m all ears. Always thought that a Master’s was more specialized and you must have the Bachelor’s first, which gives the prerequisite courses necessary.</p>
<p>Yes there is a way. Just contact the department of the university that you are looking at. Find the focus area you are interested in and then see what background pre-reqs you need to start the program. I know that is possible here at NC State for the MSEE and the MSIE so I assume that it is more than likely possible for a MSME (I just haven’t checked). I definitely wouldn’t waste time on a 2nd B.Eng when you already have an engineering degree to start with. Most people that get a 2nd BS in engineering normally don’t have an engineering degree to start with, like me, but even I was able to squeeze into a Masters. I still had to do all the pre-reqs first though, which took a while (1.5 yrs pre-reqs, and now 1.5 years for MS). But more than likely you will not have to take the amount of pre-reqs that I did.</p>
<p>So if a Master’s in ME is possible without having a Bachelor’s in ME, would this be a disadvantage when applying for jobs? I’d think some employers would question why you have a Bachelor’s in EE but a Master’s in ME; i.e. why the change over?</p>
<p>You may have trouble transferring credits. Some schools have prohibitions against using credits for one degree towards a second degree as well. You are not looking at a double major, you are looking at two distinct degrees, and they may not allow you to use credits towards the BSME. Meaning you would be starting from scratch.</p>
<p>Getting into a masters program does not require an undergrad in the same field. Masters degrees are very narrow and usually only need a specific chain of courses (for example, an MSEE focused on radar might really only need a few E&M courses and some work in remote sensing, and might attract EE and Physics grads equally). So going from a BSEE to a MSME might only require a handful of courses to get ready.</p>
<p>The disadvantage to not having the BSME will mostly be during the application process, and mostly because it will mean taking some courses FIRST. You need to decide on what kind of masters program you want to enter, figure out the relevant courses, and take them in the next couple of years as a non-degree student. As long as you have those courses you should be fine with adcoms, and once you have the MSME it will be the dominating point of your resume. You are unlikely to be hired outside your masters specialty anyway, so the fact that you have no BSME and therefore no training outside your masters specialty will not matter.</p>
<p>And people change careers all the time. Don’t sweat it. Just figure out the courses, ACE THEM ALL, and get some research experience.</p>
No, your lower degree ceases to matter.
If it puts your mind at ease, you can just not put your BS degree on your resume. No one will really notice because it’s not important to them.</p>
<p>AS in you apply for a job and not put your BS degree but only put your MS? What if they ask why a BS is not listed?</p>
<p>I saw the same issue when some applicants who have gone straight from BS to PHd without a Masters. It’s common in England to go straight from a BEng Hons first class to a PHd program without a MS.</p>
Then you just say that you didn’t think it was important and 99 times out of 100, that will be the end of that. That said, I wouldn’t really recommend it just because as cosmicfish says, it might worry them. But it’s not really a big deal either.</p>
<p>BS-> PhD is standard in the US as well. </p>
<p>Look, what matters is that you have Masters-level knowledge of Mechanical Engineering. It doesn’t matter that you’re not “pure-bred” ME or anything like that. You’re trained to do the MS job, and that’s what they’re looking for.</p>
<p>I’ve attended several plant tours and was told that a experience is a must when working in the auto industry. They are looking for people who are enthusiastic about cars, who have the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering backgrounds, and have good problem solving skills. I met a retired engineer at the General Motors plant in Kentucky who stated that working in the automotive industry is hard work, but is rewarding. He told me to follow my dreams and do what I am really passionate about.</p>
<p>Now I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a tinkerer when it comes to cars. I enjoy maintaining and modifying cars, do all of my own repair work, and would love to build a project car such as a biodiesel conversion van or an electric motorcycle. However, I’m not sure this is what they are looking for in an engineering position. The ability to use CAD software to do thermo computations would be more important than hands-on knowledge, I’d think, and probably everyone there is going to be a tinkerer anyways.</p>
<p>Then there are others that say real-world experience is more important than just having a piece of paper, such as if you are applying for a position at Mercedes AMG or Team Viper having experience with race cars (such as working at the local track for a summer) would be more beneficial than having a laundry list of degrees. So I’m not even sure if having a BSME would be the best path to a job in the auto industry.</p>