<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I'm currently in the second year of my master's program in geosciences at UT Dallas. I chose geosciences because I was fascinated by the dinosaurs, volcanoes, the oceans, etc. and the Earth in general. Besides, I knew that geosciences degree could lead to oil and gas/ mining jobs which I would be very interested. However, since the beginning of my graduate study, I've found the field of structural geology and geomorphology that I'm currently working on for my master's thesis are not appealing to me. The main reason I keep going for it is because I got my tuition paid for by my thesis advisor (but no stipend whatsoever). I found the mindset of geoscientists are capable of thinking and dealing with complex problems that can have a multitude of solutions and possibilities. In other words, it's the ability to solve problems when you don't have adequate data/information, and there is nothing sure/certain. Although I don't really struggle with that mindset, I don't particularly enjoy such thinking. I feel like I would do better if my mind can work to produce a specific, tangible, concrete solutions/products.</p>
<p>Recently, I have thought about pursuing engineering after I finish my master's in geosciences (if I could ever finish). I've never taken any engineering course so I'm not sure how well I would perform, but engineering seems to interest me. I found myself did well in math and sciences classes during my undergraduate study and enjoyed learning them. I've looked into different types of engineering, and I think I like mechanical engineering the most because I would have more chance of working out of the office (due to my geology background) and I would be able to tangibly work on large-scale objects (unlike electrical engineering). Also, mechanical engineering seems possible to be compatible with geosciences, particularly in the petroleum industry (petroleum engineers, reservoir engineer, drilling engineers, oil rig engineer); besides the fact that there is a great job prospect for engineering in general. My questions are:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Would it be better to transition directly into a master's program without a bachelor in engineering or to start over with engineering? Is there of lot of coursework to "catch up" and is it likely that I would struggle in the master's program?</p></li>
<li><p>What are some examples of the fundamental engineering coursework and which ones are the most difficult?</p></li>
<li><p>I still want to go into the oil and gas industry. In your opinion, what are the job prospects for a person with such degrees (geosciences & mechanical engineering)?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I would appreciate any answers ad insights into my situation, especially from any geoscientist, engineer, or petroleum people. Thanks a lot!</p>