<p>2 questions:</p>
<p>If I get a BS in aeroE, and then an MS in biomedE or petroE, does that mean I could get jobs in any of those fields or would the lack of the BS in biomedE/petroE hold me back?</p>
<p>I know aero has nothing to do with those two fields, but I just want to get a sense of the value of an MS degree without a similar BS.</p>
<p>If the MS is somewhat related (i.e. aero and mechanical), you could go either way. Biomed and petro definitely have their relations to aero as well. Why someone would want to do a BS in aero, then follow up with a MS in biomed, only to go back into the aerospace industry is beyond me though. It would make more sense to take a few biomed electives while finishing the BS in aero (or after graduation while working in the aero industry), figure out if you want to make a career in biomed, and then get a MS in biomedical engineering and go full force into that industry.</p>
<p>Sorry - didn’t answer your first question. Grad matters more, unless you do grad school part-time while working. Then grad is more or less irrelevant, at least until you go to change jobs - but by then work experience will be more important than schooling.</p>
<p>Honestly, the graduate degree will tend to supersede the undergraduate degree, so if you did a BS in AeroE and then got an MS in PetE, an aerospace company would likely be reluctant to hire you knowing your more recent interest is petroleum and you could jet at any time. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to tell them you have an MS in PetE I suppose.</p>
<p>The MS is definitely worth more. In my experience people with the MS (rather than just the BS) tend to get hired for higher positions, or rather are more likely considered for advancement for higher positions (correlating to higher income bracket) than people with just a BS. </p>
<p>You should definitely make sure you pick a line of study that you think you will correlate to a future job though. For example, if you think you want to work in the Aerospace Industry or for like a defense contractor then a BS+MS in Aerospace Engineering makes a lot of sense. However, if you feel your future is in Biomedical/Bioengineering, then a BS in BME/ECE/MechE followed up by a MS in BME is a better bet. </p>
<p>A master’s is valuable, but make sure its in the area you plan to actually work in.</p>
<p>All the best!</p>
<p>Sorry to jack the thread but I was wondering the same thing. Like undergrad in civil then grad in petro to work as a petroleum engineer but use civil as a backup.</p>