<p>And can you get the same job opportunities with a degree in either one? (specifically mechanical engineering)</p>
<p>tahoe23, in general, you cannot get the same job opportunities with either one. There have been many threads on here in the past where this topic is debated over and over again. I suggest searching on line for job descriptions and curriculum differences.</p>
<p>I am not saying that some positions at some companies won’t consider people with either degree, but based on my experience, engineering technology degrees lead to technician positions, not engineering positions. The two degrees are fundamentally different and are intended to lead to different jobs. A BSME will give you more opportunities and a higher earning potential that a BSMET, but you should do what is a better fit for you. Technology degrees are more hands on and do not require as much math and theoretical course work.</p>
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<p>There are some positions that will consider a less qualified engineer or a highly qualified engineering technologist, but in general the two degree types will not pursue the same position.</p>
<p>Engineering Technology is the application of Engineering. Let’s take control systems, for example. An Electrical Engineer will look at a fluid flow and determine that the fluid needs a control valve. The Engineer will determine the type of valve, the type of controller, will design the controller, and will initially specify the controller action (for example, will specify a PID controller - see here [PID</a> controller - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller]PID”>Proportional–integral–derivative controller - Wikipedia) - and set the parameters). Once the valve is up and running, if there is a problem that requires the valve the be tuned (it’s opening and closing too fast or too slow, for instance) an Electrical Engineering Technologist will go out and troubleshoot the controller. If the Technologist can’t fix it, then they’ll call out an Engineer to take a look.</p>
<p>edit: I just noticed that you said Mechanical Engineering. Think of the same example but with a pump: the original specification and design of a pump is determined by a Mechanical Engineer. A mechanic monitors and maintains the pump. If it breaks down, a Technologist is called out to take a look. If the Technologist can’t fix it, an Engineer is called out.</p>
<p>For fixed equipment, a Mechanical Engineer designs the heat exchangers that will go into a manufacturing process (the type and specifications). A Technologist will then monitor the heat exchangers for things like metal corrosion and heat transfer efficiency. When there’s a problem or the exchanger needs to be replaced, the Engineer will become involved again to assist.</p>