Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
(OP)
I graduated with my BS in mechanical engineering in 2004 but I haven't done any engineering work since I did an internship for an environmental engineering firm assisting with SPCC plans.
I have been a middle school math and science teacher since I graduated from my undergraduate. I wanted to go into engineering when I graduated from college but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to coach football for a few years. I have accomplished what I wanted to in that field and I am looking to getting back to the engineering field.
I have been tossing a few ideas around and wanted some advice from people that are already in the field.
I am planning on pursuing my MS in mechanical engineering next year to help "brush" up some of my skills before I enter the workforce as an ME. I have done a search and I still don't know which option would be better a non-thesis option or a thesis masters option and whether or not a Masters is the best way to market myself as an ME.
I am interested in advice on the.
1)Thesis versus Non-thesis option
2)Masters (help with the lack of experience?) would I still be considered entry level? I am guessing yes.
3)Any other things I should be aware of with this career change.
I have been a middle school math and science teacher since I graduated from my undergraduate. I wanted to go into engineering when I graduated from college but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to coach football for a few years. I have accomplished what I wanted to in that field and I am looking to getting back to the engineering field.
I have been tossing a few ideas around and wanted some advice from people that are already in the field.
I am planning on pursuing my MS in mechanical engineering next year to help "brush" up some of my skills before I enter the workforce as an ME. I have done a search and I still don't know which option would be better a non-thesis option or a thesis masters option and whether or not a Masters is the best way to market myself as an ME.
I am interested in advice on the.
1)Thesis versus Non-thesis option
2)Masters (help with the lack of experience?) would I still be considered entry level? I am guessing yes.
3)Any other things I should be aware of with this career change.





RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
2) Yes, probably entry level except for a few places which value education (usually very large or very small companies in my job searching experience) which will start you at a slight pay/experience bump over entry level candidates. My impression is you'll have an easier time catching up with a masters.
3) Make sure you like delving into details more. If you haven't taken any graduate level courses as an undergrad, you'll need to be prepared for considerably more responsibility (like actually doing readings on your own) and more depth for subjects.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
2) Yes, you will still be entry level, since you have no experience working as an engineer. As a matter of fact, expect that most of what you learn in a Master's program will help you very little on the job. Even much of your undergraduate education will be no help - most universities teach too much theory and not enough practical knowledge.
3) Don't learn equations, learn concepts. If you understand the concepts, you should be able to develop the mathematics. That way, you won't be limited by a static group of formulas. Understand how to derive the more specific equations from the very general equations. For example, don't learn Δx = v0t + 0.5at2. Derive it from x = ∫∫adt. (Of course, this doesn't work too well with empirically-determined equations. Those you simply have to learn.) I like to think of my knowledge as a toolbox - I have a bunch of tools in it to tackle known problems, but I'm a better engineer if I know how to make new tools using my existing tools to help me tackle unknown problems. Learning how to derive the mathematics gives you that ability to expand your toolbox when necessary.
xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
From a practical perspective, there are probably no jobs for you now anyway in the worst "recession" since 1929. Go to grad school if your finances allow. The economy will likely have improved when you are finished and looking for a full time job.
At the time, I truly hated writing my MS thesis and would rather have had oral surgery or taken a beating with a 2x4. Taking two more classes and a comprehensive oral exam is definitely the path of least resistance: non-thesis option. That being said, I have found that my engineering letters and reports are typically better written than those produced by the majority of my peers. I directly attribute this skill set to suffering through a thesis; engineering schools do not teach technical writing.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
You've got plenty of life experience from your non-eng job. What you probably need to look more attractive to employers is some experience with direct application of your engineering knowledge. A thesis Masters, based on some experimentation, is probably going to be more useful on your resume than a longer list of mostly inapplicable courses.
Remember though that post-grad work is becoming a popular holiday from the craptastic labour market at present. Expect to graduate with a glut of Masters grads if you go in now. That was my own situation a couple recessions ago, and it wasn't pretty. Best of luck to you.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
As was already said the Thesis track is for people who may be looking for research work or will continue to a Ph.D.
I knew after my first Advance Diff Eq. Class that an MS was the end of the line for me.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
And I can't say that anyone who sees the degrees on my wall cares about whether either had a thesis. As long as school is ABET accredited, then I can't see how it matters in the real world.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
If you're working, a lot of companies will fund your thesis research which is way better than being a research slave for some prof. Many of my fellow students in grad school did the non-thesis option and all of them that I knew well regretted the choice. I never regretted doing the thesis option.
David
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
A few times the research came up in interviews. Probably came up less times than not. But both projects I did (I have two masters degrees) were very useful in honing some of my skills.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
David
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
It's probably more a question of self development. If a thesis appeals to you then go that route, but if you just want a MS to help you get a job, then the non-thesis is probably just as good.
RE: Masters Thesis versus Nonthesis
xnuke
"Live and act within the limit of your knowledge and keep expanding it to the limit of your life." Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged.
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.