Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
(OP)
First off, thanks to those who posted on the following topics - you helped me answer a lot of questions.
Rather than threadjacking any of the below, it seems prudent to create a new post.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=252093
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=259394
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=249064
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=217019
My situation:
I'm thinking of changing professions from marketing/communications to engineering. I would want to pursue a master's program, probably in mechanical engineering. As my BS is in an unrelated background, I have a lot of prerequisites to make up, which I would take at a community college. This would give me a chance to see whether I have a head for engineering in general, while not costing a lot, and letting me continue to work all the while. In the future, I hope to combine my business skills and experience, with something more useful to myself and the planet, engineering.
Looking at different Master's programs at UW, where I would like to end up, there seems to be a choice between the MSME and the MSE. The MSME is designed for those who have a BSME already, and the MSE is for those who don't. Seeing as I know very little about the professional side of engineering, I'm not sure how to even approach the question of how they differ. I am fine working towards long-term goals, so if a MSE is a joke and a BSME+MSME is the real deal, that wouldn't be a game-breaker.
My question:
Does anyone have any experience or advice on the differences between a MSME and a MSE, both on the quality of education and the "street cred" / desirability?
UW's summary of the programs and prerequisites:
htt p://www.me .washingto n.edu/acad emic/admis sions/appl ications_s ummary.php
Thanks for your help!
Sasha
Rather than threadjacking any of the below, it seems prudent to create a new post.
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=252093
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=259394
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=249064
http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=217019
My situation:
I'm thinking of changing professions from marketing/communications to engineering. I would want to pursue a master's program, probably in mechanical engineering. As my BS is in an unrelated background, I have a lot of prerequisites to make up, which I would take at a community college. This would give me a chance to see whether I have a head for engineering in general, while not costing a lot, and letting me continue to work all the while. In the future, I hope to combine my business skills and experience, with something more useful to myself and the planet, engineering.
Looking at different Master's programs at UW, where I would like to end up, there seems to be a choice between the MSME and the MSE. The MSME is designed for those who have a BSME already, and the MSE is for those who don't. Seeing as I know very little about the professional side of engineering, I'm not sure how to even approach the question of how they differ. I am fine working towards long-term goals, so if a MSE is a joke and a BSME+MSME is the real deal, that wouldn't be a game-breaker.
My question:
Does anyone have any experience or advice on the differences between a MSME and a MSE, both on the quality of education and the "street cred" / desirability?
UW's summary of the programs and prerequisites:
htt
Thanks for your help!
Sasha





RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
I had a nontrad friend during undergrad who had a business bachelors. She took calc, physics I, and statics at the CC then finished the BSME in 2 yrs at the Univ. It seemed like a good path.
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
That said, I have been relegated to fringe engineering topics in my career, as opposed to design work. I actually work as an ME now doing pressure vessel API type analysis. I like the challenge of learning new things, so it has been very fulfilling for me. I say do the technical undergrad, whether a science or an engineering, and go from there.
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
I have an undergrad degree with an odd name (the word "Engineering" does not appear) and it has hurt my ability to get an interview. Once past the initial interview what I know and what I've done carries the day, but if you can't get in the door it really doesn't matter how much of a star you might be. My MSME helps with that, but it only added value after 12 years of relevant experience. Many companies assign the initial screening process to HR and those dweebs are only looking for key words. They throw away a LOT of resumes that an Engineering Manager would look at, so you really don't want to start out with a handicap.
I'd go for the second undergrad degree.
David
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
As you said, mechmama, I wouldn't be able to say I had a master's, but I would have something that others understood and trusted. Then if in the future I felt held back by not having a master's, I would be in the right position to get the right master's degree.
Thanks again for your help!
Sasha
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
David
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
Cedar Bluff Engineering
http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
Actually, you learn much much more by "doing" the research.
Fe
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
The UW program that Sashy was interested in required 13 courses.
Cedar Bluff Engineering
http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
The M.Eng. although requires 13-18 courses, but no research.
The M.Sc. Eng. is considered more rigorous. (And is, I can tell you from experience)
Fe
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
Sasha
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
The majority here urge in a direction based on their own biased (keep that in mind). This includes everyone.
Fe
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
(By the way, I am a current grad student at UW in MSME right now.)
Cedar Bluff Engineering
http://cedarbluffengineering.webs.com
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
What will you peruse after? If yours is research based, I suggest a doctorate.
Fe
RE: Master's Degree Choices - MSE vs MSME
To address your latest question directly, a Masters degree (or a Doctorate for that matter) can be useful after an Engineer has "enough" Relevant Engineering Experience. If you've worked as an Engineer long enough to demonstrate that you are aware that there really are things you do not know and are not terrified by that idea, then you have reached a point where additional education or certificates (like the P.E. in the U.S.) can distinguish you from the herd. Before that point I find graduate degrees to be a detriment because they make it a bit harder to say "I don't know, but I'll try to find out" instead of making up an answer. An unsupervised Engineer that thinks they know everything is a really dangerous thing.
David