Engineering Major
Engineering Major
(OP)
I am currently a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy. I am currently a freshman, but a bit older due to serving in the Army (OEF X) before attending, so I am more mature and a better time manager than most of my classmates. I am currently looking at electrical engineering, systems engineering, or engineering management. I understand that this is a leadership institution and I will most likely end up in a management position in the civilian sector after I do my years in the Army as an officer. I feel like if I did electrical engineering, it'd go to waste because I would not ever specifically use the degree (after 5 years of not using it in the Army). Engineering management B.S. is offered here, which I feel may be more applicable and sensible for me to choose due to the likely-hood of me becoming a manager, rather than a technical worker. I am not sure what to expect with systems engineering in the civilian sector as well. I feel like it may be the better of the two degrees (in my situation of becoming a manager) because I will be classified as an engineer, but will also have a lot of vital skills to become an effective manager (efficiency, processes, etc).
USMA has a great engineering program at $0 cost, so I really want to take advantage of what this institution offers.
Are there any suggestions or insight on these majors pertaining to my situation (graduate > 5 years Active Army officer > civilian sector (probably managerial position))?
Thank you.
USMA has a great engineering program at $0 cost, so I really want to take advantage of what this institution offers.
Are there any suggestions or insight on these majors pertaining to my situation (graduate > 5 years Active Army officer > civilian sector (probably managerial position))?
Thank you.





RE: Engineering Major
The problem is that you'll have a big headstart toward management when you get out of the Army, and your technical skills will still be entry-level-ish, so the difference in salaries offered will be huge, at least a factor of 2, probably much more. The choice will be a no-brainer for your spouse.
For reference, Systems Engineering is sort of like Electrical Engineering, but at a higher level, e.g. strategic vs. tactical. The few real Systems Engineers whom I have known got involved in projects at a pretty early stage, mostly for the purpose of dividing up a major project into manageable chunks, and defining as soon as possible what the interfaces between the chunks would look like, and then modeling and predicting the system's performance, starting with models of the chunks and working upward, while the technical engineers started with models of the chunks and worked downward. Your Army experience would give you a big headstart into Systems Engineering, because you'll meet and interact with a lot of SEs, and the military sees the benefit of using them. Most of the private sector doesn't understand SE, and is not willing to pay for it up front.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Engineering Major
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Engineering Major
I don't think it matters personally. A technical degree, like EE, might be more beneficial than Managment only because it shows you are capable of the technical side of things and have the background to 'speak the language'. I personally might look at a managment degree and kind of shrug because that doesn't really tell me much about your aptitude and technical skills...I know you are a good manager and leader from your time in the military. So, its still a good degree, but your military experience is going to eclipse that anyway.
I tried very hard to get into the military academies and was dropped for a hearing problem. Congratulations on your acceptance and I am thankfull for your willingness to serve.
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: Engineering Major
Also, consider becoming a licensed engineer no matter what route you take. The only thing it can do is make you more valuable in the private sector.
Also, my thanks for serving, you effort is appreciated.
RE: Engineering Major
I was a Civil engineering graduate with two years grad school time when I went active '72 for four years. Never did a lick of engineering, but did get management experience. However, that time does not count as professional time toward your PE. Bottom line was I could not count any time in the military as "engineering" time, even though I was in the Corps of Engineers. Spent 85% of my time in a combat engineering MOS. the rest in a construction battalion. Bummer...
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Engineering Major
I will shift my focuses primarily toward EE most likely then.
RE: Engineering Major
"Management" = "Command", and you will get training in that at the Academy no matter what degree you choose.
If possible, add some business classes as electives.
RE: Engineering Major