Obtaining my MASTER's Degree

[EOIT]

Hello all I would like some opinions on the following:

I have graduated with a ME degree, spent some time in the work place/military, and have a good stable job now. I would like to earn my Master's Degree but am having some doubts and would like ENG's viewpoints.

First, I have been told MBA all the way. Since I am not a heavy R&D type and don't plan to be right now, my advice has been to get my MBA to learn 'the other side' of the field.

Second, any views on distance learning (read as "unknown but certified") schools that help you get your MBA while working full time. These seem to fit my full time schedule the best but I don't know about the quality in the education.

Thanks for your time.

 

[BobPE]

You know what they say about opinions, but since you asked I have several on what you are asking.

First, in my opinion, an engineering degree and an MBA are mutually exclusive. I have many friends that do have the MBA and they say it was relatively easy for them to get through being engineers. They also tell me that it was a poor investment in time and money compared to the return on their investment in the work place. Now, from my experience, I answered my own questions similar to those that you are asking and decided against the MBA.

As for distance learning, I looked at that also, and my opinion is that you should get what you pay for. You pay the same price per credit, but do you really get what you pay for? I looked at Georgia Tech's distance engineering program. This one looked good, but it requires you to come to campus and that doesn't fit my needs at this time.

Answer us this question, what do you see yourself doing in 5 years? 10 years? Maybe that can help us talk about the subject more with you.

My goals are to be in senior management of a engineering firm. I am already in upper management and I got there with only a BS in engineering. I love what I do which is a mix of engineering and decision making. My experience along the way is that the more advanced degree one gets, the more narrow their focus is on the tasks at hand and it becomes difficult to advance beyond the true engineering aspects of our careers into management or marketing. Not that that is a bad thing, that is why I asked where do you see yourself in the future?

Let us know more of your thoughts...

BobPE

 

[IRstuff]

I think that I can agree with BobPE's comments here, other than that my preference has and remains the technical side.

There is no "correct" general answer. You are what you are and only you can determine or arbitrate what is or was correct for you.

As with BobPE, I'm not convinced that either is a necessary or sufficient condition for advancement. If you have the talent, you'll advance. After all, how many pop stars graduated from Juliard?

Methinks that an MBA is substituting "He's got an MBA" for "He's such a great manager." The latter is preferrable to the former as an endorsement, at least, to me.

TTFN

 

[mechantaeus]

I couldnt agree More with BobPE, my wife is pursuing her MBA and it is poor investment in time and money. All they are taought is how to be glib talkers, nothing concrete!
I am an MS and I found it very helpful, the hard work and the technical info inspires confidence..that is my peronal opinion ).
-mechantaeus

Work Hard and Work Smart

 

[EOIT]

Thanks for the input so far.

Currently I am a Plant Engineer at a Power Plant and hope to work towards being a senior engineer and one day a plant manager. It seemed to me that the MBA would help with the Plant Manager side latter on.

 

[IRstuff]

It might, but what percentage of current plant managers are MBA's? and is really necessary to have one?

TTFN

 

[ghghghgh]

Good point that IRstuff makes, not only for the current holders of the positions you seek, but also your competition for those jobs. Do they have advance degrees? If so, you might need one, if not, it may help you differentiate yourself.

 

[plasgears]

My ChemE daughter is doing distant MBA work (about 75% compl), and it will fit in with her job. She is managing several chem plants around the country. That's a very specific reason for going for the MBA.

If the question were academic and not directly job related, then I would recommend the PE. The prep work will clarify the mind and prepare you for a heightened analytical approach to your work.

In a high tech environment, the masters degree sometimes is the entre' to first level management and above.

 

[HVAC68]

A lot depends on what you want to do in the next few years. If you are interested in being a "techie", go for the ME. If you want to be up there in the Corporate Office running or directing an organisation, an MBA comes in handy. That doesn't mean to say that an MBA is a must to run an organisation. It surely helps.

Distance education - some of them are pretty good. I've heard that the MBA offered by Heriott-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland is quite good.

Good luck

HVAC68

 

[jpankask]

EOIT,
I have just finished a MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, mostly through distance learning. I too considered an MBA and looked at several local programs. In the end, I decided that a technical MS degree better suits my career goals and interests (i.e. I was unimpressed with the MBA curriculums). I too am a power plant engineer and to my knowledge, none of the middle or upper managers at my plant have an MBA, let alone a master's degree.

Several well-known universities are starting to offer distance-learning master's programs. Georgia Tech is the first that comes to mind but their courses are limited. Their program did not fit my interests. Some others off the top of my head that offer engineering graduate programs are Oregon State University, Idaho State University and Kansas State University. If you want to focus on management but don't want to completely plunge into the business world, you might consider a Master of Engineering Management. My university offered this program and I took several of the classes as electives for my MS. I really enjoyed them and in fact they are the only classes I have been able to actually apply in my work. You will need to consider each program at each university that you are interested in because they are all different. Good luck!

PS one other thing, it is not easy to work full time and take part-time classes, especially if you have a family. You have to stay focused and committed. I am glad now that I did it, but had I known then (it took me four years) what I know now, it would have been a really hard decision.