POssible to receive a masters in engineering without having a bachelor's in engineering?

Question

I am a senior in college and will graduate with a degree in Economics. I have come to realize that engineering is my true calling and would like to pursue a career in that field. I was wondering if instead of going back and starting undergraduate in engineering, is it possible for me to get a masters in engineering even though I did not graduate in engineering? would i just have to fulfill some pre-req such as calc 1-4, physics 1-4? or is this entirely not possible?

Answer 1

To respond to the topic of getting a PE, licensing boards are VERY strict in being allowed to take the exam. You need to be able to document your degree in a technical field, having taken the EIT, and you need to demonstrate 4 years of experience working under the supervision of another PE.

As for getting a Master's, most other responses are fairly correct, you need to get accepted to a Master's program, and they willcertainly make you take all the pre-req's, like physics, calculus, statics, dynamics, and then even some specialty classes. Be prepared for almost 2 years of full time just to make up pre-req's before you even start working on grad level courses and your thesis. Good luck.

Answer 2

I wouldn't take the advice of the poster who recommended not getting a degree. Aside from the fact that most employers require a degree in the first place, how can you rely on someone who spells Equations "Equasions" ?

Perhaps you could find work as an engineer without an engineering degree but the chances of landing a job that requires a MSEE without a MSEE are nil unless you lie about it.

He didn't really answer your question though.

The math would be a good start but you're going to need some of those other core engineering classes as well depending on the direction you go. The good news is that you don't have to take all the general education classes at the same time so you should be able to complete the classes in less that 4 years. That would really be a huge advantage in my opinion. As important as the general education classes are they, they're also quite annoying when you're trying to study engineering.

Answer 3

You don't need any degree in Engineering. You need to pass the PE (Professional Engineers) licencing exam. So see what subjects you have to know for that exam and take those subjects. salaries in Engineering will depend on experience and familiarity with the respective specialization.

The essential courses are Calculus 1, 2, 3, Differential Equasions, Chemistry 1, 2, Physics 1, 2, Statics, Indeterminate Statics, Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Introduction to Electrical Engineering, Heat Transfer.

That is only 15 courses to understand Engineering (if you want to do electrical engineering or some other specialization you can take other courses, but those are good to have and all you need for Mechanical Engineering before specializing), Sometimes "Indeterminate Statics" is also called "Strength of Materials". Also with those courses you can pass the EIT exam which is the Engineer in training exam, and then after you specialize then you can go for the PE exam.

My recomendation is work in the field after completing those courses.

If you are highly intelligent, you can do what I have seen a few others do, I know a fellow who was working for two engineering companies while working on his bachellors.

Actually my idea is you could team up with a mathematician engineer and start an economic engineering research consulting company LLC; that way you could learn engineering and the math engineer could learn economics, and you will get paid big bucks for your work.

15 courses.

There are probably over 15 different fields of engineering. Traffic engineering, biophysical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, chemical engineering, etc......... Some even major in General Engineering.

Answer 4

My knowledge about engineering specifically is limited, however, I do know that it's possible to get a Master's in Education without a Bachelor's in Education.

Good luck to you and hope this helps. Check with your academic adviser.

Answer 5

If you have a bachelor's degree in any of the physical sciences or mathematics, then it is possible to pursue a master's degree in engineering. However, be prepared to complete a lot of pre-requisite classes. I will give you my personal example.

I had a bachelor of science degree in physics. I wanted to pursue M.S.E.E. The university I applied to in Chicago area, required a Graduate Records Exam(GRE), in both General and Advance Engineering. Having had enough of math and physics background I did very well in the GRE exams and was admitted as a full time graduate student in the department of Electrical Engineering to pursue M.S.E.E degree.

The university required that I complete (or show competancy by taking exams) a total of 7 pre-requisite classes in sophomore and junior level Electrical Engineering. Upon passing these classes successfully, I was allowed to take graduate level classes.

I successfully completed my M.S.E.E in Communication Systems and Digital Signal Processing major with a G.P.A or 3.72 / 4.0 and have been working as a communication systems engineer for over a decade now.

So, yes it is possible to pursue a graduate degree in engineering with bachelor's degree in another field. But be prepared to do a lot of advance mathematics and physics classes and then pre-requisite classes in your chosen area (mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil) before you can take graduate level classes in that field.

Good luck to you :)

Answer 6

Sure! I know a number of people who majored in Physics and then did a masters in Engineering.

Answer 7

not possible at all without bachelor's degree in engineering

Answer 8

Sure. But you will have to go back and 'fill in' a lot of undergraduate courses that you haven't taken.

Doug

Answer 9

highly doubt it i think you have to have a bach. degree inorder to get your masters