Masters of Engineering or MSEE?

[jayXTP]

Hi, I really like the curriculum for an M.Eng, but is it less respected by employers than a traditional Masters of Science degree? The field I want to get into is microelectronic packaging, which is inter-disciplinary, so being able to take Materials, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, and Manangement courses would be great. There is also a thesis option for M.Eng and the credit hours for both degrees is ~30. Any advice would be appreciated.

edit: M.Eng = Masters of Engineering.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: jayXTP
Hi, I really like the curriculum for an M.Eng, but is it less respected by employers than a traditional Masters of Science degree? The field I want to get into is microelectronic packaging, which is inter-disciplinary, so being able to take Materials, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, and Manangement courses would be great. There is also a thesis option for M.Eng and the credit hours for both degrees is ~30. Any advice would be appreciated.

Are you talking about Masters of Eng. vs. Masters of Science in an engineering field? My undergrad had Bachelors of Engineering and Masters of Engineering but my graduate school has theirs in BS and MS form. I always thought they were the same, just a difference in wording...

 

[FrustratedUser]

For anything in microelectronics I would say you need something in EE. I don't see how a ME degree will help in that field, maybe I am way off.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Maybe I misunderstood the term M.Eng.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Is M. Eng Manufacture Engineering?

 

[Analog]

M.Eng is a joke. Get a MSEE.

 

[CanOWorms]

M.Eng = Masters of Engineering? Mechanical Eng? Manufacturing Eng?

 

[jayXTP]

Sorry for the confusion guys.

M.Eng = Masters of Engineering.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: jayXTP
Sorry for the confusion guys.

M.Eng = Masters of Engineering.

I found a link where people are asking about this, you might find this helpful.

Like another person said in the above link, I think it depends on the requirements for each institution. My undergrad (a top-rated school) only gave out Bachelors of Engineering and they give out Masters of Engineering and they require a thesis. There's no optional MS or BS for engineering (except for CS eng, they get BS and MS). My grad school only gives out BS and MS degrees (no BE or Masters of Eng). I've always thought that it was just a choice of wording or something... maybe I'm wrong

 

[cchen]

Usually, M.Eng has the same curriculum as a MS. With most programs, the MS will require a thesis. M.Eng tracks are not usually done by full time students but by part time students who are working full time, similar to something like a professional degree.

 

[CanOWorms]

Not all programs require a thesis. You can also do a project at some

 

[jayXTP]

CanOWorms, what school are you doing your MSEE at?

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: jayXTP
CanOWorms, what school are you doing your MSEE at?

Boston University

Personally I wouldn't recommend BU to anyone unless they wanted to go to Boston (like me ) or they wanted to go into some photonics-related area (I think this is where they focus most of their work into). But you can do a project (it still requires a write up though).

I think most schools would let you do a project. My father went to Caltech for his MS and he did a project. I have friends at Vanderbilt University and they have to do a thesis or project and they get an Masters of Engineering.

Are you going straight from undergrad or have you worked in the industry for a bit? I went straight from undergrad and a majority of my classmates have worked years in the industry and have a big edge over someone like me.

 

[shekondar]

Originally posted by: cchen
Usually, M.Eng has the same curriculum as a MS. With most programs, the MS will require a thesis. M.Eng tracks are not usually done by full time students but by part time students who are working full time, similar to something like a professional degree.

At my school (Univ. of Louisville) it was the other way around - the MS didn't require a thesis but the M.Eng did. About the only people who did the MS option were the foreign students. The biggest difference was that the M.Eng was accredited, the MS wasn't - if both programs are accredited, it probably doesn't make much difference.

 

[PowerEngineer]

My recollection is that the Masters of Engineering programs are just additional graduate courses (like mine), while the Masters of Science generally require some sort of project or thesis. I don't think you'll find that it matters which degree you get. Most employers are only interested in whether or not you have a Masters degree (and the field it is in).