collageWhy would there be engineering programs for non-engineers? This article looks at options for those who decide that they would like to become engineers after they have already completed a non-STEM bachelor’s degree. This is not an article for those who want to earn an engineering degree and then not become an engineer.
Why a Master’s in Engineering?
According to The Washington Post, only 27% of graduates find work related to their degree. This means, if you are one of those nearly 73% who don’t, you may find that your original degree was not what you planned. Engineering can be a great avenue to explore as an alternative, as there is a large range of career and education opportunities within the field. Not only does advancing technology call for new and innovative developments, but engineering students can focus in many different categories of engineering, from biomedical engineering to nuclear engineering to aerospace engineering.
Engineering Careers Outlook and Salary
It’s important to note that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), engineers tend to have good average salaries. Most of the jobs listed below also have above average speed for growth outlook.
| Position | Average Salary (2019)* | Career Outlook (2019-2029)* |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $123,030 | 2% |
| Chemical Engineer | $117,090 | 4% |
| Biomedical Engineer | $97,090 | 5% |
| Agricultural Engineer | $98,290 | 2% |
| Aerospace Engineer | $119,220 | 3% |
| Electrical Engineer | $103,480 | 5% |
| Industrial Engineer | $92,660 | 10% |
| Civil Engineer | $94,360 | 2% |
| Environmental Engineer | $94,220 | 3% |
| Materials Engineer | $97,890 | 2% |
| Mechanical Engineer | $93,540 | 4% |
| Nuclear Engineer | $120,700 | -13% |
| Petroleum Engineer | $156,780 | 3% |
| Marine Engineer | $98,730 | 1% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How Do I Get an Engineering Education?
Many colleges allow non-engineers to apply to their engineering master’s programs, provide bridge programs to get students up to speed before entering the actual master’s program or offer what they call non-engineer engineering programs. Though each program varies in credit length, they can usually be completed in 1-2 years. On top of that, anyone who joins these non-engineer programs will be awarded the same engineering master’s as those with an undergraduate in engineering.
What Will I Need for Admission?
Many non-engineers come in with little to no STEM experience. Because of this, you’ll want to check with your selected university for the specific requirements. However, you may find a few similarities between programs. Some of the programs require you to have taken some courses, such as calculus I or II, differential equations, electrical circuits, or physics. Basically, you’ll likely need some college-level math and engineering courses behind you. This could mean taking some college-level math courses at a different institution prior to applying. Keep in mind, each college has its own specification, so be sure to check which courses your college requires. Along with specific courses, you’ll be required to turn in typical admissions requirements, such as an application and fee, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and personal essays.
If you’ve selected an undergraduate degree in a non-engineering-related area and have since decided to pursue engineering, all is not lost. Many colleges offer non-engineering tracks for those who do not have an undergraduate degree in engineering. Though some colleges offer bridge programs to speed up this process, you may need to take some math courses at another college prior to applying. Finally, keep in mind that there are many engineering fields, and all of them have a good career outlook and average salary.
Can You Get a Master’s in Engineering Without a Bachelor’s in Engineering?
Engineering
Perhaps you finished your college course and either went on to work or decided that perhaps you’d rather get your master’s in engineering rather than the course you graduated from.
Is it possible? And if so, how can you get a master’s degree after previously getting a bachelor’s in a differing course? The answer is actually quite easy.
You are entirely able to get your masters in engineering without having a bachelor’s in engineering, but usually, it must be in a STEM course, meaning those that deal with math, science, technology, and the like.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can do this, go ahead and continue reading.
Not Impossible, But Perhaps Difficult
Taking up a Master’s in Engineering
A large number of graduates do not actually end up working in the field of the degree that they graduated with their bachelor’s degree.
Almost 73% of graduates find work in fields that are either entirely not related to their degree, meaning that they may have had their sights set on some other means of employment and finished their course for the degree.
For some, shifting to take a master’s in engineering may be a choice that you would like to make, but are wondering if it is even possible and if so, whether or not it is difficult.
Thankfully, this is indeed an attainable goal for anyone who has previously graduated with a bachelor’s degree and is now looking to get a master’s in engineering.
Of course, this path will be made easier if you have had a background and education in a STEM related course, as most universities are more prone to accept those with such experience.
But should you have a bachelor’s in a non-STEM related course there is no need for worry, as it is still possible for you to attain a master’s in engineering.
Coming from a bachelor’s education that has no to little background in STEM subjects will prove to be a bit difficult, seeing as engineering is a very mathematics heavy course.
But if you can apply yourself and realize that focus and study must be applied in able to cope up, then your goal of grabbing that master’s in engineering is not far from reach.
Taking up a master’s in engineering when coming from a bachelor’s course that focused in the field of math, physics, or chemistry, along with other related courses, will prove easier in the long run.
This is due to the fact that many subjects in these other STEM courses are shared between them and the core engineering courses.
Having a background in STEM subjects and graduating with a degree in that field will prove much easier overall and will most likely set your master’s journey to right around two years.
However, for those coming from a background unrelated to STEM, you may find yourself taking up to four years to graduate with a master’s in engineering.
The reason for this is that you will need to catch up on courses that you have not taken yet, as well as take prerequisites, as well as undergraduate, subjects to prepare yourself for your master’s.
Keep in mind that even if you are able to attain a master’s in engineering that you may not be able to practice as an engineer (like a civil engineering major) due to most states requiring a professional engineering license.
Of course, you can still attain that status albeit you will need to take the required courses in order to do so.
How do I Get a Master’s in Engineering?
A number of universities and colleges allow students who have previously graduated in non-engineering courses to take up and apply for their master’s in engineering offerings.
Along with this, it is common for those that offer this option to provide a bridging program for those who are interested in taking up an engineering master’s but have not graduated with a bachelor’s in engineering.
This makes it extremely welcoming and relatively easy for those who are seeking this path.
Lengths and duration vary from program to program, but overall, these master’s courses can be expected to be completed within two years.
The good news for those who are coming from undergraduate courses that are not under the engineering umbrella, you are still able to attain the same master’s degree as those who graduated with a bachelor’s in engineering.
Some subjects you are often expected to have taken when pursuing up your master’s in engineering after coming from an unrelated course include calculus (both I and II), and other physics and math-related subjects.
If you did not complete these courses prior to your application for a master’s in engineering, then you may need to first take them up before continuing.
Of course, this varies from college to college, so always check what the requirements are prior to your enrolment.
Going back to those who are interested in pursuing a master’s in engineering but did not take up a degree related somewhat to engineering, you also have a number of options.
A number of colleges and universities have the option available for those individuals to take up non-engineering tracks, giving them a way to pursue their dreams.
As stated before, some colleges do in fact offer certain bridging programs for these students, but if they are not available you will need to attain some courses in math before looking to apply.
Benefits of Attaining a Master’s in Engineering
You may be looking to take up a master’s in engineering in order to expand your knowledge in certain areas, but a vast majority of people will look to this as a means of a career change.
Whether you have grown bored of your current career path or have come to the conclusion that it just does not fit you right now, taking up a master’s in engineering can open up many doors for you career-wise.
There are numerous benefits that surround holders of a master’s in engineering, one of the most attractive being the possibility of a salary boost when compared to your current career path.
A master’s in engineering will most likely open up more doors for opportunities in your current position of work, but it will also, most likely, create the opportunity for other roles and jobs.
Many of the job options that open up after attaining a master’s in engineering include various managerial positions in addition to roles in leadership and project leads.
With the rise in options for the positions you can apply for, you will also see an increase in salaries relative to the positions available.
Salaries that you may see upon attaining a master’s in engineering sit right around the range of $110,000, according to the website, Monster.
Along with the opportunity to rise up to new positions and a possible increase in salary, the experiences and growth you will see after attaining your master’s in engineering will prove worthwhile for years to come.
How to get into Engineering without a BEng
Not got a BEng to your name? Not a problem. We explore how to get into engineering without a BEng.
What is a BEng?
Engineering is a complex field of science and technology, with so many areas of specialism that graduates are awarded their own unique status – BEng. Just as a Bachelor of the Arts would be granted BA status, BEng refers to Bachelor of Engineering.
It goes without saying that graduating with an engineering degree has plenty of merits in the job market. But is it the only route into this fast-growing sector? Certainly not – as we are about to explore, there are plenty of options available for those who haven’t taken a BEng course.
Other routes into engineering
Not everyone knows what career they want to take from the get-go. You may only discover the fascinating world of engineering once you’re halfway through your university degree.
If this sounds familiar, don’t panic. It’s possible to specialise in Engineering with a BSc degree such as a chemistry, biology or mathematics. While some graduates choose to start a BEng afresh, many simply take a relevant Masters instead.
Even with a BEng, you’ll need to study and gain experience at a Masters level before becoming a Chartered Engineer. As such, it’s possible to further and refine your knowledge with an MSc in Engineering. You can zero in on the specifics of this sector and prove your commitment to becoming an engineer.
It’s also worth noting the rise of apprenticeships means you don’t even need to have attended university to pursue a career as an engineer. A comprehensive engineering apprenticeship will give you the skills and on-the-job expertise you need to thrive in the industry. After all, work experience is just as important as technical know-how.
Why it’s important to understand career routes
As engineering boasts huge diversity in terms of career paths, it’s essential to consider the routes that appeal to you and the steps you need to take to maximise your chances of employment. You might struggle to get into chemical engineering without an accredited BEng degree but will find the entry barriers much lower for manufacturing or hydrology engineering.
By looking at the entry requirements of graduate schemes for the types of roles that interest you, as well as the accreditation requirements for the relevant professional institution, you can fine-tune your expertise to make yourself more attractive to potential employers.
Five things to research when looking at engineering graduate jobs
To ensure you have the skills and experience graduate employers are looking for before you apply, here’s a handy checklist to aid your research:
- What qualifications and degree backgrounds do they need and/or prefer?
- Do you need any prior experience in the sector?
- What does the role involve?
- Are there any other skills and attributes they need?
- Will you gain new skills or qualifications on the job, such as chartered status?
Where to go for more information
As we have seen, a BEng degree isn’t the only route into engineering but with so many alternative paths open to you, you may be wondering what steps to take next.
Carnegie Mellon University,
Graduate Students With a Degree Outside of Engineering
We welcome students with a variety of backgrounds to undertake graduate work in engineering at Carnegie Mellon.
While engineering backgrounds are common in our programs, we commonly admit students with undergraduate degrees in mathematics and science, including but not limited to:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Mechanics
- Physics
An outline of the math and science background expected for all entering students:
| 1 Semester | General Chemistry |
| 2 Semesters | Calculus |
| 1 Semester | Differential Equations |
| 2 Semesters | Physics |
| 1 Semester | Biology (or other science) |
| 1 Semester | Probability and Statistics;or 1 semester Linear Algebra |
| 1 Semester | Computer Programming, Applications or Tools |
Make-Up Requirements for MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
If you are interested in pursuing the standard MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering degree you will need to take the equivalent of five basic undergraduate engineering courses in addition to the courses required for the graduate degree.
These makeup requirements are intended to provide the necessary background for graduate work in engineering. You may be able to substitute equivalent or closely related courses at the discretion of your faculty advisor.
You will complete the undergraduate makeup courses in addition to the 96 graduate units. This generally takes students three semesters.
Required Makeup Courses for students with a degree outside of engineering:
| 12-320 | Engineering Mechanics9 Units – First Fall Semester |
| 12-335 | Soil Mechanics9 Units – Second Fall Semester |
| 12-355 | Fluid Mechanics9 Units – First Fall Semester |
| 12-411 | Project Management Construction9 Units – First or Second Fall Semester |
| 12-421 | Engineering Economics6 Units – First or Second Fall Semester |
Additional Degree Options
We also offer additional degree options that do not have undergraduate makeup requirements, but may still require students to complete additional coursework to obtain the necessary background for certain graduate courses.
These degree options are as follows:
- MS in Environmental Management and Science
- MS in Advanced Infrastructure Systems
- MS in Computational Mechanics
These interdisciplinary degree titles are administered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They will each require 96 units, and can be completed in three semesters or less, depending on the extent of undergraduate course work you need (or would like) to complete. You may choose your courses with the help of your advisor, but the CEE Department Head must approve your curriculum.
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