ME or MBA

[chaosiscash]

Shit, I'll be totally honest. The only reason I have a Master's degree is because it was free. I was working full-time for Auburn University, and they offer tuition waivers for up to 5 hours a semester. It took a little longer than a typical graduate student, but I have it; it will not hurt me one bit...and was exposed to more material than an undergrad.
Any other situation, and I would never had gone back.

I'm in the same boat. I have an MBA, but only because my former company paid for all of it. I can't say its ever done anything for me, but it may in the future. But if it wasn't free, I would have never done it.

 

[Bman]

I am currently getting my MS in Project Management from Boston University. The degree is online so I can take my classes and still work full time. I looked into getting my Masters in Mechanical Engineering, but I would have to spend at least one to two semesters at a university which wasn't an option for me as I travel quite a bit at times for work and couldn't afford to just take a year off of work. I just passed the FE and by the time I get my degree I will be eligible for the PE, so it fit into my schedule pretty nicely. The degree will also prepare me to become PMP certified. My work will pay for about half of the cost of the degree all in all, so I felt it was worth it. I agree though that I don't think it will do much for my current job, but if I ever have to look for another job I think it will certainly give me an edge.

 

[VA_Env_Engr]

I agree with some of the posts earlier that it really depends on what path you want your career to move to. I already have an MS in Environmental Engineering and will go for MBA some time in the future, but only when I know I am ready to put it to use. My previous supervisor got his EMBA from Duke, but has not done anything with it for the last couple of years, considering that he spent well over $60K of his own money to do it. IMO, if I am going to plunk down that kinda money, I'd rather get something in return.

 

[benbo]

IMO MBAs are only really useful if you have a specific reason to get it at your job, or if you get it from a top school.

I got an MS in Information Systems, which is sort of a cross between an MBA and a computer science degree. We learned marketing, finance, accounting, blah blah blah, along with some computer programming and systems analysis. They also offered MBA with an emphasis in Information Systems. Stupidly, my emphasis was ecommerce (I got it during the dot com boom).

I doubt it will be useful career wise, but surprisingly enough I learned something in it that I use everyday at work. We learned SQL Server, ASP, and java which I use in my current job for web enabled database linked programs. And it was sort of dumbed down - real practical as opposed to super technical. So if you think you might find this useful, look into MSIS. Of course, you can also teach this to yourself or learn it in CS, I just wanted the easy way out.

 

[mudpuppy]

I've been in this business for 25 years!!!! I can't think of a SINGLE example where someone with an MS in Engineering had an advantage over someone with a BS, But I do know several that advanced because of having an MBA. Are you going to learn something while getting the MS that will put you ahead of your peers???? Maybe, I honestly don't know?? but will having an MBA seperate you from the crowd? probably!
BTW....I'm not flaming those of you that do have a Master's degree, just stating my observation.

:bio: (j/k)

I have an MSEE. Does this give me an advantage in my day-to-day work? No, not really. In my case the main advantage is I've had a lot more coursework in my particular field (power) to draw on. So I'm already familiar with certain topics when the come up, which saves time in having to learn them. These are topics that someone with a BS certainly can learn on-the-job, but since I've already learned them I save the company the time and effort to teach me. So I believe this gave me an advantage in the first several years, but I believe that advantage is wiped out over time, as those with a BS gain experience.

I think another issue here is motivation. An engaged, motivated employee with a BS is a much better employee than an unmotivated one (with or without an MS). But I think the act itself of earning an MS shows motivation as well.

 

[Guest]

In my case the main advantage is I've had a lot more coursework in my particular field (power) to draw on.

That sounds like a POWERful combination !! :laugh:

JR

 

[ALBin517]

So I was approached by my boss and the owner of the company today and after I told them that I didn't quite make the grade on the April 07 PE exam, they asked me if i would be inclined to going back to school after I pass the PE exam in October (hopefully). The owner of the company would like me to go back and get a masters degree. Currently I have a BS in mechanical engineering.
So I was trying to get opinions on which degree is more beneficial - a masters in engineering or a masters in business? I would probably get the the master in civil engineering but not sure if I would specialize more then that. Anyway what's everyones take on the masters degree. Is it even worth going back to school and getting? I'm not really thinking about the degree as it would apply to my current job but more for the future and which one would hold out more opportunities for me in the open market.

Maybe you should consider a Masters in Engineering Management. I see you're going to manage an office in Florida. When I graduated from FSU, they had a weeknight MEM program. And the state university system in Florida was big into distance education so you may be able to do an MEM from home or through another state university in Florida.

By the way, I debated the ME versus the MBA a couple years ago. I decided on none of the above but I would have done the MBA. I have worked 13 years for 6 consultants and one governmental entity and I have never known anybody who benefited from an ME. But all the MBAs advanced to some sort of management position.

I also considered a Masters in Public Administration because of convenient weekend scheduling and the fact that my government employer would have paid more of it. However, I was worried that the value of an MPA would be GREATLY reduced in private employment. Whereas the MBA seems to be accepted in both government and the “real world.”

 

[mech engineer]

Maybe you should consider a Masters in Engineering Management. I see you're going to manage an office in Florida. When I graduated from FSU, they had a weeknight MEM program. And the state university system in Florida was big into distance education so you may be able to do an MEM from home or through another state university in Florida.
By the way, I debated the ME versus the MBA a couple years ago. I decided on none of the above but I would have done the MBA. I have worked 13 years for 6 consultants and one governmental entity and I have never known anybody who benefited from an ME. But all the MBAs advanced to some sort of management position.

I also considered a Masters in Public Administration because of convenient weekend scheduling and the fact that my government employer would have paid more of it. However, I was worried that the value of an MPA would be GREATLY reduced in private employment. Whereas the MBA seems to be accepted in both government and the “real world.”

Guys, a lot of things depend on what you want to make of your life. Let's say I am pretty good as a production or procurement manager, and my company makes a ton of money of my being in the office by the CEO. BUT, I feel I am an engineer, a DESIGNER, and I feel bored and deserted by the commercial paperwork, without actual design and production. I WANT TO BUILD MACHINES

Therefore, I earned MS in ME Design with straight "A's". Regardless of the fact that I could (probably) make more money with MBA, I still want to be a PE, a designer - I feel complete like this, it is my dream come true.

By the way MS in ME from a good school plus a PE license seems a pretty good combination anyway, I do not think MBA would make one much richer.

 

[Slugger926]

I am going the combination route with an MSETM degree. MSETM

It covers MBA material, Engineering Management and project management, teams and team leading, leading technology, and electives that you want to cover in your area. It helps to know the business side of engineering, and understanding how to make processes better from an engineer's standpoint.

 

[ALBin517]

BUT, I feel I am an engineer, a DESIGNER, and I feel bored and deserted by the commercial paperwork, without actual design and production. I WANT TO BUILD MACHINES

I would certainly agree. From what I've seen, MBAs spend less time with draftsmen and more time with accountants.

Some guys like that, though. Some engineers get through a bachelor's program and are very interested in the personnel and client relations side of engineering. Those guys might get more out of the MBA than the ME.

 

[ALBin517]

I am going the combination route with an MSETM degree. MSETM
It covers MBA material, Engineering Management and project management, teams and team leading, leading technology, and electives that you want to cover in your area.

The more I look at the MSETM program, the more I like it. Compared to Master of Administration degrees, it seems much more flexible and more aimed toward engineers.

Not to mention, MSETM is 32 semester hours whereas MBAs can be 60.

MSETM also compares well to similar online degrees. For example, I live in Michigan so I looked at Eastern Michigan University's MS Engineering Management program. EMU requires six semester hours of manufacturing. As a civil engineer, I don't want to learn that much about manufacturing.

 

[FINK_RB_PE]

I earned a Masters in Civil from Virginia Tech and if you can find someone with the research that will directly apply to the field you work in I think you should consider it over the MBA, a professor told me that " The Bachelors puts the spear in your hand, the masters sharpens it and the research show you how to throw it."

 

[csb]

I graduate officially from my MBA program next Friday. It was a lot of work and missed weekends, but so was studying for the PE. It's helped me in my job and it was a fun break from engineering.

 

[BORICUAZO]

Next January 2008 I will be taken my first class of the Master in Mechanical Engineering. I really don't like business administration or the so called "MBA". I think this is mainly for Industrial Engineers. In the case of Mech. Eng., we used to work with high level of mathematical and physical procedures to determine the behavior of certain systems. An MBA is out of our nature and out of our "scope of work".