Finish my engineering degree? Or switch to I.T.?
October 14, 2010 6:47 AM   Subscribe

I've decided I have more of an interest in computer software than mechanical machines, so I'm contemplating switching to a lesser Bachelor of I.T. from my Bachelor of Engineering degree, even though they would both take the same amount of time to finish.

I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Robots) at university.
I've just taken some time off, started up a web design company (far from successful though :) and realized that I really enjoy this kind of work. I want to finish and graduate before my credits expire.

If I switch to an IT degree I will finish in the same amount of time (2 years), but a lot of my engineering credits will be wasted. I think I enjoy IT a lot more, and the remaining courses in Engineering look incredibly boring.

In addition, I would rather work in a technology company than on engineering projects, even though there is more money in the engineering sector.

Should I throw all that money away that I spent on courses so far, or just see it through? Anybody been in a similar situation and have an 'If I could do it all again' story?
posted by jord to Education (9 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: Not sure of your distinction between technology and engineering projects. I have a degree in electrical engineering and have been working in high tech since I got out of college > 25 years ago. Your profile indicates you're in Japan -- I've never heard of a bachelor of engineering (robots) program -- and I managed a 12-person engineering team in Japan for three years.

I would recommend looking at getting a BS in electrical engineering or electrical and computer engineering. With this degree (again, in the US), you can do software or hardware development and you have the foundation for a more specialized master's degree. It seems to me that a degree in IT is a lot more limiting -- that you will be working on setting up or changing a company's IT infrastructure (ordering, procurement, manufacturing systems).
posted by elmay at 6:54 AM on October 14, 2010


Best answer: Agree with elmay that at least here in the US, most employers look at EE and CE people with the same eye that they look at Computer Science folks (and to a lesser degree, people with MIS (Management Information Systems) degrees). In short learning about building conceptual things with software and how to think like a computer does will serve you in any facet of the computer industry. Sure the IT coursework might be more immediately practical, but that is stuff you'll have to learn on your own anyways. People with the IT degrees will have to too since the technology changes so fast.
posted by mmascolino at 7:09 AM on October 14, 2010


Best answer: I think that you should round out your education with the hardware side of things. There are a lot of people who can write code, but far fewer who understand the hardware it talks to. You'll probably be far more able to get work (and at better pay) doing what you want (programming) if you stick it out and stay in your current course.
posted by MikeWarot at 7:27 AM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm a ME who graduated, passed the FE exam, and had no other plans than to get a job in my field. Too bad the town where my long term girlfriend is getting her PhD had other plans in mind.

Long story short now I'm working as a MS-SQL DBA for a pretty cool company. I'd always heard the M in M(echanical) Engineering really stood for Miscellaneous anyway. I'd say stick to the more prestigious degree and develop your code/IT skills on the side via certifications and such. At least here at my company if you can prove you have the skills to do certain tasks and understand certain concepts then you're going to be able to get your foot in the door.

I guess what I'm saying is, IMHO anyway, more technical/prestigious degree > less technical/prestigious degree.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:28 AM on October 14, 2010


Is it possible to change engineering to a minor, and switch to an IT major? Then your credits aren't wasted, and you get an extra qualification to put on your CV.
posted by neushoorn at 7:28 AM on October 14, 2010


I've hired many software developers over the years and I regard fondly the ones who had a formal engineering background. There is nothing preventing you from building up your skills in software development while you pursue the engineering degree. I got a degree in computer science and like many who went that route, the most practical things I learned came about through work I did for clients and personal projects. The formal education of software development rarely impresses employers, but your budding web development gig will get differentiate you in a good way.

Put simply, there is likely very little that the formalized software development training will add to your market value if you have the inner drive to learn it well on your own.
posted by dgran at 8:49 AM on October 14, 2010


Best answer: I would also recommend sticking with the engineering degree and trying to take some extra programming classes. Many people don't end up working on exactly the thing they have a degree in from college, but a BS in Engineering focusing on robotics is going to get you more respect than a degree in IT. If you have coding experience, your BS in Engineering isn't going to hurt you for employment, it will probably help you.
posted by demiurge at 8:57 AM on October 14, 2010


I'll 2'nd what demiurge is saying
posted by WizKid at 2:37 PM on October 14, 2010


Response by poster: Thanks for all the replies everyone!

elmay: Ooops, I forgot to update my profile. I studied in Japan for a year at an engineering university as part of my degree here in Australia. The major is actually called 'Mechatronic' Engineering but I wrote robotics to save explanation. I'd love to hear about your experiences working in Japan if you have time, its something I've always been interested in.

At this stage I can't really change my engineering major, or I'll be up for an extra 1 year due to compulsory courses etc. However I think a Mechatronic engineering major will generally allow the same opportunities as electronic engineering etc.

MikeWarot: "I think that you should round out your education with the hardware side of things."
That was exactly the reason I chose the degree in the first place :)

I guess I just saw all my engineering graduate friends going into jobs I would hate to do, and my IT graduate friends in jobs that looked like my thing. It's great to have mefi and people who are in the know on these things. Thanks everyone, I think you've saved my education :D
posted by jord at 4:11 PM on October 14, 2010


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