Please explain the difference....
October 21, 2013 4:34 PM
What is the difference between a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology vs. a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering? In job description, duties, salary, etc?
Is a person who obtains a B.S. in MET called an "Engineering Technician" rather than an engineer? Is it a completely different job, one step below, or is the reality more complex than that?
I would greatly appreciate anyone's input or experience.
Is a person who obtains a B.S. in MET called an "Engineering Technician" rather than an engineer? Is it a completely different job, one step below, or is the reality more complex than that?
I would greatly appreciate anyone's input or experience.
I asked an almost identical question about electrical engineering technology a few years back here http://ask.metafilter.com/97483/Electric-Engineering-and-Me. Based on the responses and other research I switched majors to computer science. Technology degrees are accredited although perhaps not by ABET (I'm not sure). Regardless they are definitely not the same and the earning potentials are certainly less.
posted by Octoparrot at 4:58 PM on October 21, 2013
posted by Octoparrot at 4:58 PM on October 21, 2013
It does depend on the program/school and as saeculorum said on the accreditation. I have a degree in EET which has in no way hindered my ability to work as an engineer, however the school I went to now offers an ee degree instead because of the stigma associated with the T. That said the coursework I took was essentially the same as EEs at the same school take now. Also, EEs are also a bit different in that very few work on becoming a PE.
posted by Quack at 5:44 PM on October 21, 2013
posted by Quack at 5:44 PM on October 21, 2013
I was an EET major and I knew some METs. The technology degrees are more hands on and less theory. In EET we didn't worry about how to design a transistor, we worried about how to use one in a circuit. I was breadboarding circuits in my first two weeks of college. The EE kids didn't touch a breadboard until sophomore year, at the earliest. The math and science requirements for an engineer were more advanced too.
If you like being hands on an tinkering, the MET degree may be more your style. If you struggle with advanced math think about following the MET route. They are both viable degrees and a MET degree from a good school will set up for a good career, but you probably won't make as much in your first job as a ME graduate.
posted by COD at 5:45 PM on October 21, 2013
If you like being hands on an tinkering, the MET degree may be more your style. If you struggle with advanced math think about following the MET route. They are both viable degrees and a MET degree from a good school will set up for a good career, but you probably won't make as much in your first job as a ME graduate.
posted by COD at 5:45 PM on October 21, 2013
In my company, ME grads are design engineers and MET grads are manufacturing or field operations engineers. (We have had some ET grads in ME and EE move over into design after several years' experience) Both degrees can probably get you into the same company, but likely not via the same path.
posted by olinerd at 1:07 AM on October 22, 2013
posted by olinerd at 1:07 AM on October 22, 2013
The OPer is my wonderful wife and she asked on my behalf as I am in my second year of a 4 year MET degree.
Saeculorum, why do you say ME is ABET and MET is not? The 2 year and 4 year MET program I'm in Is ABET accredited. However, I am wondering that since I have a 3.96 GPA and feel a bit under-challenged, if ME is more up my alley.
One of my professors said that MEs will leave school to realize they lack in hands on and state of the art education and METs will leave school to realize they lack in the theory area, and both will compensate with personal and/or formal learning. He said that after 5 or so years on the job the difference in MEs and METs who are motivated shrinks to nothing.
Nevertheless, I wonder if an ME degree might better help me fulfill my childhood dream of being heavily involved and formally educated in advanced math, physics, and science. As will all things in life, our location and finances are making the decisions a bit more complex and thus, a compromise is to be found.
posted by A Renaming Licence Eh at 6:36 PM on October 22, 2013
Saeculorum, why do you say ME is ABET and MET is not? The 2 year and 4 year MET program I'm in Is ABET accredited. However, I am wondering that since I have a 3.96 GPA and feel a bit under-challenged, if ME is more up my alley.
One of my professors said that MEs will leave school to realize they lack in hands on and state of the art education and METs will leave school to realize they lack in the theory area, and both will compensate with personal and/or formal learning. He said that after 5 or so years on the job the difference in MEs and METs who are motivated shrinks to nothing.
Nevertheless, I wonder if an ME degree might better help me fulfill my childhood dream of being heavily involved and formally educated in advanced math, physics, and science. As will all things in life, our location and finances are making the decisions a bit more complex and thus, a compromise is to be found.
posted by A Renaming Licence Eh at 6:36 PM on October 22, 2013
Saeculorum, why do you say ME is ABET and MET is not?
I appear to be incorrect; it does appear they are both ABET-accredited (however to different standards and through different committees). In most states, an engineering technology exam does not qualify you for the professional engineering exam, which is more important for mechanical engineers than for electrical engineers.
I think the distinction between the two degrees will highly depend on the industry and companies you'd like to work for. In my area (aerospace-specific electrical engineering), an EET degree limit your career options. In particular, many government contracts can be interpreted as such a way that people without an engineering degree can't have a design role in a project. However, that is highly specific to my area, and your mileage may vary. I have had good experiences with a few engineers with engineering technology degrees, so it's certainly not an inherently limiting choice to make. Similarly, I have worked with engineers with engineering degrees that understand neither the theory nor the practice associated with their job.
You may find that if you want to switch to an engineering degree that the new institution does not recognize your existing credits. Unfortunately, academic engineers tend to have a stigma against engineering technology programs.
You should figure out what your interests in advanced math/physics/science entails, as many engineering positions end up using surprisingly little math/physics/science. In my (non-ME) experience, it usually works out that just a small amount of those is required. You just won't end up knowing which part is applicable until you have a job and then you need to have the background to fully understand that specific area. I would not describe engineering as being "highly involved" in math/physics/science; more that engineers need to have the ability to use the math/physics/science that is relevant to them.
posted by saeculorum at 11:53 PM on October 22, 2013
I appear to be incorrect; it does appear they are both ABET-accredited (however to different standards and through different committees). In most states, an engineering technology exam does not qualify you for the professional engineering exam, which is more important for mechanical engineers than for electrical engineers.
I think the distinction between the two degrees will highly depend on the industry and companies you'd like to work for. In my area (aerospace-specific electrical engineering), an EET degree limit your career options. In particular, many government contracts can be interpreted as such a way that people without an engineering degree can't have a design role in a project. However, that is highly specific to my area, and your mileage may vary. I have had good experiences with a few engineers with engineering technology degrees, so it's certainly not an inherently limiting choice to make. Similarly, I have worked with engineers with engineering degrees that understand neither the theory nor the practice associated with their job.
You may find that if you want to switch to an engineering degree that the new institution does not recognize your existing credits. Unfortunately, academic engineers tend to have a stigma against engineering technology programs.
You should figure out what your interests in advanced math/physics/science entails, as many engineering positions end up using surprisingly little math/physics/science. In my (non-ME) experience, it usually works out that just a small amount of those is required. You just won't end up knowing which part is applicable until you have a job and then you need to have the background to fully understand that specific area. I would not describe engineering as being "highly involved" in math/physics/science; more that engineers need to have the ability to use the math/physics/science that is relevant to them.
posted by saeculorum at 11:53 PM on October 22, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by saeculorum at 4:51 PM on October 21, 2013