Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
#1
Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
I'm wondering what kind of employment prospects you have with either of those degrees and what you guys would consider to be the better degree (or at least the differences between them). I know there's alot of engineering students on here. I was going to teach, so I'm about to finish my Associate's in Social Science, but I'd rather make decent money and Engineering interests me so I'm thinking of changing majors.
Or I might just be retarded and there's no difference. Please enlighten me. Thanks!
Or I might just be retarded and there's no difference. Please enlighten me. Thanks!
#3
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
I'm wondering what kind of employment prospects you have with either of those degrees and what you guys would consider to be the better degree (or at least the differences between them). I know there's alot of engineering students on here. I was going to teach, so I'm about to finish my Associate's in Social Science, but I'd rather make decent money and Engineering interests me so I'm thinking of changing majors.
Or I might just be retarded and there's no difference. Please enlighten me. Thanks!
Or I might just be retarded and there's no difference. Please enlighten me. Thanks!
#4
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
When I was going to school (1998-2002), the main difference was that the technology didn't have the higher level math classes. I have no idea how they do it now.
#5
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
Edit;
This will help;
http://www.asme.org/Communities/Stud..._Path_Take.cfm
Last edited by RandomTask; 10-22-2008 at 12:19 PM.
#6
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
yea im doing the same thing with the electrical engineering technology. The difference like stated above is that the actually engineering class take a higher level math. employment prospects would be probably be the same, but with any degrees ending with technology the job might be more hands on.
#7
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
It is like the analogy of Computer Science to Applied Computer Science or Mathematics VS Applied Mathematics. One is more theory based and is for "deriving new technolgies", while one is application based and is implementing existing technologies. The biggest thing that MET cuts students short is graduate school. They require a couple filler math courses to get into Graduate ME or AE if your looking to do so.
MET program has 2 Thermo classes, and a power and energy lab. There are also 5-6 other thermo related electives. Prepare to be rapped if you take those though. Dr. Mohielden is probably one of the most challenging professors at the school and hardest to understand if you can't understand fast talking Indians.
BSET graduates are engineers. That is a misconception.
Dr Dean said the statics from the school shows the MET grads from ODU on average make $1,000 less per year, so there are some grads that make a little less, and some that make the same or more.
Some companies prefer to hire MET students over ME due to the fact that the material covered in MET is more practical engineering. MET is 75% practical applications and 25% theory, VS ME is 75% theory and 25% application. There are senior courses that will have a mix of ME, MET and graduate AE students, so there isn't any short of material covered in either programs.
In the grand scheme of things, once you take the FE and become EIT in VA, its all the same.
... where as ME's go through differential equations and thermo ...The larger difference is an MET graduate is technically an Engineering tech where as someone with their BSME is an engineer. Over all, ME jobs are a more 'theory' and innovating where as MET's do more implimenting. Pay wise, MET's start off making a little less (2-3k) per year than ME. Over time, they'll stay even.
BSET graduates are engineers. That is a misconception.
Dr Dean said the statics from the school shows the MET grads from ODU on average make $1,000 less per year, so there are some grads that make a little less, and some that make the same or more.
Some companies prefer to hire MET students over ME due to the fact that the material covered in MET is more practical engineering. MET is 75% practical applications and 25% theory, VS ME is 75% theory and 25% application. There are senior courses that will have a mix of ME, MET and graduate AE students, so there isn't any short of material covered in either programs.
In the grand scheme of things, once you take the FE and become EIT in VA, its all the same.
Last edited by Silverbullet86; 10-22-2008 at 02:07 PM.
#8
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
yea im doing the same thing with the electrical engineering technology. The difference like stated above is that the actually engineering class take a higher level math. employment prospects would be probably be the same, but with any degrees ending with technology the job might be more hands on.
You generally aren't going to be fighting for the same jobs until you're a ways down the road in your career. Believe it or not, that piece of paper for an engineering degree (as opposed to a eng technology degree) is worth quite a bit. Basically though, with enough years of experience in the same areas and job requirements, you'll eventually be doing the same things.
Generally the eng tech degrees are geared toward more hands on type jobs, (like someone already said) and lower level engineering positions. This all depends on what you want to do and where you want to go though, and the type of company you work for. Large companies often are very degree critical and won't even consider you unless you have a MechE/ElecE degree for many positions. I think a lot of that is familiarity with the fairly universal ME/EE programs; the curriculum for EngTech seems to vary a lot from school to school, and it's probably a lot more hit or miss.
Don't underestimate the power of math either. I'm horrible at math and I have to work my ass of to do it, but I also realize that most higher level engineering principles are rooted in math, so it's very hard to do much high level engineering without it.
I would think really hard about where you (the OP) want to go in your career, and then think about whether the extra education will help you get there. The way I see it, you're in school already, and if you think you may need it, it's a convenient time to keep rolling and get the rest knocked out.
Really though, all of this depends on the particular job. Some are much better suited for MET/EET, some for ME/EE. It doesn't matter how much theory you have if you can't do the practical implementation if needed, and it doesn't matter how good you are at implementation if you don't have the theory you may need.
Last edited by Fabrik8; 10-22-2008 at 02:22 PM.
#9
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
#10
Re: Difference between Engineering degree and Engineering Technology degree @ ODU?
If someone wants to be real cool (and you're working in the field), could you describe an "average" day. I realize there may not be an average day. But a brief overview would be awesome. And thanks a million for the info so far!