Engineering Masters with UMPI liberal studies bachelors

[tmikula]

Thanks to the advice of the kind people on this forum, I have graduated from UMPI with a Liberal Studies bachelor's degree "MIS minor." Next, I'd like to continue onward to an engineering master's degree. I am not picky about the engineering discipline; I'm interested in anything related to engineering. I'd like to find the most "prestigious" degree available to me. I plan to use loans to pay for college, but money should not be an issue. I'd prefer an online program, but in-person is an option.

I know typically, you need an engineering undergraduate degree to get a graduate degree, but I am hoping to find a college that will make an exception for me because I already have strong engineering work experience and references. My career path has been nontraditional; I couldn't afford college out of high school, but I decided to go to college after I worked my way up the career ladder into an engineering position. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for engineering programs?

[Chankosumo]

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is the first thing that comes to mind. I myself consider this option, but I am currently to complete my Bachelor's first. There isn't much feedback available about the program, but it allows us to enroll in the first courses as non-credit courses (for the usual Coursera + subscription price if I got this right?) in order to help us determine whether we are good fit for the program.

[freeloader]

What is your end game for your master’s degree—are you wanting to eventually become a Professional Engineer?  Do you want an engineering degree to “legitimize” you for your current position or to help with promotions, something else?

If you’d be happy with an engineering management masters, the MS in Engineering Management from Arkansas State is a tick over $10k: https://degree.astate.edu/online-program...t/masters/

University of Colorado’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management might also be a good option, since it doesn’t have prerequisites: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engi...admissions

If you want an engineering degree that is in a more traditional engineering discipline, it seems like it would be helpful to know a little bit more about what field(s) interest you. Computer vs Civil vs Biomedical engineering, for instance, are going to have vastly different prerequisites, career trajectories, etc.  If you do something like civil engineering, is a degree in biomedical or materials science going to be super helpful for you, OP?  Similarly, if you do computer work, a CS degree, while not engineering, feels like it would be more useful than an environmental engineering masters.

[elcastor21]

Hi, If I where you I would first remove the PDF and attatch an image, as the PDF editing left your name intact and still visible.

A good tool for anonymizing info from documents is GIMP.

[ss20ts]

You need to figure out which type of engineering you want to get a master's in. Then you need to see if you have the undergrad requirements for that master's.

[tmikula]

What is your end game for your master’s degree—are you wanting to eventually become a Professional Engineer?  Do you want an engineering degree to “legitimize” you for your current position or to help with promotions, something else?

If you’d be happy with an engineering management masters, the MS in Engineering Management from Arkansas State is a tick over $10k: https://degree.astate.edu/online-program...t/masters/

University of Colorado’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management might also be a good option, since it doesn’t have prerequisites: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engi...admissions

If you want an engineering degree that is in a more traditional engineering discipline, it seems like it would be helpful to know a little bit more about what field(s) interest you. Computer vs Civil vs Biomedical engineering, for instance, are going to have vastly different prerequisites, career trajectories, etc.  If you do something like civil engineering, is a degree in biomedical or materials science going to be super helpful for you, OP?  Similarly, if you do computer work, a CS degree, while not engineering, feels like it would be more useful than an environmental engineering masters.

That Arkansas state degree looks interesting… I’m going to apply and try to get more information about it. Only 10k would be great. To answer your question; I’m seeking a degree both to legitimize my position and secure future promotions. A CS degree is an interesting idea, I’m going to consider it.

CU Boulder is going to be my plan B, if I can’t find anything else I’ll do that.

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You need to figure out which type of engineering you want to get a master's in. Then you need to see if you have the undergrad requirements for that master's.

I’m currently employed in the manufacturing field; mechanical, electrical, and other engineering degrees could all work for me. There aren’t many manufacturing specific degree’s.

[GameSlinger]

There is also the option of Industrial Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering. It sounds like one of those may be a better fit as you mentioned you are already doing engineering work in a manufacturing environment.

[bjcheung77]

And if you want to break it down a bit more, there are Engineering Technology programs too, these are not Engineering per say, but somewhat related if you desire to go into a similar field...

[NotJoeBiden]

Thanks to the advice of the kind people on this forum, I have graduated from UMPI with a Liberal Studies bachelor's degree "MIS minor." Next, I'd like to continue onward to an engineering master's degree. I am not picky about the engineering discipline; I'm interested in anything related to engineering. I'd like to find the most "prestigious" degree available to me. I plan to use loans to pay for college, but money should not be an issue. I'd prefer an online program, but in-person is an option.

I know typically, you need an engineering undergraduate degree to get a graduate degree, but I am hoping to find a college that will make an exception for me because I already have strong engineering work experience and references. My career path has been nontraditional; I couldn't afford college out of high school, but I decided to go to college after I worked my way up the career ladder into an engineering position. 

Does anyone have any recommendations for engineering programs?

For many engineering programs you likely will have to take prerequisite courses like calculus, physics, chemistry, and possibly introductory engineering classes as well like circuits, statics, etc if you did not take engineering as an undergrad. It is a bit more work, but I knew people who did it by taking these classes at community college and transferring them into a grad program. I believe they got an AS in engineering or physics or something to cover the introductory courses at their local community college and had some work experience that helped them get in. You be able to take alot of these courses online as well and transfer them to get an associates or just use the credit to show you have the competency. 

To my knowledge you need to have these courses to get into programs aside from the limited major specific exceptions (biology majors may be admitted to some graduate biological engineering, physics to electrical, etc). 

Either way, taking these classes before getting your masters will be a good way to show admissions you are serious and make you more competitive alongside those with engineering bachelors. Best of luck!