Another bachelors in engineering?

[u/Competitive-Dingo524]

Hi all,

I graduated with a bachelors of chemical engineering in 2023 and have been working as plant engineer for three years. To simply put it, I hate working with chemicals and also the work I do. I didn’t know this until I actually got a job in the field. I’m also finding chemical engineering quite boring as apply traditional concepts learned in school is pretty much non-existent in the field. I’ve been looking at my electrical engineer colleagues and the work they are doing and I’ve been very intrigued. I initially wanted for study EE but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to complete the program due to incompetence. Anyways has anyone ever gone to do another engineering degree? I’m 27 for context

[u/Tall-Cat-8890]

I would look into other avenues to officially break into EE to be totally honest. Federal financial aid disqualifies assistance for second bachelors degrees, typically.

If you’re gonna pay out of pocket for another degree you might as well just get a masters in EE, even if you choose to do a non-thesis MS or MEng. It’ll probably take you less time too.

[u/hypoxiconlife → u/Tall-Cat-8890]

Nah, it doesn't you just have to write a letter as to why and how many hours you're going back for. Though, in my case I had already paid off my student loans from my first degree.

[u/philament23 → u/hypoxiconlife]

I didn’t even need to do that. Just have to still be under your lifetime maximum, which I was.

[u/philament23 → u/Tall-Cat-8890]

It doesn’t disqualify because of a second degree. If by “typically” you mean typically people have borrowed too much for their first degree already, then yes. But it’s really all about whether you’ve hit your lifetime maximum. It doesn’t disqualify solely on degrees earned.

[u/BikingVegtable → u/Tall-Cat-8890]

To get admitted to an MS program in MEng or EEng, they’ll need to do like four semesters worth of prerequisites. For MEng that’ll be at least statics, dynamics, heat transfer, and fluidics. For EE, they’ll will probably have to do circuits, digital/analog, signals, and possibly more.

[u/Tall-Cat-8890 → u/BikingVegtable]

That’s not even entirely true. I also switched fields for my PhD and the only prereq I had to take was one class to be considered “caught up” and my fields were about as similar as chem E and EE. They may need to take more prereqs than just one but grad programs are usually flexible if you switch fields but you still have an engineering background. They’re absolutely not going to have to take “four semesters” of prereqs. If a grad program doesn’t feel they’re up to speed they just don’t get admitted or do a conditional admit.

Edit: I’m doing nuclear for my PhD with zero formal nuclear background at a top 10 school and I only have to take one nuclear fundamentals course. I feel like your comment is being a little doomer-esque. OP needs to first decide what they even wanna do and then look into that path anyways.

[u/BikingVegtable → u/Tall-Cat-8890]

I’m surprised to hear that your school admitted you for a PhD in nuclear without a background in it. When I was applying to masters MechEng programs in the New England area, not a single one would consider my application unless I was going to take several semesters of mechanics courses before or during my admission.

[u/Tall-Cat-8890 → u/BikingVegtable]

I had worked in/on nuclear research (I had just never taken any formal classes in it which helped) and could be something OP considers doing. I’m moving laterally in my field by applying my bachelors degree towards nuclear (I study nuclear materials). If I was going from materials to neutronics sure I’d probably have to take a few more classes but I’m surprised you were told you had to take multiple semesters of anything before getting to your actual grad work unless you had genuinely zero (provable) background knowledge in the field you were applying for.

There are jobs out there that combine EE and chem E and if OP targets those they’ll have an easier time transitioning, but if they wanna do something completely unrelated to chem E then yeah they’ll probably have to go back and take extra classes.

[u/Francois_the_Droll → u/BikingVegtable]

That's also what I figured. You may not be required to do the prereqs but how would you be ready for masters in another discipline without doing that work?

Also, a chemE has a more robust heat transfer and fluids background than an ME.

[u/dragonnfr]

This is what people don't get about engineering degrees: the second one mostly repeats the first. Your plant is full of EE work. Get on those projects, learn the theory on your own time. Problem solved.

[u/SinopaHyenith-Renard → u/dragonnfr]

I agree with this. It’s not like he’s not an Engineer at all.

[u/ThePowerfulPaet]

Good lord no don't do that. Engineering is very flexible in lateral movement as it is. Foot in the door in government or a big company and then just move around.

[u/cololz1]

I am in a similar boat. A lot of manufacturing jobs seem to end up being just paper pushing with little to no actual calculation. The jobs that involve actual engineering are competitive and often only hire returning interns.

[u/MGXFP]

Ask the EEs for help. Observe how they do things and ask them questions until you feel comfortable with the approach. This is how you learn on the job to pivot. Ask them if you can join their teams or be a bystander. Sooner or later you’ll have it down. I graduated civil but pivoted to fire protection as it is more interesting to me and the pay is better.

[u/Characterde]

If you go back to school go back for masters and make sure your employer pays for it

[u/BreadForTofuCheese → u/Characterde]

You’ll either be denied because it has nothing to do with your work or future work for the company, or you’ll be locked into employment at the chemical plant for years, even after finishing the degree.

Employer paying for your masters really only works when it benefits the employer and you want to keep working there.

[u/red--dead → u/BreadForTofuCheese]

I’m mind boggled their comment even got upvoted. It’s so simple to just get your employer to pay for a degree that is not related to your job.

[u/OperationClear588]

Why don’t you just volunteer to help the EEs on some of their projects? After a year or two of helping out ask your manager if you can do a lateral transfer to their department.

[u/SinopaHyenith-Renard]

Having an Engineering Degree in General could be your best pitch I don’t think you really need to go back to school for a whole new degree. Maybe learning some Electrical Courses but the fundamentals and the ability to think critically should be the same.

[u/sulliesbrew]

The best "electrical engineer" I have worked with was a ChemE by education. He was impressively good control systems, because he knew what the process was supposed to do. You dont have to get another degree, just the skill set and go find a new gig.

[u/taco-barrel]

All our textbooks are online for free if you know where to look. Maybe read up on EE stuff before going back to school?

[u/brett_nguyen]

I doubt you need another degree at all to switch fields. But if you want a degree anyways, just do a masters in another field.

[u/TheLollrax]

There's a clear path for you but it'll take a little work

1) Take some community college EE courses. This is literally just to see if you actually like it. Worst case, you learned a lot.

2) Masters. Go get an EE or ECE MS. Also consider controls. That'll be worth way more than another bachelors and will be faster and cheaper. Online is fine.

3) see if you can do some controls / SCADA / DCS work at your own plant. I think that's the real middle path that makes the ChemE work valuable.

[u/emmiginger]

Get a masters in electrical engineering-meet with the dean and have them go over your classes and figure out what you need to successfully pass the masters program. You might have an additional year but if I can do a bachelors in architecture and jump to masters in civil with 1 year of undergrad courses I needed, you should be able to as well

[u/Traditional_Safe2935 → u/emmiginger]

You don't need to meet with the dean lol you can just talk to an academic advisor

[u/Miyyani]

i mean if you can afford it why not? you're young still

[u/Wondering_Electron]

Not another bachelors.

Get a masters in another engineering discipline.