Can You Succeed in Engineering with Just an Associate's Degree?

[x14ace]

Hello everyone,

Just saying what's up. I guess if I'm posting in here I'll ask something and see what happens. Anyone think its possible to get an associates degree in mechanical engineering, then go straight into finding ways to get experience and work up from there and still be successful as an engineer? I don't want to put more time or money into school. I feel like I could use the 2 more years it would take to get the bachelor's degree to actually do something with my life. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do yet, I just want to continue expanding my knowledge and be ready for any opportunities that come my way. It would be cool to do research on something people don't know about yet or I'd like to just have my own business and design everything about it but any suggestions on places to start? I know it might be hard but I know I will put in as much work as it would take.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Welcome to PF!

 

[axmls]

Hello everyone,

Just saying what's up. I guess if I'm posting in here I'll ask something and see what happens. Anyone think its possible to get an associates degree in mechanical engineering, then go straight into finding ways to get experience and work up from there and still be successful as an engineer? I don't want to put more time or money into school. I feel like I could use the 2 more years it would take to get the bachelor's degree to actually do something with my life. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do yet, I just want to continue expanding my knowledge and be ready for any opportunities that come my way. It would be cool to do research on something people don't know about yet or I'd like to just have my own business and design everything about it but any suggestions on places to start? I know it might be hard but I know I will put in as much work as it would take.

It would be impossible to become certified as a Professional Engineer. Take this with a grain of salt too, but it would probably be very difficult to find a job as some sort of engineer, as you'd be competing against actual engineers.

Anyway, that said, I don't think it's even possible to get an associates degree in mechanical engineering.

 

[jtbell]

I don't think it's even possible to get an associates degree in mechanical engineering

A Google search for "associates degree mechanical engineering" turns up a lot of hits for associates (2-year) degrees in mechanical engineering technology. Whether this plus a lot of work experience is enough to get a "real engineering" job, I'll leave to people who actually know something about engineering careers to comment on.

 

[Tolklein]

Hi obviously don't know your background. But doing a degree in mech eng is doing something with your life (IMHO), if engineering is what interests you. If you are concerned about missing 2 years experience do it part time. Going to college and interacting with other students and lectures also gives one perspective of what's going on in your respective field.
If nothing else working full time and studying part time will quickly show you what it takes to start your own business, except you will be much more stressed out running a business.
The tricky thing about doing something nobody else is doing, should be obvious. The Internet proves that a heck of a lot of what you thought was new/unique is already being done somewhere. That's not to say you can't do it anyway and expand/improve on it.
Good luck with your endeavours.

 

[Head_Unit]

I would say that many job posting will require a Bachelor's Degree and if you don't have it your resume goes in the trash, regardless of how qualified you may be.