EE to AE Grad Studies; Aerospace/Defense Industry

[sloan13]

I am currently an electrical engineering student, and I was wondering if it was possible to get a master's degree in AE if you have a BS or MS in EE. I know I at least want a master's in EE. I would like to work in the aerospace and defense industries. Are there many EE opportunities in this area.

 

[donpacino]

Yes it is possible to get a master's degree in AE with a BS in EE. some of my fellow new hires at a defense company are working towards AE degrees, and 2 of them have EE backgrounds.

 

[sloan13]

Yes it is possible to get a master's degree in AE with a BS in EE. some of my fellow new hires at a defense company are working towards AE degrees, and 2 of them have EE backgrounds.

For working in defense, would it be better to get a MS in AE, ME, physics, or a combination of these?

 

[Dustinsfl]

As donpacion pointed out, it isn't a big deal to get a grad degree in a different field. I have a BS in Math and a BS in Finance. I started my grad education in a MS in Pure Math, realized I preferred applied math, realized applied math programs are a lot of pure math with a just flavor of applied on the side, and then just said screw this and transferred to a MS in Mech E where I take more applied math, physics, EE, CS, and ME courses than in applied. I don't have an undergraduate understanding in Engineering, but I still have a 3.7 GPA in Mech E so it is doable without the the undergrad knowledge in the field.

 

[sloan13]

As donpacion pointed out, it isn't a big deal to get a grad degree in a different field. I have a BS in Math and a BS in Finance. I started my grad education in a MS in Pure Math, realized I preferred applied math, realized applied math programs are a lot of pure math with a just flavor of applied on the side, and then just said screw this and transferred to a MS in Mech E where I take more applied math, physics, EE, CS, and ME courses than in applied. I don't have an undergraduate understanding in Engineering, but I still have a 3.7 GPA in Mech E so it is doable without the the undergrad knowledge in the field.

For switching to a different program, was there prerequisites you needed to take before being accepted? If so, how much longer would it take?

 

[Dustinsfl]

For switching to a different program, was there prerequisites you needed to take before being accepted? If so, how much longer would it take?

At first, they said I may need to take pre-reqs but that never materialized. I asked about it they said you are fine. The only pre-reqs would have been undergrad courses anyways. At that point though, I already passed and completed the core requirements. I had no engineering background just a math background and did fine. With an engineering background, you should be good to go since you have taken engineering core. I know at my university, the core engineering pre-reqs are similar for EE, ME, CE, etc.

 

[donpacino]

For working in defense, would it be better to get a MS in AE, ME, physics, or a combination of these?

That depends on what you want to do. I would say an ME degree is more marketable in general. if you really want to do aerospace engineering then either degree would work.

I really can't comment on the physics degree