Experience and or Thoughts on Dual Major E.E.+M.E.

[fmadero]

Does anyone know if it is worth doing both Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering? Does it help or hurt? Anyone know of a person who has done this and what was there outcome.

 

[Topher925]

I'm an ME and thought about doing this. I went with just the ME and now currently do electromechanical work. If you want to do both then I would just get a BS degree in electromechanics followed by a MS.

 

[stewartcs]

Does anyone know if it is worth doing both Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering? Does it help or hurt? Anyone know of a person who has done this and what was there outcome.

It's has helped me personally, but it really depends on what area you want to work in.

CS

 

[FredGarvin]

I can't see how it would hurt you. I too thought about it. My school had a 5 year plan to get both. I just could not afford that extra year or I would have done it. If anything you run the risk of not using it to the full potential. I just can not see how cross training can be a bad thing in this day and age.

My employer now has pretty much shown that, even though I dabble in the electrical side too, they would prefer an MS over a dual degree for their engineers. That's just us though. Opinions will vary I am sure.

 

[Topher925]

I'll just make the statement: Its better to know a lot about a little, rather than a little about a lot.

When it comes to industry anyway.

 

[FredGarvin]

I straddle that line in my own career. A Jack-of-all-trades, master of none is not looked upon favorably in most circles I deal with. However it is rather ironic that there has always been the push for engineers to have a wider breadth of knowledge.

 

[mshinavar]

I'll just make the statement: Its better to know a lot about a little, rather than a little about a lot.

When it comes to industry anyway.

depends entirely on the company and the location. if you work for a small company, and have a PhD in aeroelastics, you'll be worthless 99% of the time. but at the same company someone with an aero and EE degree would be worth their weight in gold

i immediately jump to this example because I've only worked for small locations or small companies (<5k people)

 

[isly ilwott]

EE and a law degree is an awesome combination.

 

[fmadero]

It's has helped me personally, but it really depends on what area you want to work in.

CS

I am thinking maybe an analytical engineer, may be in control systems/senors or robotics/automation but I am not completely for sure. Ideally if I could use my background in computer science and could combine this with electrical and/or mechanical it would be a dream come true.

-frank

 

[only_huce]

How far are you currently in college? Because I'm going into my third year of studying as an ME and it's pretty tough. I have friend's who are in EE and they say it's not any easier. I mean engineering is a tough major all together but if you can handle it than by all means go for it. At the same time just make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew, because a dual degree in engineering is tough.

Also, some things look good on paper, but when it comes to practicality it's not really worth it. If you get an ME degree and work a job that requires EE skills, chances are if they hired you, you'll learn those skills on the job. Same goes for vice versa. I know a guy who was in charge of making programs to run nuclear reactors at the power plant he worked at. He graduated with a PhD in ME. He had neither a nuclear engineering degree nor a computer science degree, but they taught him all of the stuff he needed to know after he got the job. So for now I say just go for whatever you really think interests you the most, you'll learn the other stuff along the way.