How much is better a PhD in Aerospace Engineering than a Masters?

[Gjmdp]

How better is a PhD in aerospace engineering than a master. Is it worthly?
Of course, I think than with a PhD in aerospace engineering you earn some more, but I know that if I wan't money I shouldn't go into STEM. So, does a PhD in aerospace engineering opens more job opportunities, positions...? Or... maybe it gives you the same benefits as with a master?

 

[JakeBrodskyPE]

One of the things a Ph.D is good for is to prove that you understand enough about the state of the art to go right to the edge of what is known and to do something to broaden that knowledge.

In Engineering, what matters more than a formal academic education is experience. A Ph.D in an Engineering field may help slightly when you get enough experience to be a candidate for technical leadership. But in terms of something that will pay off right away in the working world, I don't think it will help much. And by the time you get to a position of leadership like that, experience, self study, and attitude matter much more.

Regardless of these issues, the jobs are out there. You won't starve...

 

[Vanadium 50]

An MS is a professional degree - the intent is to prepare someone for becoming an active, practicing engineer. A PhD is a research degree - the intent is to prepare someone to research new aspects of engineering, and (more recently) to teach aspiring engineers. There is also something called an Engineer's degree, offered at a small number of schools (MIT, Stanford, Naval Postgraduiate School, UCLA...) which is a professional degree post-Masters.

 

[Shaun_W]

How better is a PhD in aerospace engineering than a master. Is it worthly?
Of course, I think than with a PhD in aerospace engineering you earn some more, but I know that if I wan't money I shouldn't go into STEM. So, does a PhD in aerospace engineering opens more job opportunities, positions...? Or... maybe it gives you the same benefits as with a master?

A PhD opens up a very certain type of position but other than that it doesn't really give you any advantage over a regular engineering degree.

 

[Gjmdp]

A PhD opens up a very certain type of position but other than that it doesn't really give you any advantage over a regular engineering degree.

Ok, I agree, but what type of position? Research? Engineering management?

 

[Shaun_W]

Ok, I agree, but what type of position? Research? Engineering management?

Mainly research or heavy analysis based positions.

 

[Gjmdp]

Mainly research or heavy analysis based positions.

Ok sounds interesting. I love researching and I imagine myself doing it on the future.
But I think that with a M.S in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Applied Physics (or maybe Astrophysics) will keep the possibilities for doing research on A.engineering. And also, I would learn more about Physics (not only classical mechanics), and even more Mathematics! So is that a good idea?

 

[Shaun_W]

Ok sounds interesting. I love researching and I imagine myself doing it on the future.
But I think that with a M.S in Aerospace Engineering and a PhD in Applied Physics (or maybe Astrophysics) will keep the possibilities for doing research on A.engineering. And also, I would learn more about Physics (not only classical mechanics), and even more Mathematics! So is that a good idea?

Not really sure, sorry.

 

[Gjmdp]

Not really sure, sorry.

Look www.bit.ly/1RkdBP8, Aerospace Corporation pays 218000$/year to a Physics PhD, more than to an Aerospace Engineer PhD (118500$/year)!
It seems some interesting on graduate Physics in the Aerospace field, isn't?