M.A.Sc. or B.Eng? Engineering Career Advice

[Jemaine]

I'm sure you guys are sick of questions like these but I thought that I should ask anyway. Earlier this year I graduated with a B.Sc. joint major in Physics and Applied Math and while I enjoyed most of the program the job search since graduating has me doubting whether or not I would be happy with most of the usual career paths. Recently I have been considering the prospect of an engineering career and I am trying to weigh my options. As much as I enjoy sciences I would rather work in an industry that would allow me to be a little creative. The course I perhaps enjoyed most was an engineering design course I took while deciding on a major. I also have a great interest in aviation (I spent my summers flying as a teenager) so an aerospace career also interests me. Over the past few months I have been looking into engineering related M.A.Sc. programs at universities such as Carlton, McMaster and UBC. This would seem like the best option however my average is just meeting the minimum requirements now which obviously doesn't give me much of a competitive advantage. At the advice of a former professor I'm taking classes to give my average a boost (both retaking previous courses and some new ones). Realistically I imagine that my average would be around 78% after the winter semester. I guess my question is am I wasting my time? Would it be more realistic to do and engineering undergrad? It would take longer (five years vs three) but it is a coop program so I would at least gain some work experience from it. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[gwnorth]

Are you anticipating needing to be a licensed engineer with a P.Eng? If so the pathway with a M.ASc is much less straightforward than with a B.Eng/B.ASc It can be done but you have to write a bunch of additional exams and jump through more hoops since the primary requirement for a P.Eng is an undergraduate engineering degree. If you don't anticipate needing your P.Eng I would think the masters route would make more sense. An additional consideration is can you be accepted directly into an engineering M.ASc. directly with a B.Sc. or will you be required to pick up some undergraduate Engineering courses first? If so that will add more time on to your degree making the two programs closer in terms of time to completion. Lastly I would consider cost. While co-op can help offset some of the costs of an undergraduate engineering degree, tuition for engineering programs is typically in the $12-14k/per year. Graduate programs are often funded and as such wouldn't cost you anything to complete.

 

[gleem]

Have you seen my post on Engineering Phyiscs?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/is-engineering-physics-right-for-you.975506/
I do not know if this can mesh with your interest in Aerospace though.

 

[Jody]

If the pay matters too, then I would go for a MSc; it's something I'd like to do too, and I'm already working in aerospace with an undergraduate degree, but there are good points given above I didn't have to consider since I'm in the US and my work does not require a PE or similar/equivalent.