Engineer Survey: Engineering Vs Engineering Technology

[petek]

I graduated with a degree in electronics engineering technology a very long time ago. At the time it seemed the right way to go - as others have posted, ET's generally spend more time doing hands-on work, which is what I was most interested in. I have gradually worked my way up to engineering management (which I found I also like), but my progress would have been much faster with an EE degree.

Though I have been successful with my ET and have gotten to do more hands-on engineering than the EEs and MEs I worked with, if I had to do it over again, I would definitely go for the full engineering degree. It gives you much more room for growth and more respect from management. Basically, I have had to work much harder to get where I am than if I had the "real" engineering degree.

As with most things, there is a qualifier here: if you really like working with your hands and really hate paperwork, meetings and project management, the ET degree may be the way to go. Just be aware of the professional growth limits which may confront you down the road.

[Andrew]

I received my Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of South Carolina (Go, 'Cocks!). I liked the math and there was not Technology alternative.

I went on to pursue my Masters in Controls (MIT) where the math was quite beneficial. After a stint in industry where I actually did occasionally use the calculus, I went back for my PhD (RPI, again in Controls with a little mechanics and acoustics thrown in for interest).

If you want to go to graduate school, you had better pursue the engineering path. Almost ever graduate program is going to hit you pretty hard with the mathematics.

If you think you might want to do advanced development or research, then engineering is your best path.

We do have some ET people pursue graduate degrees in the program where I'm working. They mostly do fine. However, many have to go back and take the calculus sequence in order to be successful.