Engineering Technology Degrees..........

[mustangmike6996]

What can you all, first hand, tell me about ABET Accredited Engineering Technology degrees?

They carry the same accrediting as a normal engineering degree but are more "shop" oriented.

I have about 160 credit hours thru FSU and military ACE accredited course work, AAS in Automotive Repair Technology thru FSU and started to work on my BS in Automotive Management. I talked to OU about a BSME.... they are willing to transfer 3 cr hrs (yes 3) to the bachelors degree or maybe 6 for my BSEE sooooooooooooo I am exploring alternate routes.

I am currently looking into Wayne States Electrical Engineering Technology bachelors degree program offered at MCC thru the University Center. I have 5 years of circuit card diagnosis and repair in the USMC and was (and still retain) my ASE Master, L1 and C1 certs. I am a bit more hands on, like most people on this forum. I think I would be able to apply more knowledge and credit hours to the EET degree.

I will be utilizing my GI Bill for classes which gives me 36 months to get as much done as possible but I also work full time in Auburn Hills so I will be looking at 6-12 credit hours per semester depending on the class difficulty.

The easiest route would be to finish my BS in Management thru FSU but this would render me ineligible to start my BSME/BSEE or BSEET due to the GI bill only covering one degree path or advancing what you already have completed.

What would you guys do in my situation?

 

[Droptoplt1ta]

I also have the AAS in Automotive Repair Technology, and for me to get a Bachelors, the Ferris BS in Automotive Management seems to be the quickest and easiest route. I have also looked into other options as well, but none I have found seem faster/easier than that route

 

[RSpencer]

Same boat for me with the AAS . Meeting with an advisor at my community college Thursday to see what I need to get a bachelors at FSU.

 

[mustangmike6996]

Yea, I know that the BS in Management is the fastest route.

Im more concerned about the employability of the Engineering Technology Bachelors.

Im currently working at the Tech center in Auburn Hills and don't want to short change myself with a engineering technology degree if its not recognized (even though its an ABET accredited program)

I also don't want to take the BSME or BSEE at OU and have to start from the beginning (That would put me at about 290 total credit hours by the time of graduation)

 

[SuperStang90]

I can tell you that here at my work (NISSAN) that those degrees will land you a "Spec" engineering position. IMO go with the full ME or EE degree.

 

[mustangmike6996]

I can tell you that here at my work (NISSAN) that those degrees will land you a "Spec" engineering position. IMO go with the full ME or EE degree.

What is a "Spec" position?

 

[RSpencer]

I work for a company contracted through one of the big 3. I know that there is good amount of engineer positions that accept a technology degree as part of the qualification, at least in my particular area of employment

 

[mustangmike6996]

I work for a company contracted through one of the big 3. I know that there is good amount of engineer positions that accept a technology degree as part of the qualification, at least in my particular area of employment

Im in the same situation. Working as a contract worker at the CTC and all positions say BS in Engineering, ABET accredited. Id prefer to be hands-on in a lab as opposed to behind a desk.

Im currently behind a desk utilizing CATIA and its not my favorite by any means but I love the company/atmosphere.

 

[SuperStang90]

Basically and Engineers bitch. lol. Less pay, not as much responsibility ect.

 

[mustangmike6996]

Basically and Engineers bitch. lol. Less pay, not as much responsibility ect.

If by that you mean, hey this needs to be disassembled for analysis and documented that wouldn't be a bad gig.

How much less pay are we talking, are they making 30k/yr or are they actually doing decent for themselves?

 

[SuperStang90]

It's not bad. Just lower then a full engineering degree. I'm not sure if every company is like this but I know that's how they operate here

 

[Pwraddr]

It's not bad. Just lower then a full engineering degree. I'm not sure if every company is like this but I know that's how they operate here

I think most are that way......

 

[mustangmike6996]

It's not bad. Just lower then a full engineering degree. I'm not sure if every company is like this but I know that's how they operate here

Yea I understand that.

Im on the-get the degree and make the most of it- path. I have sooooooo much time in school and Im trying to finish a BS to get where I want to be in the company. I know a few people who had tried to do the Eng. Tech program and then go to an actual ME program that had issues like 10 years ago. It seems like now that they are ABET accredited they carry more weight during hiring.

If Wayne gives me enough credit hours that transfer then I might do that. I have a baby on the way and I just cant seem to make any sense of starting a degree from nothing seeing as I have so many credit hours as it sits.

 

[Scotty95GT]

I've got a mfg egr tech degree from WMU and it's given me much more flexibility in my career path. I've worked as an engineering manager, program manager, quality engineer, onsite tech support, and somehow I ended up wanting to do sales/account management and my technical background/egr tech gives me a huge edge in working with internal/external customers. Egr tech degree'd people are needed in this world just as much as ME's, IE's, etc.

 

[mustangmike6996]

I've got a mfg egr tech degree from WMU and it's given me much more flexibility in my career path. I've worked as an engineering manager, program manager, quality engineer, onsite tech support, and somehow I ended up wanting to do sales/account management and my technical background/egr tech gives me a huge edge in working with internal/external customers. Egr tech degree'd people are needed in this world just as much as ME's, IE's, etc.

What kind of pay scale would an Eng. Tech be looking at for some of those positions on the high and low side?

 

[Overboost]

At my previous job, guys with EET degrees got stuck with $5-10k less than those with BSEE degrees.

Also, as someone who went to WSU, I'd skip them and go elsewhere. Their engineering college is all about research and doesn't do much to help nurture or make its students better. Just my $.02...

 

[mustangmike6996]

Who else offers an on campus program near auburn hills that is reputable?

 

[Scotty95GT]

What kind of pay scale would an Eng. Tech be looking at for some of those positions on the high and low side?

When I graduated the average starting pay was around $56,000 for someone with the WMU MFG EGR Tech degree. Knowing what I know now, that number was low and I think $65,000 - 75,000 is a solid number for the entry level pay. You can make more money usually by going to a smaller company as they will pay more to try to keep you (if you are any good).

 

[igotaneed4speed]

A engineering degree in my mind has no weight anymore to pull a higher salary. They're are several very smart Mechanical Engineers that work in my build, your typical semi fresh out of school book smart people.. They've all been hired as IE's, they pay is crap prob 50k-60k, work a ton of hours etc...

Then there's several of the skilled set guys like myself, mechanical back ground, ability to think on your feet and know how to manage a crew of guys to get shit done, none of us have bachelors degrees, hell I think I'm of the few who have a associates and we all make well over 100k...

Doesn't add up in my head to start with a bachelors, get and associates, get into a job you like that pays for schooling, work for them and let them pay for you to go to school while making money and get your bachelors which opens doors for further ladder rung changes.

 

[02GTVert]

Look to see if Baker offers anything you are interested in. I just started through there, the last time I was in college was 10 years ago and they transferred in 108 of my credits from my Associates of Law Enforcement with Macomb CC.