How long does it take to graduate as an engineer?

B0BTheBuilder · 06-08-2010, 01:25 AM

Well, basically i was wondering the average span of time it takes the average engineering major to graduate with their undergraduate degree or masters in engineering.

Of course factors include things like:
major you selected (civil, mechanical, biomedical etc.)
if you we're a transfer student
which school you went to
family problems (etc.)

quite frankly i'm interested in aerospace at either UCLA, UCSD, or Cal Poly SLO as a transfer student. I'm willing to load up as many classes as i can handle, and i have determination and motivation to make it far and i'd of course like to finish within 4 years if that's possible.

But i was wondering if a few members ( who have or havn't graduated ) could post the average time it took to get your degree if it was a masters, bachelors, or PhD and how long it took you? Also where you went to school and what your major was would really help!

Thanks! i'm very curious

norris212 · 06-08-2010, 01:37 AM

I'm transferring in the fall to UCSB for mechanical engineering. I almost decided on UCSD Aerospace but didn't. Anyways, for a transfer student it's very hard to get your bachelors in 4 years unless you transfer to a school that's on the semester system (the ones you mentioned are on quarter). So I would say 5 years to get your bachelors at one of those schools. It's probably possible to do it in 4, but I wouldn't recommend it for a transfer student unless you're really in a hurry to get out. And I just remembered... When I visited UCSD they said the aerospace program for transfer students was laid out over 3 years, so yea it would probably take 5 total.

If you go to a University straight out of High School it's much easier to do it in 4 years, but some people stretch it out to 5.

B0BTheBuilder · 06-08-2010, 01:50 AM

Ohh awesome you're a transfer student too?! i'm just wondering, do i have to do all igetc requirements aswell for transfer aswell as the major prep requirements listed on assist.org? or can i just do all the major prep requirements and no igetc, since if i added that all up, that would be like 110+ units prior to transfering.

and does it help if i do igetc + the major prep requirements? or no? thanks

norris212 · 06-08-2010, 02:04 AM

For engineering you don't want to follow igetc. Engineering students usually need less GE than other majors. I say usually because UCSD has the same GE requirements for engineering students. So if you complete igetc, you could be wasting a lot of time. The only GE classes you need to take before you transfer are the two intro writing courses, and a few other GE courses; I think they call it UC minimum eligibility (it was on the back of the igetc sheet at my school).

So I would complete all of the major courses and the minimum UC eligiblity courses. Also check the sites for each university to see what you need to be admitted. Sometimes you don't need all of the courses on assist to be admitted, it just shows which major courses will transfer.

B0BTheBuilder · 06-08-2010, 02:08 AM

dude thanks for the info i really appreciate it!

also wondering, how many units did you have when you actually transferred? and what we're most of the classes and which general education courses did u actually have to take? also, sorry if i'm asking too much, but was ur gpa high?

UChopeful2010 · 06-08-2010, 02:27 AM

For UCSD, if you can finish IGETC and your major prereqs, it would be ideal. You would be guaranteed admission (provided you meet all minimum eligibility requirements) and for most of UCSD's undergraduate colleges you would only need to do the minimum number of GE's upon transfer.

norris212 · 06-08-2010, 02:30 AM

No problem I'm glad I can help. I found my igetc sheet and here's what you need: Two english classes, one math (which you'll already have), 4 courses total from areas 3,4, and 5 (you should have three courses already just from physics). So you'll probably only need to take the 2 writing courses and 1 more GE class.

I had way more units than were needed; I had some bad counseling advise haha and wasted a little bit of time on GE courses I didn't need. But you need at least 60 units to transfer and I don't think they accept more than 70, but don't worry if you have more, it's not like they'll deny you. Just try not to get too much more than 70 or you'll be wasting time.

For my major courses I took 3 calc classes, linear algebra, differential equations, 3 classes in physics, chemistry, statics, materials, a few programming classes (only needed 1), and circuits. I think that was all.

For my GE classes, which I had too many of, I had Spanish, 2 english classes, statistics, political science, psychology, film studies, and speech. By the way I think you need a speech class for cal poly so add that to your GE list.

When I applied to schools I had a transferable GPA of 3.45, which is decent. I got into UCSB ME, UC Davis AE, and UCSD AE. I got waitlisted for Cal Poly AE (still waiting), and denied from UCLA AE. I would say for the schools you mentioned try and get a 3.5+. Usually a 3.4 or 3.5 would get you into all of those except maybe LA, but the standards rose this year because of the economy.

Feel free to keep asking questions I'm glad I could help!

norris212 · 06-08-2010, 02:32 AM

The problem with being guaranteed admission for UCSD is that you are NOT guaranteed into the school of engineering, you're only guaranteed admission into UCSD. So you would have to gain admission into engineering after you attend or hopefully you are admitted into engineering when you apply.

UChopeful2010 · 06-08-2010, 04:48 PM

^as long as the major isn't impacted you will be accepted into that major if igetc is complete. I had only up to calc 2 and no physics or gen chem and I was accepted into ee

norris212 · 06-08-2010, 04:57 PM

Interesting point, but it looks like BOB is doing aerospace, which is impacted. I would say complete igetc only if you are 100% sure that you want to go to UCSD. If you are thinking about UCLA and Cal Poly also, I would only take the couple of GE classes that you need. If you complete igetc and end up going to somewhere other than UCSD, you will have wasted a lot of time on classes you didn't need.

GLOBALTRAVELER · 06-08-2010, 04:58 PM

The answer: It varies.

More and more engineering majors are taking more semesters to graduate mainly because they want to protect that GPA. Now they can still finish in 4 calendar years if the student takes classes during the summer.

I know my cousin had most of his general education courses during the summer because they are offered much more than engineering courses. He would take one 3-credit course during summer session 1 and another during summer session 2. That left him only needing 12-13 credit Fall and Spring Semesters which was usually 3 courses and some lab.

Depends on the student.