PE and MS in ChE

College Majors Engineering Majors
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<p>So, I have a couple years left in my BSChE program and I’m trying to decide what route I’d like to take once I graduate. I was thinking about getting licensed as a PE. However, I know very little about the demand and utility of ChEngs with PEs within industry. I know it’s fairly popular with CivEs but is it seen as sort of superfluous for ChEs? Are they more in demand in consulting than say in industrial process? </p>

<p>Also, I was thinking about getting my MS in ChE as well. However, I’m not sure how excited I am by most of the curricula I’ve seen and definitely not excited by the prospect of staying in school until I’m nearly 30. So, how valuable are MS’s for the field? Are they worth the possible debt accumulation? What is the opportunity cost of two years in an MS program versus two years gaining experience in industry? Will I enter the often mentioned “no-man’s land” of over-qualificaton for entry level pos’s and lack of experience for mid-career pos’s?</p>

<p>TIA</p>

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<p>In an industrial setting, you will very, very rarely ever need to stamp anything. Being licensed won’t help you much in the hiring process, but it won’t hurt. The biggest negative, in my opinion, is that by having a PE, you’ve signaled to management that you want to be an engineer for life, as opposed to moving up the management ladder. There was also mention a few weeks ago about an increased liability for PE’s if a company is ever sued (but I don’t know if I buy it). </p>

<p>Even in a consulting role you will very rarely ever need to be licensed. However, having the letters after your name is helpful when meeting with clients and can be a factor in hiring.</p>

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<p>The best part about an MS program is that most companies will pay for them and many schools offer the degree at night / online. Most engineering schools will allow you to earn an MS online/remote now, and even Stanford has an online MS degree in chemical engineering.</p>

<p>As far as advantage in practice, it’s not really that much in chemical engineering. If you’re interested in a master’s degree, an MBA (if you intend to pursue management) or an MS in a related field such as mechanical or electrical engineering (if you intend to pursue a technical career) is more beneficial, in my opinion.</p>

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<p>Get the MS if you can, it’ll be worth it. You should have an easier time getting into management, R&D, or more interesting positions.</p>

<p>Don’t get a PE unless you find yourself working for a PE or if they are asking you to get one. In my experience all the PEs in ChemE work for consulting firms, and the PE serves more as credentials than a sign of ability. When you work for the company you are doing the work for they care more about your ability than the paperwork that you come with. Still, I would recommend doing the EIT/FE now, before you forget everything.</p>

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<p>This definitely sounds like the way to go. Is this something that should be expected after a certain amount of years in industry?</p>

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<p>An MS in engineering isn’t really expected in industry, however most people do earn a master’s degree at some point (frequently an MBA).</p>

<p>My advice is that if you plan to do an MS, do it right after your BS. Take the GRE and apply to programs while in your senior year. Then when interviewing with employers, ask them if they pay for advanced degrees. Choose an employer that does (virtually all large companies pay for MS degrees now - MBA’s are another issue).</p>

<p>It’s harder to go back to school if you take a few years off (not only will you start to forget material and study skills, but you’ll also be ready to start a family).</p>