individual to pursue a Bachelor, Masters, or Doctoral program?
Part of the selection process is in first determining the answer to the often-asked question, “What is it you wish to be when you grow up?” Although the question is simple, the answer may be complicated by many factors: interests, background, financial concerns, educational accomplishments, and so on. As a matter of fact, many students begin with one goal in mind and find that the goal changes as they learn more about their choice of study or develop other interests.
One of the fundamental choices the student must make is whether to pursue a career in the Arts or Sciences. In the first case, the studies will center on education, art, speech, business, philosophy, and similar fields. In the latter case, the studies will center on engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or other such fields.
Once the student determines what field to pursue, another decision will be what school to attend. In many cases, the student will go to a nearby school or one that will provide the degree they wish to obtain at a reasonable cost. Almost all such schools will provide a reasonable program, preparing students for their planned careers. For students who have a strong interest in research, however, the list of schools recognized nationally for their strong research programs is limited. Based on our recruiting experience, some schools that come to mind are Carnegie-Mellon University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Stanford, and Purdue, just to cite some examples.
Given that most schools will provide the student with the fundamentals for their program of interest, students must determine what program contains the information most directly applicable to their interests. In some cases, for example, a school may offer a degree in electrical engineering, with all the requisite courses expected for that program. A closer look, however, may reveal that the upper-level classes may stress motor design or similar specialty, whereas the student is interested in control systems — not necessarily a good fit. Look closely at the school offerings; in many cases, the offerings will reflect the employers in a region, with specialties closely aligned with the employer needs. Also, school offerings may reflect societal interests, i.e. agriculture, animal husbandry, and similar offerings in a heavy farming oriented area.
In many cases, a Bachelor degree will be sufficient for a successful career. In some rare cases, the employer will place requirements on the new engineer to obtain a Masters or Doctoral degree as part of their ongoing employment, but such requirements are unusual — a little more about that later. In many cases, the employer will provide a reimbursement program to encourage their employees to continue their education, thus enabling them to obtain advanced degrees.
The emphasis found in most Masters programs is to provide a specialized program for the student. The curriculum can be manipulated to provide the student with courses concentrating in the areas of career interest. From a general degree at the Bachelor level, where the intent is grounding the student in fundamental educational needs, the student can concentrate on areas of interest that couldn’t be followed at the undergraduate level. As previously noted, many employers will provide some form of tuition refund, ranging from a percentage of the tuition, to full reimbursement plus books and time off to attend classes. Both authors experienced the latter policy with IBM.
The Masters program is not limited to the sciences by any means. Of particular interest, especially in the United States, is the MBA (Masters in Business Administration). In the MBA, the orientation is to prepare the graduate to develop the necessary skills and expertise to run a successful business.
Some students who wish to teach or work in research-oriented careers may bypass the Masters program and move directly from their undergraduate degree program to a Doctoral program. Those pursuing a Masters degree often have the choice of writing a thesis or taking additional class hours. We strongly recommend that students take the thesis route for a number of reasons. First, the thesis provides the student with the opportunity to develop a highly-structured report, with emphasis on style, content, and findings. Second, it requires students to present their findings to a review board (professors), just as they may do during their career to management. Finally, most programs expect some level of original research to be included within the thesis; thus, it is not the simple search for existing material. It is a more difficult route, but well worth the effort in furthering one’s career.
A Doctorate degree represents the pinnacle of success in our educational system. It addresses an extended term of educational accomplishment, as well as some level of original research: the dissertation. There are a number of careers that demand that individuals obtain a doctorate in order to advance, or even participate. A good example is the field of education at the college level. Although some colleges allow Master degrees for Adjunct and Associate Professors, the role of the Assistant or Full Professor typically requires a Ph.D. A Ph.D. is also frequently required for school teachers who wish to move into administration, eventually becoming principals and similar posts.
For companies heavily involved in basic research, such as IBM, General Electric, Texas Instruments, Intel, Motorola, and others, obtaining a Ph.D. is required simply to be considered for employment. That is not to say that these companies employ only Ph.D.s; there are many career paths with each that do not involve basic research. As both authors can attest, career opportunities can abound for those with just a Bachelor degree or Masters.
It should also be noted that Ph.D. recipients may also find opportunities outside of basic research. Spencer, as a Test Department manager, had a Ph.D. engineer assigned to his department. At first, the new engineer had a bit of trouble with the hands-on aspect of his job as a test engineer. However, as he gained experience, he became an excellent addition to the staff; he could explain not just what was happening, but also the theoretical aspects in much greater depth. Some years later, that Ph.D. engineer’s son was studying for his Doctorate in electrical engineering, and his father kept after him to understand not only the what’s and why’s of what he was learning, but also the practical applications as well. It is that very depth of knowledge found in the studies for a Ph.D. that accentuates the value of this degree.
Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate? Again, a simple question with the complex answers. What is it you wish to accomplish over your career? This “bucket list” may be the deciding factor on what educational degrees you must reach for. In some cases, it may simply be a feeling of self-accomplishment, adding nothing to one’s career, but the personal satisfaction that it could be done. Perhaps it may the good feeling of being able to participate in the many activities to benefit mankind. It may be simply the desire to teach, helping others reach their full potential through your efforts. Regardless of the reason, reach out and find the niche that best fits your goals.
Suggested Problems
1. Write a 250–300 word paper explaining your desire to be come an engineer.
2. Analyze your plan for a degree program. What is your long-term educational goal and why?
Other Readings
Christopher Columbus: Explorer. http://www.enchantedlearning.com John F. Kennedy and the Space Program. http://www.uah.edu
King, Rev. Martin Luther. (1963). I Have A Dream. http://www.usconstitution.net
The Impossible Dream. From Man of La Mancha, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Dorian.
