M.S. degree versus M.E. (master of engineering)

Question

Professionally, does it make a difference to have to have master's of science in engineering (where a thesis is required)? I'm planning to go to graduate school and I'm not sure which way to go. I would prefer just to get my master's of engineering (no thesis required). But I don't want that to be a deal breaker when I hit the job market. Any opinions, experience... etc. is welcome.

Answer 1

ME might give you a greater boost in the initial hiring of the job market.  Engineers in general initially hire at higher rates of pay.  You also need to think about the possibility of pursuing either a PhD in engineering or science or if you would rather earn a PE.  PEs are earned PhD like degrees in engineering that are acquired under a PhD or PE in the field.

In the end, you need to find what is more to your interest too.  Why do things work alone? Analysis and basic science work.  How to apply and find why things work?  Finding direct commercial and industrial applications to known and newly discovered stuff.  

Answer 2

I had to ask myself the same thing when i was getting my masters. It depends on what you want to do I think. Since I was getting a PhD anyways and had done a bunch of research already I just did the MS. If the field you are going into or more precisely the job you are going into is going to me more research oriented then maybe the MS is better. If your job will be more design oriented maybe the MSE would be better. At least that is how I thought of it.

For a differing opinion, some of the people I went to school with told me I was stupid because it is better to have "engineering" in your degree. My response was that since I was getting a PhD anyways it didnt really matter.

I hope that wasnt totally useless.