What degree should I take on?

[1GCRXHF]

Another thing to keep in mind is that with most mech. eng. degrees, you can dual major in Physics with only a few extra classes. I say get the mechanical, the only other two that would have anything to do with alt. fuels is electrical eng. or chemistry.

[Blue07CivicEX]

I don't know how FAU is but some schools you can duel major Mech/Aero Engineering which would be excellent. I personally am an Electrical/Computer Systems Duel which isn't bad for this stuff but because more of it is airflow/drag/friction it's a little more Mech/Aero. If you're decent at one of the fields already (been a machinist for 10 years or an electrician for 5 or whatever) you might want to take courses in the field you are less familiar with to expand your knowledge base.

[TheDon]

I'm starting out college, first year done at community college and another year to go before I transfer to UCF.. I want to use my degree like how Trik wants too...

[ebacherville]

edited.. wrong thread... lol

However mechanical engineering and some Areodynamics cources could come in really handy..

[trikkonceptz]

Thank you for yor input guys ... It just frustrates me because I have over 10 years of in the field experience in both motorcycle and automotive design. Meaning I can fabricate just about anything for any vehicle, plus have the aptitude to make it beautiful, and functional.

And while I would like to think that I have the potential to influence this emerging trend of fuel efficiency, I feel like an unheard voice because I do not have a plaque on the wall behind me signed and stamped by a college.

When I come out of this tunnel from the other side I should be dangerous. A degree (Or multiple) plus 10+ years of applied experience should raise me above the rest emerging in this field.

[88CRX]

I'm an ME, it so happend that my career ended up with transportation... first aircraft, now submarines. I must say in the post manufacturing world they are the same.

Anyways, if the environment is your concern, and want to have a degree with the most impact... go to LAW!!!

The machines will follow specs the Law makers dictates.

If you want to improve machinary, i suggest The a BS in Mechanical, and then go to Law school. You can get into transportation, alterante energy etc

If you want to improve the environement other ways, prevent deforestation, protect endangered species... then maybe BS Enviromental Science, then go Law school

Or go into politics

[Warhawk626]

Congratulations on the decision to go back. I plan on doing the same thing after I graduate the first time . I wanted to be an engineer in high school..got to college and did the typical 12 different majors the first year and now I'm a junior in accounting Anyway my wife is with a company that has been franchising out and she looks to be pretty well set up in about 2-3 years. So I figure I'll work for maybe a year or two after that and go back to my first love. I originally wanted to do aero but I'm wanting to do more mechanical now. Finding this site sparked my interest again. Thanks for that guys

[88CRX]

Originally Posted by Warhawk626

Congratulations on the decision to go back. I plan on doing the same thing after I graduate the first time . I wanted to be an engineer in high school..got to college and did the typical 12 different majors the first year and now I'm a junior in accounting Anyway my wife is with a company that has been franchising out and she looks to be pretty well set up in about 2-3 years. So I figure I'll work for maybe a year or two after that and go back to my first love. I originally wanted to do aero but I'm wanting to do more mechanical now. Finding this site sparked my interest again. Thanks for that guys

I suggest Mechanical... I'm a M.E. got hired for and Aerospace position. M.E.'s can pretty much get into anything that the Aerospace guys can, and a bunch more of stuff. ex i'm in submarines now.

The curriculum is almost exactly the same... except the examples in there text pertain to aeroplanes. M.E. can be bicycles, powerplant turbine etc.

[Daox]

I suggest you go after whatever interests you most. Thats where you'll be most happy.

[MechEngVT]

I agree with the majority here...ME is the way to go (that's what I did). I specifically agree with Red, try get EE stuff where possible and if not a double-major, at least try to take numerous classes in Control Systems or engineering electronics. It wouldn't hurt to do another focus on fluid dynamics, but most universities a more pushing toward fluid machinery (jet engines, rockets etc) rather than vehicle aerodynamics (with the possible exception of airplane design).

I know you said relocation is not an option but not knowing what options are available in your area, I'll mention that I know at least the Naval Academy has a degree called Systems Engineering (not to be confused with Industrial Systems Engineering or "manufacturing efficiency engineer") that focuses on the practical integration of multidisciplinary systems. System integration is where the rubber meets the road so to speak, and where many businesses fail to "pull it all together" and make a successful product. It wouldn't hurt to look into that, but outside of the military academies I'm not sure who offers such a degree.

I wish you luck but I'll warn you about some college professors. I'm sure you've learned lots of reasons why certain things are done in practice, but a lot of PhD types don't care about practice and expect you to know the fundamental theory driving why things are done. A wise man (fabricator) I once worked with would say "In theory, theory and practice are the same. But in practice, they aren't" and most PhD types either don't care or refuse to believe that.