Mandated Master's Degrees Could Change the Engineering Game
Under a controversial new effort dubbed "Raise the Bar," supported by engineering's professional societies but not by program deans, the basic engineering credential would become a master's degree -- at least for those who seek a professional license.
The reasoning: The number of credits required for a bachelor's in engineering has been declining, at a time when the demands of the profession have become increasingly complex. Young engineers "don't have the depth of knowledge we really need," argues Brad Aldrich, a water resource engineer and president of Aldrich + Elliott, PC, of Essex Junction, Vt.
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Today's bachelor's degrees require 120 credit hours, a number reflecting a steady decline from the 150 expected from graduates a century ago. Meanwhile, technology has been advancing at a supersonic pace.
"It's in the public's interest," former Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Norman Augustine has said, "that we make the master's degree the basic degree" of the profession.
The Engineering Deans Council, a leadership body under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education, disagrees that the move is warranted and is concerned that it could interfere with the accreditation process and "adversely affect interest" among students considering an engineering career.
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Only about 20 percent of engineers are professionally licensed, but a master's mandate for them would almost certainly have a ripple effect on other students. Engineers working in industry often don't need the credential, though having it is highly desirable for anyone interested in management. But those who are self-employed or who perform work that affects the public health or safety must be licensed. Often, they need to work in the field for four years before sitting for the PE exam.
For students, the change would mean a higher cost. Would it produce a favorable return? Bachelor's-level engineers already earn more than their peers in the class of 2013: $62,564, on average. Newly minted petroleum and computer engineers fetch far higher starting pay.
Still, a 2011 report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce put engineers' median salary at $75,000 with a bachelor's, versus $99,000 with a master's.
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For good or bad, the train has left the station. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, which helps state licensing boards carry out their duties, has changed its model law to require a master's or an equivalent 30 credits -- at least half in engineering and half in other subjects including business, communications, contract law and quality control -- with a target effective date of 2020. Nonetheless, states would need to pass the law for it to take effect.
"It's a very touchy subject," says Nathan Kahl, spokesman for the ASEE, which itself has not taken a position in the debate.
This story is excerpted from the U.S. News "Best Graduate Schools 2015" guidebook, which features in-depth articles, rankings and data.
