Hartle 1

Natasya Hartle
Professor Malcolm Campbell
English 1103
October 2, 2015
Trust Me! Im an Engineer(ing Student)
Introduction/Overview
For my extended research project, the inquiry that I intend to answer is what are the pros
and cons of engineers gaining a masters and, further, a PhD, in their intended field of study? I
hope to also theoretically answer the ultimate question of is it worth it?
These questions should pertain equally to all engineers in the United States. For the sake
of this research paper, I do not aim to study this relationship abroad due to the nonequivalence in
higher education standards.

Comment [AT1]: I would expand on this to

make it more understandable to readers.

My main focus of this topic will be regarding the current situation of the job market for
freshly graduated engineers. I have chosen this time period because I am part of Generation Z,
the group of persons getting ready to graduate with degrees and hopefully progress into the
careers of their choosing.
I am carrying out this research topic for my extended inquiry project because it will
answer many questions that I have regarding my future plans as well as aid me in finding
answers to questions I have yet to ask. I also believe that this research will not only assist me, but
will likely assuage the uncertainties within fellow engineering students in my years and also in
years to come.

Initial Inquiry Question(s)

Comment [AT2]: Do you have any

knowledge on the subject, already? If so, you
should state it. If you have absolutely no
knowledge or opinion on what you think
would be more beneficial, state that too

Hartle 2

Is gaining a masters or PhD in engineering worth the extra time, energy, and money?
What are the benefits of a masters? Of a PhD? What are the disadvantages? Do the theoretical
cons outweigh the pros?
Other possibly questions can include:

What does it take to become a P.E. (Professional Engineer)?

o How does someone go about becoming a P.E.?

What sets you apart from other engineering students (this ties into the level of
education acquired).
o What are engineering employers looking for?

How important are internships and co-ops during your schooling?

o Will lack of internships/co-ops affect your likeliness of getting a job?

Will jobs be secure when I graduate?

o If not, what will I do with my degree?
o How long will people need engineers?

You need a job to get experience, but you need experience to get a job. How does
this work in the real world?

My Interest in this Topic

My intended major is engineering, electrical engineering to be more precise. Recently
another engineering major and I have been pondering the possibility of continuing our education
through graduate school. For him, a double major is his goal and for what he wants to
accomplish, graduate school is practically a necessity. For myself, however, any schooling
beyond a Bachelors degree is completely my prerogative. Evidently, I am interested in this topic

Comment [AT3]: I believe that these are all

great questions and will most definitely lead
you in the right direction while writing your
EIP.
Comment [AT4]: Comma after recently,
Recently, another

Hartle 3

because it could decide my future: my education could possibly the determining factor
between myself and another candidate for a job opening.
What I know:
Obtaining a masters/PhD in engineering requires 2 to 4 more years of schooling than a
bachelors. These 2 to 4 years subsequently involve the engineering student to pay more money
which can accumulate to a higher overall student debt as well as spend more time in school when
he/she could be working in his/her field and gaining the necessary work experience for a prime
career.
What I hope to learn:
I expect to find out what competitive edge a higher degree grants an engineer in the
business place. (Maybe find some statistics on the average engineer hired and what degree they
have acquired.) Once these engineers have earned jobs, how do their work conditions, benefits,
and pay differ from the average engineering employee with a B.Eng.? (Some more statistics on
the average starting pay of engineers with varying levels of degrees.)
Next Steps
For further research, I plan to look into some surveys taken from the ASME (The
American Society of Mechanical Engineers) seeing as my topic revolves around engineers as a
whole, not specifically electrical engineering students. These surveys should aid me in finding
necessary statistics on the questions pertaining to jobs (i.e. percentage of engineers who obtain
jobs over others, starting salaries, etc.).

Comment [AT5]: How much longer will it

take to pay off debt with each possible salary?

Hartle 4

Also, I hope to find either newspaper or academic articles on the subject (preferably
both). I could possibly discover an article from an engineering employee or employer and use
some direct quotes to make widespread assumptions more credible and solid.
Also, I assume that the resources at the library will be helpful as well as possibly finding
information from the engineering alumni form UNCC on starting salaries, what employers are
looking for, etc.

Comment [AT6]: Great idea!