Rachel Foy asked Jamie Steinberger, DENSO International America, Inc. AddedSunday, August 12, 2018 at 4:37 PM Mechanical or Industrial Engineering? I am an upcoming sophomore in college currently pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. I am starting to think that industrial engineering may fit my interests more, though. Unfortunately, the college I attend does not have an industrial engineering degree. I am contemplating transferring, but I am reluctant to leave the school I love. Is it possible to work in an industrial engineering position as a mechanical engineer? Or should I try to transfer or get my Masters in industrial engineering to assure that I get a position I want? Related to Choosing a Degree, Graduate School, Industrial, Internships & Jobs, Mechanical Reset Sort By Default Jamie Steinberger , DENSO International America, Inc. Answered Monday, August 13, 2018 at 4:11 PM Hi Rachel, Great question! I, myself, have an ME degree, also from a university that doesn’t explicitly have an IE major. I think you have tons of options and bottom line: you do not need to transfer. The amazing thing about an ME degree is the broad application for it. As you are looking for internships, look for experiences in operations and/or manufacturing engineering. Be vocal about your interests and pursue an opportunity in a factory and/or on a shop floor over being in a design center or technical center. Additionally, you should have elective credits for some of your senior level classes, pursue IE-type classes - process design, design for manufacture - classes that might give you an Industrial focus. Talk to an advisor or mentor at your school who is familiar with the curriculum requirements about your options. You might even be able take online courses from a different school that are IE and transfer the credits. As far as a masters, I do have a Masters Degree in Lean Manufacturing, I pursued this degree both for personal and career developmental reasons. You may not need it, especially if you can get to where you want to go without it (I sincerely think you can!), so before you invest the time and finances, due your do diligence to be sure you’ll get the return on investment you’re seeking. I definitely suggest that your first focus should be finding an internship for next semester or next summer that will expose you the manufacturing sector — there is lots of opportunity there for you, you just have to find it! Jamie Steinberger , DENSO International America, Inc. Answered Monday, August 13, 2018 at 4:11 PM Hi Rachel, Great question! I, myself, have an ME degree, also from a university that doesn’t explicitly have an IE major. I think you have tons of options and bottom line: you do not need to transfer. The amazing thing about an ME degree is the broad application for it. As you are looking for internships, look for experiences in operations and/or manufacturing engineering. Be vocal about your interests and pursue an opportunity in a factory and/or on a shop floor over being in a design center or technical center. Additionally, you should have elective credits for some of your senior level classes, pursue IE-type classes - process design, design for manufacture - classes that might give you an Industrial focus. Talk to an advisor or mentor at your school who is familiar with the curriculum requirements about your options. You might even be able take online courses from a different school that are IE and transfer the credits. As far as a masters, I do have a Masters Degree in Lean Manufacturing, I pursued this degree both for personal and career developmental reasons. You may not need it, especially if you can get to where you want to go without it (I sincerely think you can!), so before you invest the time and finances, due your do diligence to be sure you’ll get the return on investment you’re seeking. I definitely suggest that your first focus should be finding an internship for next semester or next summer that will expose you the manufacturing sector — there is lots of opportunity there for you, you just have to find it!