Frequently Asked Questions
About Graduate Study

Preface

This booklet was written for those of you who have reached this stage in your engineering development. It is not a "sales pitch" for graduate school, but rather a guide for those who have already made the decision to pursue graduate study or are at least seriously considering it. The booklet presents answers to some common questions about graduate school. Although written especially for mechanical engineering students, the information is generally applicable to any engineering discipline. We hope you find it useful.

A Different World

Graduate study differs from undergraduate study in several respects. The courses are, generally speaking, structured in a manner not unlike undergraduate courses, but require more critical thought on the part of the student. Since graduate students major in a particular area, the selection of a suitable course sequence is very important. The student, therefore, selects a major professor to assist in setting up a "plan of study" tailored to meet the student's background and interests. When the student is engaged in research, the major professor plays an even greater role in the process.

Research is a key element in many M.S. programs and the major element in all Ph. D. programs. Some students do choose to pursue non-thesis M.S. programs consisting simply of additional coursework beyond the B.S. degree. For the moment we will restrict our attention to thesis option programs.

Why does research make graduate study different from undergraduate study? Answering this question completely would make a good Ph.D. thesis for someone in the humanities, but simply stated, the conduct of research requires the production of new information as opposed to the absorption and use of existing knowledge characteristic of undergraduate study. This has several implications for the student. First, he or she is forced to review thoroughly the existing state of knowledge in the area of concern so that its scope and limitations are understood. This means that the technical literature must be studied - - an important task which goes well beyond reading the latest textbook on the subject. Secondly, the student must perform analytical and/or experimental work to generate the new knowledge required. Finally, and of utmost significance, the student must present the results of the investigation in a clear and comprehensive, written thesis for the benefit of others who may need the information obtained. Thus, the student has a fundamental responsibility to conduct the research carefully and professionally, because those who later use the results produced must rely heavily on the validity of the work. Undergraduate students rarely, if ever, are faced with such responsibility.

Obviously, there are differences between M.S. and Ph.D. thesis, although the comments in the previous paragraph are generally applicable to both. Sometimes the distinctions are fuzzy, but normally the M.S. student will be engaged in a study which involves only a limited advance in knowledge - - often based on a rather straight forward extension of previous work. An example would be repeating an earlier experiment under different operating conditions to broaden the data base. A Ph.D. thesis, on the other hand, is expected to produce original results of broad applicability. The Ph.D. student carries more individual responsibility for the direction and conduct of the research.

A word about non-thesis M.S. programs is in order here. These involve only additional course work beyond the Bachelor's degree and are often selected by students wanting simply to extend their engineering capabilities without the concentration in a particular area inherent in a thesis. At many schools it is strongly recommended that the "coursework" include three to six credit hours of special project activity carried out under the direction of a faculty member. This provides some of the experience gained in a thesis program, although certainly the two are not equivalent.

Should I Go to Graduate School?

Now that the "big picture" has been presented, we can look at the details and answer some important questions which every prospective graduate student faces. The first question is whether graduate study should be pursued at all. The answer will have a major effect on your career in engineering and several factors must be considered.

Undergraduate performance is certainly important. Normally, you must have at least a B average or, if not, some additional evidence that you can be successful in graduate study in order to be considered for admission at most schools. It is interesting to note, however, that once this minimum criterion is met, performance at the B.S. level is only a partial indicator of graduate school success. Straight A students are sometimes not as successful at research, for example, as those with less impressive academic records. A desire for more knowledge is obviously a factor. If you have maintained the interest in technical work which brought you into engineering in the first place, you probably have this desire. Motivation is always the key to success.

Most important is the career you have in mind. Graduate school tends to channel you toward a career in research, development, or advanced design as opposed to production or sales. If such a career is your goal, then graduate school is almost a necessity. It goes without saying that, if you want to become a university professor (some people actually do), you will need to go all the way to the Ph.D.

If your goal is simply to maximize your financial status, then the situation is not as clear cut. At the moment, the high initial salaries being offered graduating seniors are causing many students to reject the additional years in school required of graduate students. Although there is a salary advantage for those with a graduate degree, the initial differential may be small. However, there is a major advantage in having a graduate degree even if the financial reward is not large. As a research and development engineer in a large company pointed out, "we're the ones who have fun around here". This statement reflects the fact that engineers with graduate degrees often have more technical freedom and more variety in their work. Certainly, in high technology industries, a graduate degree is a major criterion for advancement.

What Subject Should I Study?

Your decision to go to graduate school may be based on a general desire to broaden your educational background. However, all graduate students specialize to some extent and must select a primary area of study. Usually a student chooses a particular area because of interests developed during undergraduate school. It is important to recognize that the division of subject matter at the graduate level is not identical to that at the undergraduate level.

For example, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Florida A&M-Florida State College of Engineering there are graduate programs in all of the usual undergraduate subjects such as solid mechanic, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and controls. In addition, however, there are programs in magnet design, combustion, and mechatronics. Many of these areas are interrelated. Combustion analysis, as an example, involves thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Therefore, a student who has developed a strong interest in a subject such as fluid mechanics while an undergraduate might find that graduate study in the combustion field would be of interest. The point is that you should keep an open mind and not be afraid to enter a field just because you have not taken undergraduate courses in that specific subject. No one expects you to be an expert when you begin graduate study.

How Do I Select a School?

Once you have decided upon an area of study, the next point to be addressed is where you should go to graduate school. There are usually several equally-good choices. However, there are also poor choices, so it is important to do some study before selecting schools to which you will apply.

First and foremost, you should pick schools which have strong programs in your area of interest. Curriculum catalogs (usually in your library) may be of some help here, although these can be deceiving. If no courses are listed in heat transfer, for example, it is a good indication that a student interested in that subject should look elsewhere. However, the fact that six courses are listed does not guarantee that a strong program exists, since some of them may not be taught regularly. Therefore, such printed material, while useful, should not be your only source of information.

The best resources are professors in your school doing research in the area you plan to pursue. They will be aware of other universities with strong programs and can provide you with a great deal of specific information. Although they may naturally promote their own research, they will usually make a real attempt to be fair and give you all the information they have on programs at other universities.

A good source of information about programs at your own school is graduate students. Ask them about their work and gauge their response. If they are enthusiastic and interested in explaining their own research, that is a positive sign. If they spend a great deal of time complaining about their lot in life, this may be a reason to scrutinize the program more closely. Make sure you get more than one data point though, since you can find an unhappy soul anywhere.

This brings up the topic of whether you should continue for the M.S. degree at your own school or go elsewhere. Some feel that a change of schools is desirable for its own sake by virtue of the chance to be exposed to a new environment. While this has some merit, it is probably most important at smaller schools. At larger schools, the students will find that the academic environment is quite different in graduate school. He or she will be interacting with professors whose existence may not even be known as an undergraduate and will find that being a graduate student puts a completely different perspective on life. It certainly makes no sense to move from a school with a strong program to one with a weaker program simply to be in a different location.

Perhaps a word on how one recognizes a strong program is in order here. The number of faculty and students working in the area is a possible measure, but not an exclusive one. Often one professor working with one or two students at a time can represent a major effort in a specific area. The key element is, in fact, the professional reputation of the faculty member(s). This is why talking to your own professors or others with direct knowledge of the work being done in a particular field is so important.

One could go on for pages on the subject of selecting a school, but we will avoid that urge. The point is that it is a major decision and should be done carefully on the basis of as much reliable information as you can collect. This information should include specific details about your area of interest, since an otherwise "good" school may not be strong in this particular area.

How Do I Finance Graduate Study?

An undergraduate student may be able to rely on financial support from parents, but most families are not excited about continuing that support beyond the B.S. degree. So where does the money come from? Basically there are five sources.

1. Personal Funds
2. Fellowships
3. Research Assistantships (RA)
4. Teaching Assistantships (TA)
5. Part Time Study While Employed

Assuming personal funds are unavailable, the next bet is a fellowship. These can be unrestricted fellowships offered by universities, government agencies or private foundations, or they may be fellowships provided by industry. In the latter case, there is sometimes a commitment to work for the company upon receipt of the degree. Some companies will send you to school full time and pay you a salary in addition to school expenses. This is not exactly a fellowship, but is certainly a good deal in most cases. However, restrictions may be placed on your course of study.

All fellowships are competitive and require high academic standing. Early application is essential. The graduate office in your school will have information on fellowships and procedures for making application.

The majority of graduate students finance their study through either research teaching assistantships. They become employees of the university and are paid in return their work in the research laboratory of classroom. Often the assistantship offers the added advantage of significant reduction in tuition. Most graduate students have half-time assistantships and receive full tuition waivers. Some schools do not operate in the same manner, so be careful when comparing assistantship offers to make sure you understand how tuition charges are handled.

It is important to recognize that assistantships are not provided out of the goodness of someone's heart. The money for teaching assistantships comes from the department's salary budget, and the money for research assistantships comes primarily from research contracts obtained by individual faculty members. Neither source is a bottomless pit, and the number of assistantships available in a given area is limited. Both, good academic credentials and early application to graduate school are essential if you are to obtain an assistantship in your area of interest.

The fifth possibility of financing your graduate program is part time study while employed. Many companies encourage their employees to pursue a graduate degree at a nearby school by offering to pay for tuition, fees, and books. There are several problems with this approach. First it takes a long time, since it is very difficult to take more than one course a semester this way. Also it is sometimes impossible to do research, so you may be restricted to a non-thesis program. Most importantly, "commuter" students do not really have the interaction with faculty and other students which is available to those on campus full time. This is a serious drawback which is more significant that it may appear. The policies of different companies vary widely, and it pays to check them carefully before you choose an employer if you do want to pursue a degree while employed.

How Long Does It Take To Complete a Graduate Program?

The time required to obtain an M.S. degree will vary depending on the type of financial support you have and whether you are taking a thesis or non-thesis option. A non-thesis student without assistantship responsibilities can normally finish the requirements for an M.S. degree in one and a half years. (Thirty-three credit hours are required for a non-thesis M.S. at FAMU-FSU.)

It may take longer to complete your degree if you have assistantship duties. Teaching assistants assist in the School's instructional program in addition to their academic responsibilities. Those on research assistantships directly related to their theses should be able to complete their program in about 24 months. (At FAMU-FSU, the thesis option requires at least 21 credit hours of letter graded course work and 6 hours of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory or letter graded courses plus the thesis). Obviously, when research is involved one cannot make exact predictions of the time required.

When Should I Apply for Graduate School?

Most students plan to enter graduate school in the Fall semester. Decisions on assistantships and fellowships are normally made early in the preceding Spring semester. Therefore, you should start the application process almost one year prior to the time you plan to begin graduate study. For most undergraduates, this means early in the first semester of their Senior year.

A Final Word

The material presented here is certainly, not complete, and you will undoubtedly have other questions. The sooner you begin to collect information about graduate study the better your chances of making the right decisions. Contact the Graduate Office at the Schools of your choice for information and don't hesitate to ask your professors for guidance. Good hunting.