Frequently Asked Questions about Graduate School in Engineering and Science


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I have had several discussions with my engineering students who are considering graduate school.  Below are my short answers to some of the "frequently asked questions" that I hope will be a useful starting point for you.  If you want to know more, my contact information is at the bottom of this page.  I also recommend that you talk to current graduate students and other faculty members who may offer different insights.  If you have further questions, feel free to contact me.

 

Why go to graduate school?

Should I go for an M.S. or a Ph.D.?

What kind of job can I get with a Ph.D. outside of academia?

Do I have to get a masters degree to get a Ph.D.?

How can I get involved in research as an undergraduate?

How is graduate school different from an undergraduate program?

How do I pick a graduate school?

How do I choose a research area?

What kind of financial assistance is available for graduate school?

What kind of research could I do at Louisiana Tech?

How and when do I apply for admission?

Why go to graduate school?

There are many good reasons why you may or may not want to go to graduate school.  Whether or not grad school is for you depends on your career goals, personal goals, life situation, aptitude, and interest.  A major reason to pursue a Ph.D. is to prepare for a career in research and development.  Without a Ph.D., opportunities for R&D related careers are very limited.  An M.S. degree, in addition to increasing your knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of your field, can also open many career opportunities potentially helping you to advance more quickly in your career, earn more money (In general, engineers with an M.S. degree earn around $5000-$7000 per year more than their colleagues with a B.S. degree. ), or gain opportunities in different industries.   Many universities offer thesis and non-thesis masters degree programs, and some have professional masters degree programs (Louisiana Tech offers all of these).  The thesis option is the most common for traditional students and usually most valued by employers.  Students in non-thesis and professional track programs are most typically non-traditional students with industrial experience who are returning to school, often on a part-time basis, to further their education.

Should I go for an M.S. or a Ph.D.?

Many students start graduate school unsure of whether they want a Ph.D. or a M.S.  Usually, it's not difficult to switch from from a Ph.D. to and M.S. or vice versa as the course requirements are similar, so if you change your mind, it's not that big of a deal.  Probably the biggest difference between the M.S. and Ph.D. is the type of career path you are likely to follow.  A Ph.D. is a research degree, and the career path you follow will likely involve research and development.  If you terminate your formal education with a M.S. degree, the types of jobs you will do in your career will usually not be significantly different than they would be with a B.S. degree.  The potential advantages of a M.S. degree are that you will command a somewhat greater salary (usually ~$5000-$7000 per year more), you may have opportunities for more rapid advancement in your career and it can be an opportunity to gain expertise in more specialized areas (e.g. microfabrication, pharmaceutics, food processing, etc.) that will increase your opportunities within specific industries. 

What kind of job can I get with a Ph.D. outside of academia?

A common misconception is that the only thing you can do with a Ph.D. is teach at the college level.  While that may be true in some fields, it is most definitely not the case in engineering and the sciences.  The overwhelming majority of Ph.D. graduates in engineering and science work in private industry, usually doing research and development.  Many end up in upper management positions.  The CEOs and CTOs of many companies have Ph.D.s in engineering or scientific disciplines.  There are also opportunities in the public sector, including national laboratories, military laboratories, and other government organizations (NIST, CDC, etc.).  Of course, an academic career is also an option, and one this professor thoroughly enjoys and finds extremely rewarding.  

Do I have to get a masters degree to get a Ph.D.?

In most cases, you can enroll in a Ph.D. program after completing your B.S. degree without completing a M.S. first.  Some programs do require you to get a M.S. degree, sometimes referred to as a Masters in passing, as part of their Ph.D. program.  Students with a low undergraduate GPA and/or poor GRE scores may also have complete a M.S. program before being admitted to a Ph.D. program.  Strong candidates can generally be admitted directly into a Ph.D. program.

How can I get involved in research as an undergraduate?

Research experience as an undergraduate can be extremely valuable, especially if you are considering graduate school and/or a research career.  There are three main ways you you might get go about this:  as part of your undergraduate coursework, as a part-time job while you are in school, and through summer research programs. 

Through Undergraduate Coursework

Many degree programs require a research project as part of the undergraduate curriculum (especially in the pure sciences, chemistry, physics, biology etc.)  In most engineering curricula, you can take an independent study course that will usually count for technical elective credit. (At Louisiana Tech these courses include CMEN 450, MEEN 450, ELEN 450, BME 450, etc.)  To do this, you will need to find a faculty member to work with.  Just start asking some of your professors if they have any opportunities for research in their group.  Be sure to tell them you would like to do it for elective credit. 

Paid Part-time Undergraduate Research Assistants

Many faculty members budget some of their research funds for undergraduate positions.  Generally, the pay is comparable or a little better than any other campus job, but you get much more valuable experience that you would working in the library, bookstore, cafeteria, etc.  Ask your professors if they have any openings or if they know of anyone else who has openings. 

Summer Research Programs for Undergraduates

There are a variety of summer research programs for undergraduates both at university and at government laboratories.  You could do research at a university through NSF sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates programs.  On-campus housing is often provided as part of these programs along with a cash stipend.   

Links:

Search for an NSF-REU site

Louisiana Tech's Undergraduate Experiences in Micro and Nano Engineering

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Undergraduate Research

NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program

NIH - Summer Research Fellowship Program

NIST-Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Undergrad Research

How is graduate school different from an undergraduate program?

The primary difference between graduate and undergraduate education is the focus on research.  As an undergraduate, you complete your degree by successfully completing the required courses in your curriculum.  You will also take courses as part of a graduate program in science or engineering, but this will be only a small part of your education.  The bigger part of your graduate education takes the form of a research apprenticeship.  You will perform a research project under the guidance of an experience faculty researcher which will ultimately result in a thesis or dissertation. 

How long will it take me to get a graduate degree?

In general, it will take 1 1/2 to 2 years to finish a thesis masters degree program and 3 1/2 to 5 years to finish a Ph.D. program. 

How do I pick a graduate school?

There is no such thing as the perfect graduate school for everyone.  It can be an intimidating task to decide where to apply, and ultimately what school to attend.  You want to choose a university that is right for you.  Many universities will pay your travel expenses to visit their campus if you are admitted to one of their engineering or science Ph.D. programs and some larger programs even sponsor recruitment weekends where they bring in several prospective graduate students at the same time.  Take advantage of these to help you make an informed decision.  Below are few questions you will want to keep in mind as you are going through the process of selecting a graduate school.  

Who might be your thesis advisor?

Probably the most important factor in your success and happiness in graduate school will be your relationship with your thesis advisor.  Graduate school can be very rewarding and a lot of fun, but even under the most ideal conditions, it will involve a lot of hard work and probably no small amount of frustration at times.  As a general rule, if you clash with your advisor, you probably won't be very happy and your odds of finishing your degree will be much lower.  You don't have to be best buddies with your advisor, but you do need to at feel you can trust, respect, and get along with him or her.  Be sure you talk with some of your prospective advisor's current and/or former students.  Thinks you probably want to find out include: How long does it take for students in the group to graduate?  How accessible is your prospective advisor?  Is your prospective advisor very involved in the research or does he or she have a more hands-off approach? Do you feel you would get along well with your potential research group members?  It is also important to find out if the faculty member(s) you feel you would like to work with at a particular university will be taking on new students when you are planning on enrolling.  My advice would be that no matter how highly ranked the school is, or how beautiful the campus is, or how wonderful the research facilities are, or how much you like the city or town the university is in, if you don't find one or more faculty members there you would be comfortable working with, go somewhere else.

What kind of research is done at the university?

With the exception of a few very large universities and departments, most universities and departments tend to focus on a few, usually somewhat closely related research area.  A university may be a world leader in one area of research but may have no faculty members at all doing research in another area. 

What is the school's reputation and raking?

One of the first things many people consider when selecting a school is where it is ranked in the US News and World Report or other university ranking systems.  While a degree from an elite ranked school can open a lot of doors, there may be another school that is a better fit for you that offers a high or even higher quality education in an area you're interested in that you would miss out on if that's the only place you look.  Often a university or department might not be highly ranked overall, but may be among the best in the world for a specific research field.   

What is the campus environment like?

Every campus and community has it's own personality and distinguishing characteristics.  If you are  going to be living somewhere for 4 or 5 years while you pursue your Ph.D., you'll probably be a lot happier if you like where you are living.  Is the campus in a large urban area or small college town?  What is the cost of living?  What's the weather like?  What things are there to do when you're not working?  Are the students extremely politically active?  Are there religious organizations and/or places of worship for your faith?  Are the students competitive with one another or is the atmosphere more collegial?  Which factors are most important to you will depend on you.    

How do I choose a research area?

The easy answer is pursue research opportunities in whatever you are most interested in.  Many students I talk with either have no idea what area they would like to do research in while others make up their mind to pursue the first are to which they are exposed.  It has been my experience that you can find something interesting about almost any topic if you investigate it deeply enough.  If you're not sure yet, I recommend you start by reading as much as you can from some general magazines and journals (e.g. Science, Nature, Scientific American, etc.).  You should also talk to some of your professors (most professors love to talk about their research).  If you think you know what type of research you want to do in graduate school, that's great, but I would still advise you to investigate other areas and keep an open mind.  You may find something else that is more interesting to you.

What kind of financial assistance is available for graduate school?

 

Most Ph.D. students in engineering and the sciences have some sort of research or teaching assistantship.  The particulars will vary from school to school, but these typically pay from anywhere from $14000 to $25000 per year.  The amount you would get paid depends on many factors, including the cost of living, source of funding, your qualifications, and the degree program you are enrolled in.  Tuition waivers and/or student health insurance are sometimes included. 

Outstanding candidates may also be eligible for fellowships.  These can pay significantly more and carry a deal of prestige.  Fellowships are offered by various government agencies, private foundations, and some universities.  Below are links to information about some fellowship programs.

Links:

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Department of Homeland Security Graduate Fellowships

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

What kind of research could I do at Louisiana Tech?

The majority or research activities at Louisiana Tech are concentrated in one of five interdisciplinary research centers.  Click on the links below to learn more about them.  Information about my research can be found on my personal website.

Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM)
Research thrust areas: R&D Facility

  • Nanotechnology

  • Homeland Security

  • Biotechnology

  • Environmental Technology

  • Information Technology

  • Biomedical Nanotechnology
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  • •State of the art facility, opened in 1996

  • 20,000 sq ft laboratory space with 5000 sq ft Cleanroom

  • Micro/nanofabrication processing, testing, metrology and instructional laboratories 

  • Auditorium/Classrooms

  • Faculty/Staff Offices
Technology Transfer Center (Shreveport) Dedicated x-ray beam lines and lithography facilities at CAMD (Baton Rouge)

Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabiliation Science (CyBERS)

Research thrust areas:

New building under construction

  • •Rehabilitation Engineering
  • •Neural Engineering
  • •Biomicrosystems and Nanobiotechnology
  • •Rehabilitation Services Delivery
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Strong relationship with LSU Health Sciences Center (Shreveport)

Trenchless Technology Center (TTC)

Trenchless Technology Defined:  A set of technologies for the remote installation, rehabilitation and repair of utilities, pipelines and small tunnels -- linked by their lack of need for digging a continuous trench for the installation of new pipes or the repair of old pipes

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Research thrust areas:

 New research facility under construction.
  • Microtunneling
  • Directional Drilling
  • Assessment/Rehabilitation
  • Replacement
Leading international position in urban infrastructure determination and remediation, meeting a critical national need ($10B)
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Interdisciplinary (civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering; physics)

 Ties to industry and municipalities (Long-term financial support of an Industry Advisory Board)
Center for Applied Physics Studies (CAPS)
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Research thrust areas:
Collaborations with other research centers.
•International recognition for research activities
  • Particle and nuclear physics
  • •Solid State Physics
  • •Computational Physics
  • •Biophysics
 Continuous federal funding for research through NSF and DoE

Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology (CEnIT)
Mission: CEnIT will be a catalyst enabling a community of faculty, students, and external partners to produce innovations in IT and entrepreneurship that enhance the regional economy.
Joint effort of College of Engineering and Science and College of Administration and Business

Focus areas:

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Louisiana Optical Network Initiative

  • Technology Entrepreneurship

  • •Novel Technologies for Advanced Computing and Sensing

  • •Applications in Networking, Simulation, Modeling, and Design

 
  • LONI is part of National Lambda Rail project to provide high-speed, high-bandwidth communication between major research universities
  • Louisiana Tech one of five nodes in LA
  • High-performance supercomputers being installed for research needs of faculty and students

How and when do I apply for admission?

In general, I would recommend applying as early as possible in the year before you want to enroll.  Some programs only admit new graduate students in the fall semester/quarter.  At such schools, admissions decisions are typically made in January or February.  Students usually are asked to inform the university of their decision to accept or reject their admission/assistantship/felloship offer by sometime in April.  The bottom line is if you want to start graduate school next fall, try to get you applications in before the end of December.  Louisiana Tech admit students on a rolling basis (i.e. you can start any semester/quarter), though most new students enter the graduate programs in the fall.  If you want an assistantship or fellowship, and you probably do, I recommend getting your application in no later than the end of January for next fall.  Deadlines and an application for admission can be found by clicking here.  To be considered for an assistantship at Louisiana Tech (and most other universities) you need to first apply for admission.

Download and application for admission to graduate programs in the College of Engineering and Science at Louisiana Tech.

Contact Information

Office: 113 IfM or 231 Bogard Hall

Mailing Address:
Dr. Scott A. Gold
Louisiana Tech University
P.O. Box 10137
Ruston, LA 71272-0043

Phone:  (318) 257-5148
Fax:  (318)257-5104
Email:  sgold@latech.edu
 

Disclaimer:  The information on this page represents the ideas and opinions of Dr. Scott Gold and does not necessarily reflect the views of Louisiana Tech University or the state of Louisiana, or anyone else.