Thinking of doing a civil eng degree as a second degree.

yer man!

I'm going into final year of my chemistry degree in Nuig. I always sorta had my mind set on engineering and the only reason I didn't do it was because My guidance counselor said to stay away from it (it was 2009 and the shít hit the fan) and I also dropped down to ordinary level maths in leaving cert year so I decided on science. I do like science but I still can't get engineering out of my mind, one of my friends is doing it and I love the the stuff he's doing. Would it be possible for my to do a BEng either here or abroad for a fairly cheap price? I imagine everything would be more expensive for a second degree. Would I be looking at going the IT route and trying to get into a uni for final year? oh and finally am I mad for thinking about doing this?

mawk

do you like civil for any particular reason? would chemical/process eng not suit your chemistry background better?

might even help you to skip at least first year and the costs therein

Xrox

Why not just do it as a masters? I dont think you have to pursue a masters in the same field as your undergraduate. i.e. my friend who done physics done a masters in electrical engineering. (plus its only 2 years)

Just a thought

yer man!

mawk wrote: »

do you like civil for any particular reason? would chemical/process eng not suit your chemistry background better?

might even help you to skip at least first year and the costs therein

Well ya, I've always loved buildings and roads and general construction, I am also toying with the idea of chemical engineering too, I work with loads of them everyday and their job seems kinda cool. Just a matter of getting the information on how to go about doing all this in a year or two.

yer man!

Xrox wrote: »

Why not just do it as a masters? I dont think you have to pursue a masters in the same field as your undergraduate. i.e. my friend who done physics done a masters in electrical engineering. (plus its only 2 years)

Just a thought

True but I imagine it depends on what you're graduate and what postgrad you pursue. Physics is very mathsy and related to quite a lot of the stuff in electronic engineering. Can't imagine going from a chemistry degree to civil engineering is quite so easy. I think I just love working with anything engineering related, chemical engineering would probably be more suited to me seeing as I do already know that I like chemistry too.

I wouldn't be pigeon holing yourself because you have a chemistry degree and not an engineering degree. There are loads and loads of folks out there who are employed as engineers (manufacturing, quality, project, validation, commissioning etc admittedly not civil and that sort of stuff) who don't have a B Eng. As a graduate with a degree in chemistry you wouldn't be out of the running for companies employing graduates in the science and technology sectors who are looking for folks to join their engineering depts.

yer man!

RoverJames wrote: »

I wouldn't be pigeon holing yourself because you have a chemistry degree and not an engineering degree. There are loads and loads of folks out there who are employed as engineers (manufacturing, quality, project, validation, commissioning etc admittedly not civil and that sort of stuff) who don't have a B Eng. As a graduate with a degree in chemistry you wouldn't be out of the running for companies employing graduates in the science and technology sectors who are looking for folks to join their engineering depts.

Ya suppose so, I am sorta disillusioned with chemistry at the moment, I'm in a summer placement now and it's seriously putting me off the subject completely. I'm toying with the idea of doing civil eng in GMIT in sep 2013 but everything is up in the air at the moment. I do like chemistry and I'm good at it but I'm finding it increasingly harder to get enthusiastic about it, the placement I'm in requires no thinking at all as it's very boring....

shanered

I wouldn't write it off as an Idea, though you will probably gain more "expertise" by doing chemical engineering, and it probably have more job prospects at the end also.
I did a degree in Auctioneering Valuation and Estate Agency and boom economy crash but decided to start as an undergraduate in Civil Eng.
I also only did pass maths in leaving certificate but if you want it enough you'll pull through, there is loads of help out there in the ITs it just depends on the work you put in.
Its a tough enough degree, thats to be said but if you feel the pull towards that rather then what you doing I dont see why not go for it.
Dont limit yourself to what you've already got, go through to positives and negitives of continuing with chemistry or trying your hand at civil, make a choice on that matter, funding and time should be important in this decision too I reckon.

yer man!

shanered wrote: »

I wouldn't write it off as an Idea, though you will probably gain more "expertise" by doing chemical engineering, and it probably have more job prospects at the end also.
I did a degree in Auctioneering Valuation and Estate Agency and boom economy crash but decided to start as an undergraduate in Civil Eng.
I also only did pass maths in leaving certificate but if you want it enough you'll pull through, there is loads of help out there in the ITs it just depends on the work you put in.
Its a tough enough degree, thats to be said but if you feel the pull towards that rather then what you doing I dont see why not go for it.
Dont limit yourself to what you've already got, go through to positives and negitives of continuing with chemistry or trying your hand at civil, make a choice on that matter, funding and time should be important in this decision too I reckon.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated, I know a few civil engineers so I';; have a chat with them and see what they think. I work with a lot of chemical engineers now and their stuff does look quite cool but I still have an avid interest in anything construction or design.

Equium

Have you considered doing a Master's in environmental engineering by any chance? It would be a good way of applying your chemistry background to the civil field. It's also one of the few likely growth areas in the sector, something which is of paramount importance given the uncertainity about future prospects for civil graduates.

Trinity and Queens, amongst other places, offer such courses.

Your current university also offers a 4 year B.Eng in environmental. Passing the special entrance exam will get around the issue of not having HL maths from the Leaving. With a second undergrad degree, however, you're going to have to pay full fees (circa €7,500 per annum).

yer man!

Equium wrote: »

Have you considered doing a Master's in environmental engineering by any chance? It would be a good way of applying your chemistry background to the civil field. It's also one of the few likely growth areas in the sector, something which is of paramount importance given the uncertainity about future prospects for civil graduates.

Trinity and Queens, amongst other places, offer such courses.

Your current university also offers a 4 year B.Eng in environmental. Passing the special entrance exam will get around the issue of not having HL maths from the Leaving. With a second undergrad degree, however, you're going to have to pay full fees (circa €7,500 per annum).

That's the predicament, IT's are half the price so I would prefer to go to one of them. Plus the maths would be more on my level and then build up to what is done in university. From my time in university I just see the lecturers aren't really very good at teaching at all and have no interest in anything other than their own research.

Equium

yer man! wrote: »

That's the predicament, IT's are half the price so I would prefer to go to one of them. Plus the maths would be more on my level and then build up to what is done in university. From my time in university I just see the lecturers aren't really very good at teaching at all and have no interest in anything other than their own research.

Oh, ok, I wasn't aware of that. Is that a new development? I went down the IT route originally and the capitation charges were the same as when I transferred to a university.

yer man!

Equium wrote: »

Oh, ok, I wasn't aware of that. Is that a new development? I went down the IT route originally and the capitation charges were the same as when I transferred to a university.

Well GMIT are charging around about €3500, NUIG is €7500 about. These are EU fees, I would be liable for these as I'm doing a second degree.