mechanical vs. industrial vs. electrical engineering

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I posted a thread earlier this week asking if education is better than going straight to work. I got a lot of good advice. now I just want to clarify it a little more and set my sights on a goal. which of this majors offers me the closest tie to welding? from my understand of an engineer they don't weld. they design and supervise others. I hope someone proves me wrong because I want to weld. its one of my passions but obviously engineering is where the money is at. so what do you guys think?
Reply:if you can find a company to sponsor you at kettering ( used to be GMI ) ,you can get both ,education and work experience. its a coop program that has produced more automotive execs than any other school and it provides a truly superior engineering curriculum.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:There are welding engineers. If you want work you will not have a hard time getting a job with a welding engineering degree. I am a ME and work with three welding engineers. If you want something close to welding a mechanical degree would be best. OSU has a good welding engineering program. If you go to BYU Idaho you can get a mechanical degree and miner in welding.
Reply:I am a mechanical engineer and an IWE - EWE (International Welding Engineer - European Welding Engineer).The mechanical engineering diploma I got from the university (the system here is different to the US, there is no college but to get to a university engineering diploma it takes 5 years)The IWE - EWE is a welding engineer diploma from the IIW (International Institute of Welding) which is recognised worldwide but requires as a pre-requisite that you already possess an engineering degree.Some info can be found herehttp://www.iiwelding.org/Qualificati...s/Default.aspxand it seems the USA is also part of the systemhttp://www.iiwelding.org/Members/usa/Pages/Default.aspxSo my advice to you would be to get a more general engineering degree (eg mechanical engineer) and you can always specialize in welding afterwards. That way you will have a greater field that you can apply for a job.About the welding as an engineer: Engineers are not normally required to know how to weld (I do not count the few hours that you will weld in university or when doing the IWE course as knowing how to weld). That being said, it does not mean that you have to limit yourself. I learned how to weld because I love welding not because I had to. You could start you own business and design and manufacture items yourself etc
Reply:I would expect welding engineering to be a specialty of mechanical engineering rather than EE or IE.  I understand where you are coming from.  47 years ago, I too felt that I didn't want "an office job" that would come with a full fledged engineering degree.  Instead I opted for a 2 year engineering technology degree.   That got me in the door....to an office job!  LOL.   But it was a good career (computer specialist/consultant) that didn't exist when I was in school and could never have imagined.  With your work life ahead of you, be flexible because the work environment will change over the next 40 years.  IMO, college only prepares you to learn about the real work world.
Reply:Compare the course requirements for the three disciplines."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Actually the engineering degree which is closer to the specialization of a welding engineer is that of a metallurgical engineer.
Reply:I think that the comments that people have made are very reasonable, you have gotten a lot of good advice.As others have said, mechanical engineering is a flexible degree, and the closest to welding of the three you listed above.  Metalurgical engineering would be less flexible than mechanical, but closer to welding.   Welding engineering is specialized, but of course closer to what you want to do.   Is there anywhere you could get a mechanical engineering degree and some welding specific classes as well?  That might be the best deal of all.   A double major is a lot of school time, but would look super-impressive on your resume.But you probably cannot go wrong with any of these degrees.RichardBS in Mechanical EngineeringSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Actually, I think material science is more of what metallurgical engineering used to be. Just a broader field. Just happens that things usually narrow down to a specialty once you start working. My older sister's is a matl science engineer(phd) but her work specializes in certain applications of heat treatment of specific alloys. So in essence she could have been a met eng. !Talk to some people in the different fields.And good luckLast edited by dunemetal; 03-08-2013 at 06:42 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by boatbuoyif you can find a company to sponsor you at kettering ( used to be GMI ) ,you can get both ,education and work experience. its a coop program that has produced more automotive execs than any other school and it provides a truly superior engineering curriculum.
Reply:I graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a Welding Engineer degree. It was one of the best choices I have ever made for myself because I got to do a lot of hands on training and in the end I ended up with a engineering degree. I now work as a welding engineer/fireman because my job is to run around putting out fires on floor. It can be frustrating at times, but it allows me to work in a shop environment and I still get to strike an arc on occasions.Ohio State, Ferris State and a few other schools also offer welding engineering degrees.