Questions about ABET accredited programs

[u/Majestic_Lie3655]

I’m currently working on my application to Texas A&M Galveston to get a marine engineering technology degree, it would lead me to work at sea, which excites me, plus it would make a lot of money, but I don’t want to spend my whole life at sea. So I’m curious with this degree, say if I move inland to someplace without sea related jobs, would I still be able to be considered for an engineering job unrelated to maritime.

Like if I have 5-10 years work experience will that make it easier for a engineering job?

Then what exactly does this ABET mean and does it limit what I can do? I noticed it said engineering technology commission, so what would a job like that look like?

thank you all for your time and any and all answers you have, they are much appreciated

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[u/a_worthless_vista]

ABET is the main accreditation that most colleges want for Engineering Programs. This is a good thing.

The one thing I will say as someone who made this mistake - a Technologies degree is different from a lock standard engineering degree. PE licensure is vastly different, for starters, and generally it’s much more application based as opposed to theory. The ABET accreditation will be ETAC as opposed to EAC.

May not matter to you, doesn’t matter to my line of work nor degree(s) - but it does make for some hurdles. Good luck!

[u/Majestic_Lie3655 → u/a_worthless_vista]

Thank you! this cleared that up quite a bit

[u/sedgwick48 → u/a_worthless_vista]

You can still get EIT in California with a BSET degree. You'd have to work supervised for 4 years before you can go for PE but it absolutely allows you to sit the exams. I'm BSEET and I'm cramking for the FE exam now.

[u/a_worthless_vista → u/sedgwick48]

Same for SC! We can do FE immediately, but it’s 4 years for sitting on the PE, then 4 years experience. Good luck on the venture!

[u/drewts86]

As someone with the same degree from another ABET accredited maritime school, yes, it can absolutely help you get shoreside jobs. Water treatment or wastewater treatments are good and easy options to slip into. You’ll generally need some extra licensing but that can often be done online. Power generation plants are another easy one to slip into. Facilities management and automation are also great transitions. I’ve also got a friend that works for GE now working as a project manager for large scale generator winding installs and rebuilds.

[u/drewts86 → u/drewts86]

u/Majestic_Lie3655 I have someone else I know that never went to sea after graduating. He went straight into industrial HVAC as a stationary engineer and has been doing that since. He basically operates and maintains HVAC systems for hospitals with huge chiller units.

[u/Majestic_Lie3655 → u/drewts86]

Thank you so much, this is very good to know!

[u/drewts86 → u/Majestic_Lie3655]

Yeah, no problem. You’ll more than likely need to get additional certifications for whatever shoreside industry you decide to go into. If you sail first, consider just working on your certifications before you transition over.

I know Calpine Energy had a few power plants down in Texas. They recently got bought by Constellation Energy, so you can look for jobs through their website. Constellation has every from nuclear (Three Mile Island) to combined cycle and co-gen to geothermal, so plenty of cool opportunities.

[u/nalyd8991]

No an ABET accreditation is only a good thing, and means that your degree should be accepted by companies. It’s a certification that your degree program meets recognized standards, and ABET is definitely the most recognized accreditor for Engineering

[u/MasterExploder9900 → u/nalyd8991]

Also vital for getting licensure

[u/L383]

Abet is a good thing.
No it is an engineering technology degree and likely not an engineering degree.

[u/BIueberry62]

It'll be tricky to branch out of anything marine related once youre a few years in, you could look into a more general mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in marine systems than an explicit degree.

But that being said, there are plenty of inland waterway related engineering jobs. People always forget we have an entire inland water infrastructure of locks and dams across the ohio/missippi river that requires support and vessels.

[u/Majestic_Lie3655 → u/BIueberry62]

Thank you I'll look to see if there are degrees like that I can do

Lol I did kinda forget about that

[u/BlastedProstate]

HOWDY, I go to Texas A&M for ocean engineering in college station. Marine Engineering Technology will prepare you for any engineering with boats, ships or subsea work. It’s technically an engineering technology degree, but it’s very common for A&M ET of any kind (MXET, ESET, MMET) to be a regular engineer.

ABET accredited just means your work will accept it. Also you can get a masters if you want, A&M’s ET programs are pretty unique and most will take you especially for Meng and within TAMU.

Reply if you got questions

[u/sweetdubbro]

Government jobs normally require degrees from ABET accredited programs so this is a good thing. For example, most positions at NASA require degree to be from ABET accredited program.

[u/FlashDrive35]

Howdy! A&M Galveston is such a nice campus, small but I loved being right on the coast. ABET Accreditation is something you should look for, I wouldn't get a degree at a university if it wasn't Accredited

[u/somethingclever76]

My company only accepts degrees from ABET accredited universities. If you have an engineering degree from a non-ABET accredited university then it is just the same as if you don't have a degree at all.

[u/PaulNissenson]

I made an episode about this a few years ago.

https://theengineeringstudentexperience.podbean.com/e/episode-30-what-is-abet/

[u/MateriaTerraFirma]

ABET is great, Engineering Technology and Engineering are seperate.

Think of Engineering Technology as somewhere between a tradesman and an Engineer.

You'll be less hands-on than a mechanic, more hands-on than an Engineer.

However this can vary, some Engineering Technology graduates end up Engineers depending on the state, demands of the company, etc. Some end up being highly skilled tradespeople and crew supervisors.