RE: MA in English or engineering classes?

[Gary Robinson <Robinson -at- cominc -dot- com>]

An engineering degree may be handy if you think that most of your jobs will
be engineering related.  My education was in the social sciences, including
an MA in Anthropology.  I have stayed steadily employed by being a
generalist and staying adaptable.  In my career of several years I have
written for the banking and health care industries, and about logistics for
the automobile industry.  I have also done some curriculum development, a
lot of compliance documentation for review by Federal and state agencies,
even more marketing writing, and I currently run the communications for an
engineering firm.  Even in my current job, I was hired because I was a
generalist, not an engineer.  The company has engineers enough to convey
pertinent information to me.  They needed someone who knew document design
and could develop online help and web site.  I don't need to understand all
the ins and outs of the engineering process to produce effective documents.
Just a good working relationship with a SME.
Regards,

Gary G. Robinson
Technical Communications
COM, Incorporated - An Enprotech Company
7300 W. Huron River Drive
Dexter, MI 48130-1065
robinson -at- cominc -dot- com
www.cominc.com

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Zucker, Christine [mailto:Christine -dot- Zucker -at- LOGTEC -dot- COM] 
Sent:	Wednesday, June 05, 2002 1:56 PM
To:	TECHWR-L
Subject:	MA in English or engineering classes?


I graduated college last year with a bachelor's degree in English.  For the
past year, I've been editing technical material and doing some technical
writing.  I've also been taking some classes for a grad certificate in tech
writing.  However, when I look through tech writing job postings, almost
everything requires a strong scientific background or knowledge of
engineering/computing principles.  My first year of undergrad was
engineering, but I didn't like the math so I switched to English.  Now I'm
starting to miss the engineering principles and wonder if an associates
degree in engineering, on top of my BA in English would come in handy.  But
I also have a few courses towards a MA in English.  

I'm wondering what would be more beneficial to me in the future and for a
tech writing career...the Master's in English or an associates in
engineering.  The associates doesn't encompass quite as much math as the
bachelor's program did, but I would still learn the basic engineering
principles that would help with a tech writing career.  

Does anyone have an opinion or suggestion on which option (MA in English or
Associates in engineering) would be more beneficial?  Any input is
appreciated!!

Thanks,
Christie



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