How to Become an Engineer Without an Engineering Background

Demand for engineers is growing across multiple fields and industries, with mechanical engineers earning an average annual salary of over $102,000 and employment projected to grow 9% by 2034.¹ If you're considering a career change into engineering, you might assume that the educational requirements are insurmountable, but they're more accessible than you think, even if your bachelor's degree is in a completely different field.

Whether you're pivoting from business, science or another discipline, this guide will show you the educational pathways and practical steps to launch your engineering career.

What Does it Take to Become an Engineer?

The job requirements for engineers vary by role, company and industry, among other factors. This means that you may qualify for some positions with nearly any transferable background and practical career development. Meanwhile, other engineering jobs may require licensing and years of direct experience.

The core requirements to become an engineer include:

Education
Most professional engineering roles require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. More advanced roles, such as senior and project management positions, often require a master's degree.

Certification
Many engineering roles, particularly federal positions, require specific licenses and certifications when the work involves complex systems, sensitive data or public projects.² Common credentials include Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP) and Fundamentals of Engineering (FE).

Soft skills
Beyond technical knowledge, successful engineers also rely on soft skills, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, creativity and leadership.

Case Western Reserve University's three online master's programs in engineering are designed to develop well-rounded engineers. The curricula build soft skills like leadership and communication alongside technical expertise in areas such as advanced fluid dynamics.

How to Become an Engineer if You Have a Bachelor’s Degree in Another Field

You can still become an engineer if your undergraduate studies were focused elsewhere. Your best strategy may depend on the type of degree and experience you have and the other skills you've gained throughout your career. For example, if your bachelor's is in biology, you might go into biomedical engineering; if you have a lot of experience in mathematics or physics, mechanical engineering could be a good fit.

Consider these options as ways to strengthen your expertise:

Bridge programs
These help you gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter the engineering industry, whether you're changing industries, roles or academic concentrations.

Prerequisite coursework
Supplementary courses and programs at community colleges, universities and online schools help you gain the skills and credits you'll need for a graduate program without requiring a separate bachelor's or certificate.

Graduate engineering programs
A graduate program, such as the online Master of Engineering from CWRU, provides advanced technical training and credentials for higher-level positions in areas like design engineering or leadership.

Education Pathways: Which Degrees or Credentials Do You Need?

Many entry-level engineering jobs require only a bachelor's degree in engineering. For advanced positions and specialized roles, however, a graduate degree is increasingly valuable. Whether you pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree depends on your broader career goals and prior educational experience. Technical fields such as math, computer science and physics often share key transferable skills with engineering programs. Your proficiency in any of those areas may help you qualify for graduate engineering programs without the need for extra coursework or post-baccalaureate help.

Give careful thought to the roles and industries in which you'd like to work. Advanced engineering positions may require specialized skills and credentials, such as:

• Proficiency in Python, Java, C++ and other programming languages
• Experience with specific software and tools, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Professional certifications, such as PMP and PE licenses

Going Back to School to Become an Engineer

If you are thinking about going back to school, consider the time and financial commitment required for each educational path, especially if you'll need to balance coursework with family or your current career. Post-baccalaureate programs, role-specific certificate programs and online master's programs can make becoming an engineer practical and affordable.

• Post-baccalaureate programs: These help you prepare for graduate school by catching you up on essential technical skills and prerequisites for your area of specialization³
• Certificates: Engineering training, certificates, licenses and other credentials further expand your qualifications without requiring another degree
• Online engineering master's degree: An online engineering degree lets you study on your schedule and complete courses from anywhere—ideal for working professionals who need flexibility

Skills and Experience that Help You Become an Engineer

While engineering requires specific technical credentials, many essential soft skills are easily transferable from other fields. You may already bring valuable skills to an engineering career, such as:

• Project management
• Clear communication of complex ideas
• Cross-functional collaboration in hybrid or distributed workforces
• Business administration
• Creative problem-solving
• Adaptability and innovation

To develop the technical skills you'll need, consider internships, entry-level roles or graduate programs with hands-on components. CWRU's engineering programs provide practical project experience that builds technical expertise while expanding your professional network.

Accelerate Your Engineering Career with Case Western Reserve University

If you're coming from a different field or background, becoming an engineer is a straightforward process once you know your career goals and the skills you need. Case Western Reserve University offers three online graduate engineering programs designed specifically to help career changers succeed:

• Online Master of Engineering, with concentrations in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Systems and Control Engineering, and Engineering Innovation, Management and Leadership
• Online Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
• Online Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Ranking nationally at #52 in engineering,⁴ CWRU's student-tailored programs prioritize practice-focused, hands-on technical experiences and translational research that translates into products, systems and solutions with real-world impact.

Your graduate education may be more affordable than you think: CWRU offers a tuition reduction of more than $28,000. While in school, you'll learn from award-winning faculty, including Dr. Umut Gurkan, who received the Faculty Distinguished Research Award for his point-of-care diagnostics developments. When you graduate, you can leverage alumni networking opportunities and strong industry connections.

Explore CWRU's programs to find the right fit for your background and goals. When you're ready to take the next step, schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor who can answer your questions and help you get started.