A bachelor's degree in engineering focuses on machine and energy technology, teaching students with hands-on, laboratory and design classes. In addition to core science courses, a student seeking a bachelor's in engineering needs to take a variety of general education courses. Social science and humanities courses help you in the different fields you may encounter during your engineering career. Some colleges where you can pursue your undergraduate degree in engineering are the University of Cincinnati, Ohio Northern University, Ohio State and Ohio University.
After you complete a B.S. in Engineering or a closely related subject, such as physics, you may decide to continue your education and seek a master's degree. Master's degrees in Ohio only require a thesis in certain cases, but non-thesis programs require you to complete more class hours. At the University of Cincinnati, you can also get a degree from the Master of Engineering (MEng) program. Unlike a Master of Science degree, MEng is a graduate degree focusing on skills and expertise instead of research experience.
Many graduate programs in Ohio offer you the opportunity to focus on mechanical engineering, specifically, or choose a specialization. Some universities offer master's degrees in aerospace, biomedical, civil and nuclear engineering; others focus on Mechanical Engineering degrees. Ohio State University's College of Engineering offers specialized master's degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and it has a Graduate Specialization in Automotive Systems Engineering.
Students interested in a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree can choose to focus on mechanical engineering or a specific area engineering, such as biomedical engineering. You must have a master's degree in engineering or a related subject in order to apply for the doctorate program in most cases, but Ohio State University offers another option. Students who complete a B.S. and know they want to pursue a PhD can follow a curriculum unique from students with a master's degree.