The first type of postgraduate degree available to students of engineering in the United States is the master's degree. You can earn a Master of Science degree in engineering or a Master of Engineering degree, depending upon which type of program you attend. Most students who pursue a master's degree in engineering already have a bachelor's degree in the field. Sometimes, students who studied math or physics as undergraduates transition to studying engineering at the postgraduate level. You can get a master's degree in general engineering at a few universities, but at most schools you'll have to choose an area to specialize in, such as civil, electrical, mechanical or computer engineering. There is no official difference between these two degrees, but in many universities the Master of Engineering degree is for people who want to be professional engineers, whereas the Master of Science in engineering is for students who are interested in a career in research and academia. One focuses primarily on coursework, whereas the other has a stronger research component.
Traditionally, schools in Europe and Latin America offer no Bachelor of Engineering degree. Instead, students interested in pursuing engineering must follow a longer, five-year course of study to earn the engineer's degree. The engineer's degree is between the master's and Ph.D. In the United States, students can study for the engineer's degree after they complete their master's. The engineer's degree is considered a terminal degree and is pursued primarily by students who want to work as practicing engineers and have little or no interest in research or academia. Students must choose a field of engineering to focus on, such as civil, mechanical or electrical, and their years studying are spent primarily in coursework. Few universities in the United States offer the engineer's degree, and requirements differ considerably between universities and even departments.
The Doctorate of Philosophy of Engineering is the highest degree you can attain in engineering. Students in the United States who have earned their master's degrees and wish to continue studying apply to Ph.D. programs. The Ph.D. in engineering is based heavily on research, and students at most schools must write a thesis or dissertation to earn their degrees. Most students who pursue the Ph.D. in engineering are not interested in working as professional engineers, but instead plan to teach engineering at the university level.