Online Engineering Degrees: Top Programs for 2016-2017

There’s a lot going on in the world of engineering. Due to ever-growing and changing technology demands, highly-skilled professional engineers can be found in almost every field and sector of the economy. A successful engineering career demands a quality college or university education. Fortunately, many schools are now offering the added flexibility of online degrees. This page is designed to help prospective students locate the right engineering program for them, and to provide in-depth data and information for those still researching.

Online Degrees in Engineering: A Guide

Engineering, in basic terms, is the application of scientific principles to design, construct and maintain buildings and machines in economical and practical ways. That definition covers a lot of ground and so does engineering postsecondary education. The list of degree programs goes way past electrical and mechanical engineering, especially on the graduate level, with specialties that include civil engineering, industrial engineering, aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, health and safety engineering, chemical engineering and many others.

Online engineering degree programs can be found in abundance and are available on all degree levels. Many of these programs are offered by some of the most highly-regarded colleges and universities in the country and provide identical coursework to their on-site counterparts. Whether studying on a traditional campus or through distance learning, students who pursue an engineering degree will have to make a substantial commitment of time, money and effort to be successful.

The Online Engineering Degree Timeline

The actual amount of time required to earn an engineering degree depends on several factors, chief among them the degree level a student wishes to achieve. Other factors include area of study, finances and financial aid, family and work commitments and location of student and school. The built-in time flexibility of distance education makes it an excellent option for individuals who must take into account one or all of these factors.

Online Engineering Associate Degrees – Two Years

Associate degrees typically require two years to complete and serve two basic functions for engineering students. First, they provide education and training for entry-level employment positions in a broadly-defined engineering job market. Second, they offer an economical alternative for students who intend to continue their education at a public or private university in pursuit of a bachelor’s or graduate engineering degree. In regard to entry-level employment, the opportunities and earning potential for an engineering associate’s degree graduate depend on the focus of his or her studies. Job positions are usually technician- or lab-oriented and involve assisting engineers in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

There are dozens of online engineering associate’s programs available from a surprisingly wide range of colleges and universities, both public and private. A typical degree program will include general education coursework along with core subject classes in subjects such as mathematics, physics, mechanics, electricity, magnetism and computers.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering – Four or Five Years

A bachelor’s degree in engineering is the minimum requirement for anyone intending to enter the profession with the “engineer” job title. The engineering profession is a lucrative one, with a great and growing need for highly-educated and skilled workers in the STEM-related fields. Not surprisingly, therefore, engineering bachelor’s degree programs are among the most popular available. What may be surprising to some is that the study of engineering lends itself quite well to distance learning.

The standard time requirement for earning a bachelor’s degree is four years. It is not uncommon, though, for some students to complete an accelerated program in three years or to extend their coursework into a fifth year if necessary. Whatever specific area of engineering one chooses to study or however long the program, there are a number of core course subjects one should expect to complete, including:

Mathematics: Virtually all engineering students will be required to complete one or more courses in calculus and statistics. Other more subject-specific math courses may also be required.

Basic Sciences: Engineering students should expect to encounter basic science courses in physics, biology and chemistry.

Humanities, Social Science and English: Success in engineering involves more than just a foundation in science and math. Engineers must possess solid reading, writing, creativity, problem-solving and interpersonal skills as well. Engineering students should expect to complete courses in subjects such as expository writing, technical communication, geography, economics, anthropology, history and more.

Engineering: Most engineering programs understand the need for basic subject knowledge that crosses specialization boundaries and include courses in areas such as thermodynamics, materials engineering, fluids and computer science.

Online Master’s of Science in Engineering – Six Years

Surprisingly, the number and range of online engineering degree options increases when moving from the undergraduate to the graduate level. The breadth of choices grows dramatically with an almost endless variety of sub-specialties offered within subject fields that include civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aeronautics and astronautics, bioengineering, software engineering and engineering management. Degree requirements also expand to include such things as on-the-job experience and internships and, in some cases, comprehensive examinations. Another major change that students moving from the bachelor’s degree level to the master’s degree level will encounter is the shift away from fully-online to hybrid-format programs.

Most engineering master’s degree programs, both online and on-site, are designed to be completed within a two-year time frame (following completion of a bachelor’s degree) for students who are able to study on a full-time basis. Many programs provide for a good deal of flexibility in terms of completion deadlines to accommodate those persons who plan to continue working while pursuing their degree.

Online Engineering Doctoral Degrees – Eight Years +

Engineering doctorate degree programs typically prepare their students either for careers in the top levels of academia or in highly-specialized research. Engineering Ph.D. graduates may also find professional employment in business or with science-oriented government agencies. Given the much narrower job focus, it is not surprising that online doctorate degree options are somewhat limited.

Engineering doctorate programs require a significant commitment of time and effort, often taking as long as six years to complete. They are characterized as “research-based” programs that mandate the meeting of certain milestones along the way. The typical degree path includes the completion of all course requirements within the first two years followed by successful passing of an examination to qualify for degree candidacy. Afterward, the doctoral candidate will devote his or her remaining time to dissertation research, completion of a written dissertation and the oral presentation and defense of their work.

Important Elements of Online Engineering Programs

Make no mistake, there are plenty of quality engineering degree programs to be found online. That does not mean, however, that prospective distance learners should not be careful to fully vet all programs under consideration. The following are a few of the most important elements of a strong online degree program:

Accreditation of Engineering Schools and Programs

Full accreditation is a must when it comes to any postsecondary education program, online or otherwise. Accreditation is the means by which an individual can rest assured the his or her degree program rises to the rigorous standards established by the accrediting agency.

Postsecondary education in the United States is accredited in two fundamental ways: institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation. Institutional accreditation concerns the college or university as a whole. It is primarily carried out through a system of six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, although there are also a number of national institutional accrediting agencies.

Programmatic or “specialized” accreditation normally applies to individual programs, departments or schools within the larger educational institution and is administered by accrediting agencies often associated with private not-for-profit professional organizations. In the case of engineering degree programs, the most recognized programmatic accrediting agency is the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Student Resources and Support Services

One sure sign of a quality online degree program is access to a package of out-of-class student resources and support services. Such a package should include the availability of program, personal and financial counselors, online study tools and technical support, and library and tutoring services. In addition, distance learning engineering programs should provide students with a portal to reputable internship programs.

Licensure Requirements

With the exception of the associate’s-level degree, preparation for professional licensure is a crucial element to any engineering degree program. Obtaining a license as a professional engineer is an absolute prerequisite for practice in all United States jurisdictions. Engineering licensure is handled on the state level and specific requirements vary from state to state. Generally speaking, however, an individual will need to meet these minimum qualifications:

• Graduation with a from an ABET-accredited college or university engineering program with a bachelor’s degree;
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination, which results in the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation;
• Completion of set amount of professional experience (typically four years)under the supervision of a licensed engineer; and
• Successful completion of the Principles and Practice in Engineering (PE) exam.

Both the FE and PE examinations are written and administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Each of 50 states as well as the District of Columbia have their own engineering boards that determine the specific requirements for taking the exams and the minimum passing scores.

Methodology +

Best Online Engineering Degrees for 2016-2017

• 2-Year Schools
• 4-Year Schools

An online degree in engineering may be beneficial for those interested in learning how things work and enjoy solving complex problems. With a heightened demand for engineers, there are many online engineering programs for students to choose from. To make this choice easier, we have ranked the top online engineering programs in the country based on our methodology. Learn more about the best online engineering degree programs for 2016-2017 below.

Engineering Degree Search Tool

For students looking to enter into an engineering program, it can seem as though there are as many options for online learning as there are careers in the field. With degree levels ranging from associate to doctoral – and offered across a massive group of concentration options – knowing where to begin can be a big challenge. The search tool below can help, by delivering a personalized list of online engineering programs tailored to meet the needs of each student, with information on programs, school accreditation and flexible learning options. Start the search for the right engineering program below.

Best Online Engineering Degrees for 2015-2016