Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Electrical Engineering

Old Dominion University has offered distance education for over 30 years; a newer element of this program allows students to earn or complete their bachelor's degree online. Old Dominion offers 5 different entirely online degrees in the field of electrical engineering technology, each of which is meant to prepare students for a specific career path. For example, the communications systems technology major will teach students how to work with wireless systems and advanced circuits, while the computer engineering technology major prepares students for careers in programming. Other choices are embedded systems technology, mechatronics technology and power systems technology. Available minors allow students to specialize even further. Transfer students are welcome, but Old Dominion requires that graduates earn at least 30 credits through its school. The required credits per 4-year program vary, but students should expect to complete up to 128 credits hours before graduating. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam in Virginia as well as several other states; passing the exam is one of the criteria for licensure.

Recommended for students that are currently working full time in an engineering field, Clemson University's Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is offered online for maximum flexibility. However, students should be aware that this is a degree completion program, and that some of the required courses in this 126-credit program are not offered online by Clemson and must be completed at other institutions and then transferred. Students are expected to hold a B average from previous coursework; however, those who fall short may apply for special dispensation if they demonstrate sufficient academic ability through other channels. Once admitted, students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. The length of time to complete the program varies according to a student's individual time commitment; those attending on a part-time basis, who bring in some transfer credits, may expect to complete the full program in about 6 years. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Located near New York City, Stony Brook University awards more than 200 degrees, including an online bachelor's in electrical engineering. This completion degree is offered in an asynchronous format, and is designed to attract working students who need maximum flexibility in their schedules. Structured to be completed in 4 years, students will be able to follow a set course outline while still taking courses at their own pace. Courses include topics such as electromagnetics, engineering design, digital logic design and electronic circuits; after graduation, students should be prepared for careers in various industries that require the design and use of engineering devices and systems. Students who lack certain prerequisite classes - typically lower-division lab courses - may be required to take them on campus before being admitted to the program. Once students are accepted to the program, all labs, tests and discussions are completed entirely online. Admission requirements dictate that students show transcripts proving an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 in certain classes, and no grade below a C.

A Catholic school based in Adrian, Michigan, Siena Heights has an online program aimed at students who wish to further both their education and their careers through a degree completion program. The curriculum at Siena Heights adheres to an "inverted major" format. This means students will not engage in coursework that is specific to their field, but instead will take a complement of classes that are designed to give them a fuller liberal arts background as well as management skills. Students interested in earning a bachelor's degree in electronics technology must meet certain admissions requirements to demonstrate their competency in electronics technology. One route is to present an associate in applied science from a regionally accredited school; another is to show 35 completed credit hours and otherwise prove their technical abilities for electrical engineering, through work experience or military experience, for example. Upon entrance, the program is designed to take as little as 2 years to complete.

Established specifically to train the workforce immediately after World War II, the Charlotte campus of the University of North Carolina has continued to educate students in the technical fields while also developing into a strong research institution. Students that choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the university should be prepared for multiple potential careers, including designing avionic control systems, creating applications for HVAC systems and working with networked computer systems or consumer electronics. Classes are offered entirely online except for on-campus labs conducted over the summer. The program is targeted to students who already have an applied sciences associate degree and currently hold jobs, but anyone who meets admission requirements is eligible to apply. All upper-division courses are offered both part time and full time to best accommodate working students. UNC Charlotte has also established relationships with local businesses to help connect local graduates to job possibilities.

With one of the largest statewide online schools, Indiana State University welcomes seasoned students into its online electrical engineering program. For this degree completion program, ISU requires students to have either an associate of science in electronics technology from Ivy Tech Community College or Vincennes University (both located in Indiana), or to have completed a similar associate degree from an accredited school. Once students are accepted, they take complete an additional 80 credits of coursework covering electronics technology; mechanical engineering technology; various areas in math, computer science, physical science and technology management; as well as electives in robotics and manufacturing. Students will also take professional classes to develop workplace management skills, and upon graduation should be prepared to take positions in areas such as instrumentation and control, electronics manufacturing, power operations, and sales and services. The program has earned accreditation from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE).

Giving students a wide range of skills in electronics technology is the goal of this online bachelor's degree in electronics technology from North Carolina A&T State University. The 120-credit program is structured to take the traditional 4 years, but is specifically aimed at working students who would have difficulty making the commute to campus. Transfer students are also encouraged. Requiring that students maintain at least a "C" grade in all major-specific courses, the program emphasizes mainframe education, with students learning about things such as circuits, networks, power systems and digital computing. Hands-on experience is emphasized as much as theoretical principles, and the program is designed to propel graduates directly into the workplace, with careers such as home and business security specialists; transportation safety specialists; automatization or computer electronics technicians; and electronics or network installers. Graduates of the program go on to work for a variety of major corporations as well as in the public sector.

University of Massachusetts-Lowell's online Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology program is designed for students interested in any field that involves the design, testing and manufacturing of electrical hardware and software (e.g., telecommunications, semiconductors and consumer electronics). Some graduates may go on to advanced degrees in electrical engineering. In addition to teaching electronic principles, the program strives to develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills of students. The program requires completion of 127 semester hours of coursework. Some courses are available online, but most courses need to be attended on campus. Upper-division major courses include Electromagnetic Theory, Foundations of Microwave Design, Digital Signal Processing and Digital Electronics. A variety of required project laboratory courses are designed to give hands-on industrial experience to students by giving them the opportunity to design, plan, implement and report on a project in collaboration with advisers. Students who have worked in the industry may be able to use a specific project in a high-technology company as part of their course projects.

Morgan State University's Bachelor of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering program prides itself on its innovative pedagogy, which incorporates lab work design throughout the curriculum. To graduate, students must complete 120 credit hours of coursework. By providing a suggested sequence that lays out the entire 4 years of coursework, the program helps students keep on track and fluidly integrate general education studies within the program. Major-specific coursework includes classes such as Electronic Materials and Devices, Electromagnetic Theory and Applications, Principles of Design and Electronic Circuits. All students must complete a 2-part capstone course sequence, the Senior Design Project, in which they work with their adviser to propose, implement and report on a design project. The program partners with alumni and others in the private sector and government agencies to ensure the continued relevance of the coursework. Alumni also interact regularly with the program by providing mentoring opportunities to students. The Electrical Engineering program has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.