Online Engineering Degrees and Careers
[widget]Increasingly, universities across the United States offer engineering programs either partially or entirely online. Online programs provide busy learners with many benefits, including cost, convenience, and flexibility.
[/header]Earning Your Engineering Online Degree
Where cost is an issue, it is hard to beat the appeal of an online university, particularly for non-resident students. For example, Purdue University's College of Engineering offers an online master's degree programs and a variety of on-campus programs. The school's on-campus flat rate tuition for eight hours of graduate studies is priced at $14,402 for out-of-state students. By contrast, eight hours of non-resident online course in engineering could cost as little as $9,778, yielding over 32% in savings.
Online degree programs offer unprecedented convenience for learners. While degree program requirements vary, online programs commonly use video lecture setup. This allows students to watch from the convenience of their homes, offices, or even while traveling. Unlike lectures that take place on campus, an online program can be watched and rewatched, allowing for better information retention. While many degree programs maintain a highly structured schedule, some degree programs even allow students to take longer than a single semester for a given course. Features such as these allow for unprecedented pacing control, making online courses particularly attractive to students with full-time jobs or other commitments.
Through the use of technology, online programs create an online learning environment that is in some ways similar but in other ways very different from their on-campus counterparts. Some universities rely heavily on the student to study assigned texts in a conventional manner, while others encourage learning through the application of interactive media online. Figuring out your learning style and choosing a college to match can make all the difference when it comes to retention and performance both in school and later in your career.
Featured Online Programs
Job Outlook for Engineering Graduates, Mid-Level Salary
Data derived from Payscale and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Field | Associate | Bachelor's | Master's | Ph.D. | Projected Job Growth (2014-2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Engineering | – | $106,000 | $118,000 | $128,000 | -2% |
| Biomedical Engineering | – | $104,000 | $122,000 | $133,000 | 23% |
| Chemical Engineering | – | $119,000 | $125,000 | $146,000 | 2% |
| Electrical Engineering | $70,800 | $110,000 | $127,000 | $144,000 | 0% |
| Engineering | $70,500 | $107,000 | $120,000 | $137,000 | – |
| Materials Science & Engineering | – | $108,000 | $116,000 | $128,000 | 1% |
| Software Engineer | $60,000 | $68,424 | $87,818 | $120,000 | 17% |
| % Average of Bachelor's | 52% | 100% | 111% | 125% |
The table above is a subset of salary data made available by Payscale. It shows salary growth as a function of field of engineering studied and degree acquired. On the far right of the table is projected job growth as a percentage of the market, meaning that for every 100 jobs available in biomedical engineering in 2014, there will be 123 jobs in that field by 2024. More fields and greater detail are available through either Payscale or the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As one can see, salary and growth are both sensitive to field of study and salary is especially sensitive to level of education.
The Best Online Engineering Programs
Types of Engineering Careers
Featured Online Programs
Engineering Certifications and Licensing
One way engineers may help advance and control their career trajectories is through the acquisition of professional licensing and field certifications. Some licenses are more important than others. For example, some licenses may be required (whether by law or by employer), whereas others may yield higher compensation.
In general, licensed professional engineers:
Must hold a four-year degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program
Suffer tutelage under another professional engineer
Pass one or more exams to prove competency
Maintain their license through continued study
In return, they:
Are given greater responsibility, such as lead engineers on a project
Can prepare, sign, and seal engineering work for public and private clients
Have much greater ease doing work as it pertains and relates to the U.S. Government
Enjoy more opportunities as an educator
Certification requirements vary most greatly from discipline to discipline but ultimately they all serve a similar purpose: to demonstrate and assure expertise and specialization within one's field. Certifications can be attained through licensing boards, professional organizations, and third parties, such as software companies.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) offers both company-wide certification and personnel certification programs with no minimum experience. By contrast, the American Society of Civil Engineers offers personnel certification, some of which require that one be a professional engineer with a master's degree along with no fewer than eight years of post-licensure progressive engineering experience. Engineering is filled with life-long learners, so be sure to research what your options are to assure you get the career you want.
Engineering Scholarships
The need for quality engineers is perpetually on the rise in the United States. From automobile manufacturing to the development of nuclear power, oil, gas, food, and beyond, engineering plays a central role in many aspects of modern American society. As such, there is no shortage of scholarship opportunities, especially for women and minorities, who historically are underrepresented in these fields.
Professional Organizations
Whether you are a student or you are already a working professional, the time to research and join a professional organization is now — that is to say, as early as possible. Professional organizations connect students and professionals to peers who are actively engaged in the sorts of careers students intend to pursue. What better way to gauge one's interest, investigate possible specialties, learn how the classroom and workspace are different, and, of course, make some of those oh-so important contacts that might lead to future employment upon graduation? With any luck, one may even be able to find a corporate mentor, someone interested and engaged in helping a student or new hire navigate the transitional portion of their career. Below are a few of the many organizations into which one could investigate:
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): Promoting the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe, ASME is a global network of engineers with more than 130,000 members in more than 151 countries. Their work involves the development of industry standards applied the world over, as well as encouraging the continued education of its constituents.
National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME): NACME seeks to serve as a catalyzing force, working with partners to increase the proportion of African American, American Indian, and Latinx young men and women in STEM careers. NACME is committed to supporting a diverse and dynamic American workforce not only during their education but into their career.
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): With local chapters throughout the US and around the globe, ASCE offers a variety of services to its members, including certifications, training for licensure, and periodical publications.
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): A powerful resource for meeting and connecting with engineers operating in a variety of disciplines, NSPE also offers a job board, hosts engineering conferences, and offers free online courses.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE is dedicated to the increase and advancement of female engineers, whether in the U.S. or beyond. The organization offers a large array of scholarships to students and makes membership at a significantly reduced rate to students.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): NSBE's mission is to "increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community." The organization oversees 288 collegiate chapters and is one of the largest student-governed organizations based in the United States.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): SHPE envisions "a world where Hispanics are highly valued and influential as the leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians and engineers." The organization is dedicated to creating networking opportunities for students and professionals in the U.S. and beyond.
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE): With 50,000 members, AIChE encourages the acquisition and use of expertise in the many specialized fields within chemical engineering. To this end, the organization offers an abundance of information on core and budding processes as well as opportunities to meet with others in the field.
Engineers Without Borders (EWB): A society for those who want to give back, Engineers Without Borders empowers engineers to improve the world through engineering projects that empower communities to fulfill basic human needs. They focus on water supply, sanitation, energy, agriculture, and civil works.
Engineering Internships
When studying engineering and preparing to enter the workforce, one of the most beneficial things one can do is acquire an internship. Internships help set a student apart by getting them hands-on, real world experience even before graduating. Beyond that, it supports networking efforts and can turn into employment opportunities. Some companies even offer a co-op program with select universities in which students can rotate between classes and on-site work efforts semester-by-semester without losing full time status. Here are a few quick tips for how to go about benefiting from some of these opportunities yourself:
The Difference Between Externships and Internships
| Externships | Internships |
|---|---|
| Often lasts between two months and one year | Often lasts one week or less |
| On-the-job training with expected, independent results and deadlines | Job shadowing so the extern can start to understand the basics of the job |
| Often paid or for college credit | Rarely paid or for college credit |
| Powerful tool for networking | Powerful tool for networking |
| May lead to a job, sometimes specified in intern hiring process | May lead to a job, though almost never guaranteed; could be used as precursor to internship |
Open Courseware
No matter how one looks at it, engineering is hard work, and even if parts may be easy from time to time, the work will rise to the occasion, offering new challenges. If you want to be an engineer, chances are you are a lifelong learner. To that end, there is a wide variety of open courseware available to you. These sources offer free supplementary materials that can help give you the edge as an engineer by expanding your abilities, keeping those you've acquired sharp, and allowing you to test what might interest you.