Oct
13
Distance Learning Engineering can Make You a Real Engineer!
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Jim Zorn asked:
Distance learning engineering is nowadays offered by more and more universities, colleges, and polytechnic institutes, thanks to breakthroughs in course delivery like the internet, virtual labs, instructional design, and interactive content.
What it Involves
Distance learning engineering mainly involves taking either a BS or BE in any of the engineering branches; a BS in Engineering Technology; an MS or ME in any engineering branch or its specialization; or a PhD in a specialization of an engineering branch; through the online or distance mode.
While accredited MS and ME degrees are available for most engineering branches and their specializations, from many universities, accredited BS and BE degrees through distance learning engineering are offered only by a lesser number of institutions. Also, distance learning engineering for undergraduate degrees offers only fewer engineering branches as majors. It is more common to find among bachelor degrees branches like computer science/engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, and quality control/assurance. In many other branches, aspirants will have to opt for a hybrid program with some element of on-campus study during evenings or holidays. However, many universities offer BS degree completion programs in many branches, through distance learning engineering, which means that you need to have prior experience and credits from some other undergraduate engineering program.
However, BS degrees in engineering technology through distance learning engineering are widely available.
Why Engineering?
Engineering is one of the most attractive professions due to the huge demand in the job market, high starting salaries, enormous scope for specialization, and the requirement of only a bachelor’s degree to scale even the heights of this profession. With more than 1.2 million engineers working in the field, it is the USA’s second-largest profession, and provides starting salaries to the tune of US $50,000 per annum to fresh engineers with just bachelors degrees. No wonder, each year, 100,000 new students enroll for engineering courses, in the USA.
Why Distance Learning Engineering?
Universities and colleges nowadays use the latest course delivery methods like the internet, streaming video, video conferencing, virtual labs, instructional design, interactive content, CD, video tapes, on-the-job training, etc, to create a rich experience, which comes close if not being better than a real engineering campus. Most universities also don’t differentiate between their regular engineering degrees and distance learning engineering degrees, making it a viable option for those who can’t accommodate a regular course into their schedule.
Universities, Colleges and Courses for Distance Learning Engineering
BS, MS, and PhD degrees in various branches of engineering are nowadays available under this delivery model. Also available are specialized certificate courses and 2-year associate degrees.
It is always better to go for an accredited course, the best accreditation being that of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). But finding and getting admitted to an ABET accredited distance learning engineering course will not be very easy, as, even in regular engineering education, only 15% of the Universities and Colleges have at least one undergraduate engineering course accredited by ABET.
Also, ABET accreditation is not the only criterion to look for. Many prestigious universities, colleges, and polytechnic institutes offer courses that are highly regarded by the industry and the academic world, but which are still not accredited by ABET.
One of the universities offering ABET accredited courses through distance education is University of North Dakota. UND has four ABET accredited BS degrees in engineering - chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical. The format of course delivery is online. But, generally speaking, ABET accredited courses tend to be hybrid courses with some element of on-campus study.
California National University for Advanced Studies offers a BS in Engineering with electives being computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, and quality assurance science.
Kennedy-Western University offers Bachelor degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, and quality control.
Kansas State University offers an MS in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical branches, with course delivery through internet, video, and CD. North Carolina State University offers an MS in chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering. The course delivery is over video. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Iowa State University both offer MS degrees in electrical and mechanical branches. While University of Illinois exclusively uses the internet for delivery, University of Iowa uses a combination of streaming video over the internet, CD, and video tape. University of Tennessee offers MS in civil engineering, for which the delivery is through the internet.
University of Illinois, Iowa State University, University of Tennessee, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute are some of the institutions offering specialized Graduate Certificate Courses through distance learning engineering, while North Carolina State University offers undergraduate level Certificate Courses through this mode.
RUDY
Distance learning engineering is nowadays offered by more and more universities, colleges, and polytechnic institutes, thanks to breakthroughs in course delivery like the internet, virtual labs, instructional design, and interactive content.
What it Involves
Distance learning engineering mainly involves taking either a BS or BE in any of the engineering branches; a BS in Engineering Technology; an MS or ME in any engineering branch or its specialization; or a PhD in a specialization of an engineering branch; through the online or distance mode.
While accredited MS and ME degrees are available for most engineering branches and their specializations, from many universities, accredited BS and BE degrees through distance learning engineering are offered only by a lesser number of institutions. Also, distance learning engineering for undergraduate degrees offers only fewer engineering branches as majors. It is more common to find among bachelor degrees branches like computer science/engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, and quality control/assurance. In many other branches, aspirants will have to opt for a hybrid program with some element of on-campus study during evenings or holidays. However, many universities offer BS degree completion programs in many branches, through distance learning engineering, which means that you need to have prior experience and credits from some other undergraduate engineering program.
However, BS degrees in engineering technology through distance learning engineering are widely available.
Why Engineering?
Engineering is one of the most attractive professions due to the huge demand in the job market, high starting salaries, enormous scope for specialization, and the requirement of only a bachelor’s degree to scale even the heights of this profession. With more than 1.2 million engineers working in the field, it is the USA’s second-largest profession, and provides starting salaries to the tune of US $50,000 per annum to fresh engineers with just bachelors degrees. No wonder, each year, 100,000 new students enroll for engineering courses, in the USA.
Why Distance Learning Engineering?
Universities and colleges nowadays use the latest course delivery methods like the internet, streaming video, video conferencing, virtual labs, instructional design, interactive content, CD, video tapes, on-the-job training, etc, to create a rich experience, which comes close if not being better than a real engineering campus. Most universities also don’t differentiate between their regular engineering degrees and distance learning engineering degrees, making it a viable option for those who can’t accommodate a regular course into their schedule.
___________________________________________________________________
Universities, Colleges and Courses for Distance Learning Engineering
BS, MS, and PhD degrees in various branches of engineering are nowadays available under this delivery model. Also available are specialized certificate courses and 2-year associate degrees.
It is always better to go for an accredited course, the best accreditation being that of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). But finding and getting admitted to an ABET accredited distance learning engineering course will not be very easy, as, even in regular engineering education, only 15% of the Universities and Colleges have at least one undergraduate engineering course accredited by ABET.
Also, ABET accreditation is not the only criterion to look for. Many prestigious universities, colleges, and polytechnic institutes offer courses that are highly regarded by the industry and the academic world, but which are still not accredited by ABET.
One of the universities offering ABET accredited courses through distance education is University of North Dakota. UND has four ABET accredited BS degrees in engineering - chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical. The format of course delivery is online. But, generally speaking, ABET accredited courses tend to be hybrid courses with some element of on-campus study.
California National University for Advanced Studies offers a BS in Engineering with electives being computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, and quality assurance science.
Kennedy-Western University offers Bachelor degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, and quality control.
Kansas State University offers an MS in chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical branches, with course delivery through internet, video, and CD. North Carolina State University offers an MS in chemical, civil, and mechanical engineering. The course delivery is over video. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Iowa State University both offer MS degrees in electrical and mechanical branches. While University of Illinois exclusively uses the internet for delivery, University of Iowa uses a combination of streaming video over the internet, CD, and video tape. University of Tennessee offers MS in civil engineering, for which the delivery is through the internet.
University of Illinois, Iowa State University, University of Tennessee, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute are some of the institutions offering specialized Graduate Certificate Courses through distance learning engineering, while North Carolina State University offers undergraduate level Certificate Courses through this mode.
RUDY
Oct
13
Distance Learning Civil Engineering - Learn to Design a Better World, the Online Way
Filed Under Non Fiction | Comments Off
Jim Zorn asked:
With a healthy employment outlook for the next 10 years, it is no wonder that distance learning civil engineering is offered by numerous Universities, Polytechnic Institutes, and Colleges, across the country. Civil Engineering is the oldest form of engineering. And Civil Engineering has never ceased to be the largest engineering endeaver as well. Even to this day, with 237,000 civil engineers on duty, it is America’s largest engineering branch that accounts for 16.4% of all engineering jobs in the country.
What it Involves
Though 2-year Associate Degrees are also available, it is only as a bridge to a B.S. Degree, since a Bachelor’s is the minimum entry-level requirement for the industry. However, an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology is acceptable for the career of Civil Engineering Technician.
In the USA, Professional Engineer (PE) license from State Licensing Boards is needed by Civil Engineers if they want to play a role in infrastructure work affecting the public, and the training for the two PE exams, ‘Fundamentals of Engineering’ and ‘Principles and Practice’, are also available through distance learning civil engineering.
Compared with the B.S. degree, there is both more demand as well as options for the M.S. Degree through distance learning civil engineering. The main reason for this is the industry’s increasing demand for specialized civil engineers like Structural or Environmental Engineers. It is also driven by a recent recommendation of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to the US State Licensing Boards that the minimum educational qualification for Professional Engineer (PE) license be upgraded from the current Bachelor’s to a Masters level.
Why Civil Engineering?
Unlike many engineering branches, the demand for Civil Engineering has a direct relation with population growth. In fact, this is why Civil Engineering continues to be the largest engineering branch in terms of employment, compared with equally conventional branches like Mechanical Engineering or modern branches like Computer Science, which is mainly due to this direct relation with population growth. More people mean more apartments, and more people also eventually lead to a larger employee pool - thereby increasing both residential and commercial construction.
The demand for Civil Engineering also has a direct correlation with economic growth. This is because, periods of economic slowdown will leave no funds for infrastructure development, while periods of economic growth will provide surplus funds that will be gobbled up in no time by the pending infrastructure needs. In the coming years and decades, economic slowdowns will be better predicted, if not avoided, thanks to the better interventional strategies by institutions like the Federal Reserve. This will leave funds ever available for infrastructure development, and will generate steady demand for Civil Engineers in the coming years.
Most Civil Engineering projects like roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, railway lines, airports, seaports, water supplies, sewage systems, buildings, etc. are also heavy on maintenance and repair, and such regular work contributes to the great demand for Civil Engineers. The need for high-speed, highly-safe mass transportation systems like underground or undersea railways is another major driver for the advancement of Civil Engineering.
Civil Engineering of today is also a professionally satisfying career, with good salaries and technologically updated work. Though average salaries of Civil Engineers are not very high, many of them draw as much as US $95,000 and none of them draw below US $43,500. They also get to work in high-tech areas like earthquake-resistant designs, and make heavy use of tools like Computer Aided Design / Engineering (CAD/CAE).
Why Distance Learning Civil Engineering?
Almost all online or distance courses in any branch of engineering would require work in the industry to meet coursework requirements, as coursework in on-campus labs is not possible. Civil Engineering has the greatest advantage on this front as civil work is abundant everywhere, and this is the main reason why so many Universities and Colleges offer distance learning civil engineering.
It is the best option for technicians, surveyors, and other junior technical staff working in the industry, who want to upgrade themselves to the status of an engineer. Indeed, the majority of those going for a B.S. degree through distance learning civil engineering, are already working in the industry. Practicing Civil Engineers already having a Bachelor’s Degree, also find this the best option, as there is professional pressure on them to specialize further in the field, without upsetting their regular work.
When a Civil Engineer grows from an employee to a Consultant, the Professional Engineer (PE) license will become increasingly important. It is widely expected that soon an M.S. in Civil Engineering would become the minimum educational qualification needed for this, and distance learning civil engineering is the best option for this.
What to Expect From Distance Learning Civil Engineering, in the Future?
As of today, the number of M.S. Degrees in General Civil Engineering is much more than M.S. in the Civil Engineering specializations like Structural, Construction, Environmental, Geotechnical, Transportation, or Hydraulic. However, this scenario will rapidly change, reflecting the increased demand for specialized Civil Engineers. The result will be that Distance Learning Civil Engineering will be offered by more institutions, and that it will be offered with more majors and specializations.
FERNANDO
With a healthy employment outlook for the next 10 years, it is no wonder that distance learning civil engineering is offered by numerous Universities, Polytechnic Institutes, and Colleges, across the country. Civil Engineering is the oldest form of engineering. And Civil Engineering has never ceased to be the largest engineering endeaver as well. Even to this day, with 237,000 civil engineers on duty, it is America’s largest engineering branch that accounts for 16.4% of all engineering jobs in the country.
What it Involves
___________________________________________________________________
Though 2-year Associate Degrees are also available, it is only as a bridge to a B.S. Degree, since a Bachelor’s is the minimum entry-level requirement for the industry. However, an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology is acceptable for the career of Civil Engineering Technician.
In the USA, Professional Engineer (PE) license from State Licensing Boards is needed by Civil Engineers if they want to play a role in infrastructure work affecting the public, and the training for the two PE exams, ‘Fundamentals of Engineering’ and ‘Principles and Practice’, are also available through distance learning civil engineering.
Compared with the B.S. degree, there is both more demand as well as options for the M.S. Degree through distance learning civil engineering. The main reason for this is the industry’s increasing demand for specialized civil engineers like Structural or Environmental Engineers. It is also driven by a recent recommendation of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to the US State Licensing Boards that the minimum educational qualification for Professional Engineer (PE) license be upgraded from the current Bachelor’s to a Masters level.
Why Civil Engineering?
Unlike many engineering branches, the demand for Civil Engineering has a direct relation with population growth. In fact, this is why Civil Engineering continues to be the largest engineering branch in terms of employment, compared with equally conventional branches like Mechanical Engineering or modern branches like Computer Science, which is mainly due to this direct relation with population growth. More people mean more apartments, and more people also eventually lead to a larger employee pool - thereby increasing both residential and commercial construction.
The demand for Civil Engineering also has a direct correlation with economic growth. This is because, periods of economic slowdown will leave no funds for infrastructure development, while periods of economic growth will provide surplus funds that will be gobbled up in no time by the pending infrastructure needs. In the coming years and decades, economic slowdowns will be better predicted, if not avoided, thanks to the better interventional strategies by institutions like the Federal Reserve. This will leave funds ever available for infrastructure development, and will generate steady demand for Civil Engineers in the coming years.
Most Civil Engineering projects like roads, bridges, tunnels, dams, railway lines, airports, seaports, water supplies, sewage systems, buildings, etc. are also heavy on maintenance and repair, and such regular work contributes to the great demand for Civil Engineers. The need for high-speed, highly-safe mass transportation systems like underground or undersea railways is another major driver for the advancement of Civil Engineering.
Civil Engineering of today is also a professionally satisfying career, with good salaries and technologically updated work. Though average salaries of Civil Engineers are not very high, many of them draw as much as US $95,000 and none of them draw below US $43,500. They also get to work in high-tech areas like earthquake-resistant designs, and make heavy use of tools like Computer Aided Design / Engineering (CAD/CAE).
Why Distance Learning Civil Engineering?
Almost all online or distance courses in any branch of engineering would require work in the industry to meet coursework requirements, as coursework in on-campus labs is not possible. Civil Engineering has the greatest advantage on this front as civil work is abundant everywhere, and this is the main reason why so many Universities and Colleges offer distance learning civil engineering.
It is the best option for technicians, surveyors, and other junior technical staff working in the industry, who want to upgrade themselves to the status of an engineer. Indeed, the majority of those going for a B.S. degree through distance learning civil engineering, are already working in the industry. Practicing Civil Engineers already having a Bachelor’s Degree, also find this the best option, as there is professional pressure on them to specialize further in the field, without upsetting their regular work.
When a Civil Engineer grows from an employee to a Consultant, the Professional Engineer (PE) license will become increasingly important. It is widely expected that soon an M.S. in Civil Engineering would become the minimum educational qualification needed for this, and distance learning civil engineering is the best option for this.
What to Expect From Distance Learning Civil Engineering, in the Future?
As of today, the number of M.S. Degrees in General Civil Engineering is much more than M.S. in the Civil Engineering specializations like Structural, Construction, Environmental, Geotechnical, Transportation, or Hydraulic. However, this scenario will rapidly change, reflecting the increased demand for specialized Civil Engineers. The result will be that Distance Learning Civil Engineering will be offered by more institutions, and that it will be offered with more majors and specializations.
FERNANDO