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Online Engineering Degree Programs

Online and distance learning engineering degree program designed for aspiring professionals. Degrees offering in electrical engineering, civil engineering, engineering management, software engineering, environmental engineering and more.
   

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Engineering Degrees

Engineering Jobs
  • Generally, Engineering job opportunities tend to be sporadic.
  • Most entry-level jobs prefer one to have received a bachelor's degree
  • Compared to college graduates with degrees in other fields, salaries in this field are much higher.
  • To remain up-to-date on emerging new technologies, current and continuing education is essential.
Engineering Career Overview
Engineers use science and mathematics to solve social and commercial problems. They develop products and plants that produce them. Their work also includes ensuring the quality and efficiency of the development process, especially as it handles manufacturing. Engineers seek to improve civil and energy systems. This includes the construction of transit systems and the extraction of raw energy materials. Also, by taking advantage of new technology, they can develop and improve product performance in areas such as solar energy, biology, and electric power. They measure the effect these products have on people and the environment, and in the process enhance the performance of food products, healthcare, and financial systems.

Many factors play into how an engineer develops a new product. They must determine the functions, design, and effectiveness of the plan to develop a new product. Cost and safety are also taken into account. These factors cover a wide range of product development from toy and computers to gas turbines and helicopters.

Engineers are also heavily involved at ground level production. They manage factory production, test new products for efficiency, and determine the causes of malfunctions, in addition to planning time deadlines and financial limits. Management and sales is also a large part of the process that includes engineers in the planning and installation process.

Engineering specialty fields range from materials engineering (which includes metallurgy, ceramic, and polymer engineering) to civil engineering (which includes transportation and structural engineering). Other engineers may work in one field or industry, such as technology or automobiles.

Separate commentaries on fourteen different branches of engineering follow this brief treatise of the engineer career profile. These branches are, alphabetically, Aerospace; agricultural, biomedical; chemical, civil, computer hardware; electrical and electronics, except computer, environmental; industrial, including health and safety, materials; mechanical, mining and geological, including mining safety, nuclear, and petroleum engineering.

In each of these areas engineers have a foundational knowledge that can be used. For example, electronics engineers work in many different areas ranging from medical to missile guidance. However, engineers specializing in one are usually work with people in other occupations to solve varied and separate problems.

Computers are useful to help engineers analyze the efficiency of a particular system's operation, design, and components. The Internet is especially helpful for engineers who wish to communicate over long distances about specific designs or operations. Computers also help check the quality and control of production processes. It is common for engineers to collaborate with people in other fields to develop complex products. Supervisory engineers sometimes are over the critical components of a project.

Training and Qualifications for Engineering Careers
Most entry-level engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree or higher in a related field. Sometimes placement into a highly demanded specialty field will depend on a having a specialty degree such as mathematics, physical science, electronics, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering. This is not to say that engineers cannot move between similar fields. In fact, flexibility between fields helps employers to satisfy the demands of newer technologies. It also allows engineers to transfer to a more lucrative field or one that they more prefer.

Specialty studies are common in engineering programs. Also usually included are courses in mathematics, science, design, and computer or laboratory.

Colleges typically also offer two to four-year degrees in engineering technology. Instead of training students in theoretical knowledge, these programs train students in the more practical application skills of laboratory design and production. Receiving a bachelor's degree in engineering may lead to job prospects similar to those opened up to people who have graduated from a technology program. However, technology program graduates cannot become professional engineers as can engineer program graduates. Often, employers see technology programs as more technician based over engineering.

Positions in engineering faculty or research / development programs require graduate training. However, this is not necessary for placement into most entry-level jobs. Often engineers will seek graduate degree training in order to learn advances in technology and other practical knowledge. In fact, government and business executives started as engineers.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredits over 340 colleges and universities with engineering programs. Accredited engineering technology programs are offered in nearly 240 colleges. The ABET accreditation process is centered on student achievement, faculty, curricular content, facilities, institutional commitment, and program improvement. Only a handful of colleges offer programs in small specialties, and many times program title names are ambiguous. Some programs may be more practical in nature, while others are more theoretical and academically oriented. Students should carefully investigate which institutions are best to accommodate their interests.

To be accepted into an undergraduate engineering school, admissions criteria usually require having strong experience in computer technology, mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus) and humanities (English, social studies, etc.). It takes many students longer than the four-year program time frame to complete their degree. The first half of the four-year program usually includes mathematics, sciences, and intro classes to humanities, social sciences, and of course engineering. The second half is dedicated to intense engineering work with particular emphasis in one area. Someone in an aerospace program, for example, might specialize in analytical mechanics, flight vehicle design, trajectory dynamics, propulsion systems, heat transfer, or fluid mechanics. Students in a general engineering program might instead go onto graduate school or directly into an entry-level job.

It is not uncommon for an engineering school to maintain agreements with two-year colleges that benefit the student with automatic entrance into the school upon completion of the first two-years. Also, some engineering schools have agreements that provide students with a bachelor's degree from each of two schools: following three years studying pre-engineering curriculum in an liberal-arts college and two years in an engineering school studying core topics. Some institutions offer five-year Master's degree programs. Students are also able to gain practical experience while financing their education through five or six year cooperative plans.

Professional Engineers (PE) who offer their services to the public are required by the United States to be licensed in their field. This can be acquired through an ABET-accredited program that produces engineering degrees; completion of a State test; and four or more years of related experience. Following graduation, examinations can be taken in two phases: the initial Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination comes before the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam. Although licensures are valid between States, many States have continuing education requirements for relicensure. Many PEs are mechanical, civil, electrical and chemical engineers.

Engineers interact with specialists from many different fields. Thus, engineers should develop strong interpersonal skills and be detail-oriented. They should also strive for creative and analytical skills.

Entry-level engineers may receive classroom or seminar style training and usually work under seasoned engineers. They are given more advanced projects as their knowledge and experience becomes greater. In some cases, this may include directing a staff of specialized technicians. In other cases, engineers may become managers over sales staffs. Many possibilities for advancement exist.

Engineering Degrees:

Featured Engineering Degree Programs:

DeVry University
DeVry University one of the nation's largest accredited adult universities now offers a large selection online degree programs designed for aspiring technology professionals. DeVry University now offers degrees in both Computer Engineering and Electronics Engineering that are designed to be completed online either at home or from the comfort of your office.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering Technology
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electronics Engineering Technology

Westwood College Online
Computer Network Engineers with a degree are in high demand. The computer network engineering program at Westwood College Online can help you launch or advance your career in computer network engineering.
  • Computer Network Engineering

Colorado Technical University
Software Engineering is now one of the fastest growing engineering and technology fields. Colorado Technical University offers aspiring software engineers the opportunity to earn their degree in software engineering online.
  • Bachelors (BSSE) in Software Engineering

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DeVry University Online
Colorado Technical University
Westwood College Online

Featured Schools
Our editors top choice of online degree schools: Associate Degree
University of Phoenix
Kaplan University
AIU Online

Bachelor Degree
University of Phoenix
Strayer University
DeVry University Online

Master's Degree
Capella University
Walden University
University of Phoenix

MBAs
Ellis College of NYIT
University of Phoenix
Jones International University

Diplomas
PCDI
Penn Foster Career School

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