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Opinions of online Mechanical Engineering degree
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:27 pm
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:27 pm
I've been in the oilfield for almost 9 years now after dropping out of LSU. I considered going back to school before I started having kids (#4 on the way) but never did. With the way the oilfield is now I'm looking for alternatives. I'm back out in the field now as an MWD hand after working in the office in operations the last 5 years (had to cut overhead) with the promise of being back in the office when things pick up. Doing MWD work there is plenty of time to keep up with online schoolwork. When I originally went to LSU I wanted to go for mechanical but because I could get a scholarship if I was in agriculture, because my dad was a farmer, I went for ag business and absolutely hated it. I also partied too much, which led to losing scholarships and dropping out.
I would like to go back to school but with having to provide for a family being a full time student for 3 or 4 years is not very realistic. I've started to do a little research into online engineering degrees and a few schools have started offering them. The University of North Dakota offers a mechanical degree (6+ years to complete) online where you have to go up to North Dakota for up to two weeks during the summer for labs. This would be doable. Alabama also offers a mechanical degree online but they have hardly any information on it.
My question: Has anybody obtained an engineering degree online? Or know anybody who has? For those of you who completed engineering degrees the conventional way, how much more difficult do you think it would be doing it online?
I know its a long post but I don't care. For those who will tell me I just shouldn't have dropped out in the first place
And for serious responses thanks in advance 
I would like to go back to school but with having to provide for a family being a full time student for 3 or 4 years is not very realistic. I've started to do a little research into online engineering degrees and a few schools have started offering them. The University of North Dakota offers a mechanical degree (6+ years to complete) online where you have to go up to North Dakota for up to two weeks during the summer for labs. This would be doable. Alabama also offers a mechanical degree online but they have hardly any information on it.
My question: Has anybody obtained an engineering degree online? Or know anybody who has? For those of you who completed engineering degrees the conventional way, how much more difficult do you think it would be doing it online?
I know its a long post but I don't care. For those who will tell me I just shouldn't have dropped out in the first place
And for serious responses thanks in advance 
15
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:30 pm to malvin
Have one more and start a basketball team like the globe trotters.
Train them and tour them across the country. Engineering doesn't offer that kind of freedom.
Train them and tour them across the country. Engineering doesn't offer that kind of freedom.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:31 pm to malvin
I wouldn't do any engineering degree online. That sounds shady, IMO.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:33 pm to malvin
If it's through an accredited brick & mortar, then go for it.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:35 pm to RummelTiger
Probably easier to understand than the foreigners teaching in the classroom
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:38 pm to malvin
Would you want to start from the bottom as a new hire mechanical engineer, or would your company be able to find a better position for you if you had a degree?
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:44 pm to TheIndulger
That depends. I work for a smaller company who outsources most of our engineering needs. If I could start taking care of those things it would help me move up for sure. But with my work experience I believe the engineering degree could lead to better opportunities outside of the company I'm with now.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 9:49 pm to ksayetiger
quote:
Probably easier to understand than the foreigners teaching in the classroom
Lol. This.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:00 pm to malvin
If its not ABET-accredited, it's bullshite.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:15 pm to malvin
You would be close to 45 (assuming you are mid 30s) before you are making a good living. Engineering degrees is a young man's degree. Too many late nights for an old fart like yourself. Not sure the ROI is there.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:18 pm to RummelTiger
Doesn't ASU have a good online engineering program?
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:24 pm to SabiDojo
quote:
Doesn't ASU have a good online engineering program?
Them and a handful of others have really legit EE/Computer Engineering degrees. I don't think anyone has an ABET accredited Mechanical.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:29 pm to AUCE05
I turn 30 next month. And I already make a good living. I'm looking at this as something that would give me more options in the future.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:31 pm to THRILLHO
University of North Dakota says it is ABET accredited. That's the only one I've been able to find.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:34 pm to malvin
Gotcha. I'd make sure before signing up, but if it is, have at it.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:34 pm to malvin
Most of your engineering classes (at least mine) went along with a 'lab class'. I'm not sure how that would work online or if it's possible. I was EE by the way so may be different from ME, but I doubt it.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:43 pm to malvin
Online isn't the same. I'm a EE major and wouldn't in my wildest dreams attempt to earn it online. It's not practical and sounds shady.
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:52 pm to Breauxsif
Care to elaborate on why you wouldn't attempt it? I admittedly have a lot more research to do and opinions from students on why it would or would not be practical is greatly appreciated.
If it was university of Phoenix or some shite like that I would say it's pretty shady too. But North Dakota is abet accredited and Alabama offers it too it's just hard to find information on their program
If it was university of Phoenix or some shite like that I would say it's pretty shady too. But North Dakota is abet accredited and Alabama offers it too it's just hard to find information on their program
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:52 pm to BabyTac
We have:
Physics 1 and 2 labs
Materials lab
Manufacturing processes lab
Mechanism Design (basically a lab)
Machine design (basically a lab)
Fluids lab
Thermo lab
Circuits lab
Senior design
Thermo/fluid design
Physics 1 and 2 labs
Materials lab
Manufacturing processes lab
Mechanism Design (basically a lab)
Machine design (basically a lab)
Fluids lab
Thermo lab
Circuits lab
Senior design
Thermo/fluid design
Posted on 9/1/15 at 10:56 pm to malvin
it would be better than no degree.
The great thing about engineering and computer programming is that if you can do the job, you can keep the job. Its no skin off their backside if you don't make it.
At least North Dakota is making it seem professional.
MIT offers most of their classes free online, no credit. You could do one online first and see if you stick with a course long enough to learn anything.
The great thing about engineering and computer programming is that if you can do the job, you can keep the job. Its no skin off their backside if you don't make it.
At least North Dakota is making it seem professional.
MIT offers most of their classes free online, no credit. You could do one online first and see if you stick with a course long enough to learn anything.
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