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re: Opinions of online Mechanical Engineering degree
Posted on 9/1/15 at 11:30 pm to malvin
Posted on 9/1/15 at 11:30 pm to malvin
I can't even imagine doing an engineering degree on line....not sure why I feel that way, though. While I think the degree would be beneficial, I think there would always be some prejudice against you in the workplace that an online degree just isn't quite the same as conventional...
that said, if it is accredited and you can handle it, you would certainly be better off with an online degree than without one...
my only caution is that I hear that a lot of online degrees are shockingly expensive...be sure that the return on your investment is there before starting...
that said, if it is accredited and you can handle it, you would certainly be better off with an online degree than without one...
my only caution is that I hear that a lot of online degrees are shockingly expensive...be sure that the return on your investment is there before starting...
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Posted on 9/2/15 at 12:07 am to malvin
One of the above posters gave a good warning about expenses. I had considered getting an online degree in engineering. However what paused my efforts was noting the expenses of the schools you mentioned.
That being said, it is worth it to go back to school to obtained an engineering degree (like what I am doing now). In my case, I went to graduate school, so I am spending at least $20,000 a year in debt.
So I would make sure that you can handle the expenses. As for the notoriety of the degree, as long as its ABET it will be okay. That is what I search for when I decided to apply for engineering programs.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 6:28 am to volod
Bump for the morning crew
Posted on 9/2/15 at 6:32 am to malvin
When you get your degree does it specify "online" on it? Prob not. So you'll have an accred engineering degree. That's never a bad thing?
I have been taking online classes-it's no easy feat. Prepare your family. You will need to ignore them a good bit. Your back will hurt like hell.
It's NOT EASY AT ALL
I have been taking online classes-it's no easy feat. Prepare your family. You will need to ignore them a good bit. Your back will hurt like hell.
It's NOT EASY AT ALL
Posted on 9/2/15 at 6:59 am to RummelTiger
quote:
If it's through an accredited brick & mortar, then go for it.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 6:59 am to malvin
I have a friend that went to UND for Chemical Engineering. However, he already had a Chemistry degree from LSU and had been working in a lab for years. He was able to transfer within his own company from the lab to engineering. He was treated as a new hire/college engineer.
The degree did receive some pushback and was not as widely accepted. I think his LSU chemistry and experience helped a lot.
As far as difficulty, it didn't seem too bad. He had to spend a few summers in ND for labs, and did a bunch of online homework/video chats for group projects.
I honestly think it would only work for someone like that. Someone who already has a degree from a more accredited/recognized school, and is just trying to transfer knowledge and put "P.E." behind his name.
The degree did receive some pushback and was not as widely accepted. I think his LSU chemistry and experience helped a lot.
As far as difficulty, it didn't seem too bad. He had to spend a few summers in ND for labs, and did a bunch of online homework/video chats for group projects.
I honestly think it would only work for someone like that. Someone who already has a degree from a more accredited/recognized school, and is just trying to transfer knowledge and put "P.E." behind his name.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 7:56 am to BobRoss
Getting the degree is not the end of the line. Your goal should be becoming a PE, which requires experience under another PE as well as taking a test.
Find out from the LAPELS board if your online degree will allow you to take the PE test.
Find out from the LAPELS board if your online degree will allow you to take the PE test.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 7:56 am to malvin
quote:
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.
While that might sound decent, think about a 6 year program that you will need to complete while still providing for your family. ANY engineering degree is going to require long study hours. I can't imagine trying to complete the last about year and a half of course work without personal help. I'm talking either being able to directly contact professors either during class time or after and having other students to discuss things and help with studies.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:07 am to malvin
How close are you to getting your other degree? I would finish up an interdisciplinary degree and concentrate on using Engineering as your discipline. Get with the program heads about getting into the masters program and using those credit hours in your interdisciplinary degree to level you off as LAPELS requires you to have leveling courses to "catch you up" so you can be competent before attempting the FE and the masters program.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:24 am to THRILLHO
quote:
Them and a handful of others have really legit EE/Computer Engineering degrees. I don't think anyone has an ABET accredited Mechanical
Oh. Gotcha.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:25 am to Hu_Flung_Pu
Assuming it's accredited, it's still also $957/credit hour and 129 credit hours to complete... Over $123k for an online degree.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:28 am to malvin
Just curious on where you are working? Gom?
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:34 am to malvin
No way in hell I would touch that. I cannot see it being widely accepted.
I cannot see how someone can get by without the "experience" of a brick and mortar engineering program. I generally don't like people
. I've never been one to be part of study groups and everything like that. Mechanical Engineering made me get to know most people in my class pretty well (for classmates). There was a computer lab just for ME students. I spent countless nights in that room studying and bouncing ideas off of other students in my class while trying to figure out how to solve homework and test prep. I learned more from that than the teacher. I can't see going at it alone from home sitting behind a computer. And I'm not meaning to undercut the value of a teacher. Some were useless, but there were some who were extremely helpful. By my senior year, I was on a first name basis with the head of the ME department, because I could go sit in his office and discuss my senior project. Stuff like that really gets you through some very tough material. When you don't understand something at home, what do you do?
I cannot see how someone can get by without the "experience" of a brick and mortar engineering program. I generally don't like people
. I've never been one to be part of study groups and everything like that. Mechanical Engineering made me get to know most people in my class pretty well (for classmates). There was a computer lab just for ME students. I spent countless nights in that room studying and bouncing ideas off of other students in my class while trying to figure out how to solve homework and test prep. I learned more from that than the teacher. I can't see going at it alone from home sitting behind a computer. And I'm not meaning to undercut the value of a teacher. Some were useless, but there were some who were extremely helpful. By my senior year, I was on a first name basis with the head of the ME department, because I could go sit in his office and discuss my senior project. Stuff like that really gets you through some very tough material. When you don't understand something at home, what do you do?Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:45 am to GREENHEAD22
I'm in Oklahoma right now. We do all land work
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:52 am to malvin
Thanks to everybody for their honest opinions and not giving me shite. I know it probably wouldn't be as widely accepted as a brick and mortar but I think it would be better than nothing like I have right now. I also have good real world experience which I think would help. I'm gonna look into it some more. And I may look into the electrical engineering from Arizona state. An electrical degree would probably be better for the business I'm currently in.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:53 am to malvin
Y'all staying busy? Pretty much throwing resumes at anything in drilling or completions trying to make the jump. Know now is not the best time to say the least to be trying to switch but trying to line myself to be where I want to for the upswing.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:55 am to malvin
The only reason I made it through engineering was going to office hours and in case lecture. I taught myself probably 50% of everything I learned but it was pretty difficult. Couldn't imagine not being able to meet with a professor and discuss homework/test questions.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:56 am to Flipadelphia
quote:
When you get your degree does it specify "online" on it? Prob not. So you'll have an accred engineering degree.
Work address wouldn't be the same as the school address. Any person looking at resumes should notice this immediately. So it doesn't matter what the degree actually says.
quote:
Assuming it's accredited, it's still also $957/credit hour and 129 credit hours to complete... Over $123k for an online degree.
I couldn't recommend an online ME degree having obtained a traditional one, and after seeing that price you'd have to be crazy to consider that.
Posted on 9/2/15 at 8:57 am to malvin
How do you even get a capstone done online?
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