I am in the process of transferring into other colleges. I have applied for both on-campus and their online degree program. I wonder how the online engineering program will be like. The good thing about the online is that it’s still the same accredited school. It can also save me money on tuition and I wouldn’t have to move anywhere. I don’t care about parties or making friends. Those were never my thing in college. My education has always been first to me. The thing about tradition is it would be nice to be involved in sports teams and see the actual building but that’s about it. I am not sure which is better for me though. What do y’all think? On campus or online? Pros and cons?
The only 100% online undergraduate (BS) engineering program that is ABET accredited (by the Engineering Accreditation Commission) is Arizona State University (according to the current list of ABET accredited programs). All the rest of ABET accredited online programs are engineering technology (e.g., para-professional, technician level) programs which are accredited by ABET Technology (not Engineering) Accreditation Commission. You will not have the same opportunities with an engineering technology degree as you will with an engineering degree.
Engineering requires a significant amount of hands-on lab and design work, both for the foundation science courses and the interdisciplinary and discipline-specific engineering courses. It is very difficult, and in my opinion impossible, to duplicate the hands-on work virtually online (despite some schools’ claims to the contrary). While a computer simulation can replicate building and measuring the signals in an electronic circuit or the airflow in a wind tunnel for example, it is not the same thing as actually building the circuit from the physical components, connecting test equipment to it and making the measurements, or physically measuring the the lift and drag on a model aircraft in a wind tunnel by reading the actual instrumentation for example. When you are interviewing for your first job in industry, most engineering positions will require physically having to design and test prototypes. I can’t foresee a hiring manager offering a position to an engineer who has never physically designed or constructed anything.
There is no substitute, in my opinion, for physically attending a class, interacting with the teacher and the students, and collaborating with them one-on-one on design projects and classwork. Undergraduate education in any field is strengthened by the class discussions and personal interaction, which you do not have with online classes. Online classes can be a useful supplement to an on-campus program, but it is not a substitute.
The only “pro” to online is that you do not physically have to travel to a campus. You spend four years of your life in the hope that your education will serve you for the rest of your life. That seems like a good tradeoff to me. There are few pros, really, but many “cons”.
As an engineer in industry for 40 years who has taken both traditional and online classes (for continuing education), please, take my advice and do yourself a favor. Enroll in an on-campus program.
I have completed one bachelor and one master degree with live classrooms, and a second master degree through distance education online. I do not recommend online degree programs for first time undergraduate students unless they have severe geographical restrictions. As a general rule, human beings tend to learn better when they can interact with classmates and instructors in person. It is more difficult to stay motivated from a distance. Online work requires a lot more organization and self-discipline.
Agree with Happymom. What did people do before the Internet? They took the bull by the horn and traveled to a school, whether as commuting students or residents. Do it the right way. Don’t take shortcuts.
Additionally, many of the online engineering technology programs are offered by for-profit schools. I would avoid for-profits strictly.
@happymomof1 That’s great! Congratulations! I don’t even interact with students right now at the on campus college that I am. So I won’t miss out on that lol. I have taken online classes before at my school so I’m familiar with them a bit. So far as the teacher goes is a hit or miss. I had one teacher who I’m sure was really brilliant but could not teach a cow to chew grass. I am a visual learner so I can learn in person or online. If I am going to do on campus I want it close to me but a lot of schools are out of state is the problem. I am still in the process of applying to some more colleges. Would you still recommend on campus even if they’re out of state?
Undergraduate engineering is not suited to online delivery, particularly the lab requirements. Engineering (and “hard”, that is quantitiative) science are not suited to purely visual learning. You have to practice the problems, be shown what is the proper method (if you go astray), and physically design and construct. Additionally, as mentioned above, the only accredited online engineering program is ASU, and at that, only the electrical and software engineering programs are offered online. I recommend on campus whether in or out of state. If the teacher is ineffective then that will be a problem whether online or in-person. Reputable brick-and-mortar engineering schools for the most part have effective teachers.
I attended engineering school full time in person as an undergraduate, and had a part-time work-study job as well, then attended part time in person for my master’s (while taking care of my mother who was disabled while my father worked) while working a full time job, then started my doctoral work part time (again, while working full time), then switching to full time to complete the dissertation and defense in the final year and half. If you want to do something badly enough you will. You don’t need shortcuts. The shortcuts will follow you in your career (if I were interviewing a candidate who attended solely online, never having touched an electronic circuit, test instrumentation, or did any work in a physical lab, I can tell you that would be a very short interview).
@TotallyClassy - You need an ABET accredited program. It can be in your state, or out of state. Because ABET dictates the general outline of the curriculum there is relatively little difference between the program offered at one institution or another. Provided it is in budget for you, you will be fine.
But I have to agree with @Engineer80 about lab courses. Those need to be done in person, on site, with lab partners who can help you complete the activities, and with instructors who can guide you through them. For lab work, there is no way to get around that.
Now if the truth is that you are just toying with the notion of studying engineering, and you really don’t want to budge out of your current comfort zone, then completing some kind of degree program online might work for you. Do remember that once you finish your degree, it is likely that you will have to work with other people at least some of the time. Waiting until after college to master the social skills that are so critical in the workplace probably is not a good idea.
Instructors are hit-and-miss no matter where you study. Of the seven different institutions where I have studied, the only places I didn’t have a distracted or just plain dud instructor were those places where I only took one or two classes and just got lucky.
I don’t know what you picture the working world for engineers to be like, but if you think you will keep a job for long by shunning the people around you then you may be in for a big surprise. While your particular assignment(s) will be unique you will need to work with others (your manager, peers, people in other groups, etc) as part of your day to day work.
College is time to develop friendships, both for the fun of it and as rehearsal of the skills you will need for the rest of life. People who can’t work with others don’t get promoted, they don’t get raises, and they are first in line when there are layoffs.
@badgolfer I have worked with people before. I loved working with older people and got along very well with older people. It was the young people that annoyed me and I didn’t enjoy working with them. At my current job I’m doing really well and friends with my boss and assistant managers. Keep in mind they are older and ages range 40-80. I don’t shun people around me. As I said previously I take my education seriously. It’s just that making friends isn’t my primary reason I’m at school. You know? I am very picky of who I call friends and acquaintances. I have like 3 real friends and many acquaintances. I am able to work both with groups and individually. I have been in the Workforce for years trust me I know how it works lol.
@happymomof1 I am making sure that they are ABET accredited. I talked to ASU and they told me that if I took it online the labs would work in the sense of that they would make me kits and supplies needed for the class. I would get to work hands on at my home. Only once did I do labs with partners at my school. What would your take on that be? I always did them by myself. However, I definitely see what you mean and I made sure to apply both online and on campus. Now I just wait to see where I get accepted and the tuition and stuff. I know one online program is much cheaper than the on campus school I want to go to it. On campus is about $75,000 and the online would be like $35,000 for the two years I have remaining. However, some on campus range from $20,000-$58,000 a year. It just depends on the school. I do have good social skills and both my boss and Co workers have told me how articulate I am. I don’t have a problem socializing it’s just not my primary focus at school or the reason I’m there. You know? I am willing to step outside of my comfort zone if I see the benefit of it and it’s for a specific reason. For example, if it means it helps my job or project then sure but if it’s something like going “reckless” and skateboarding while holding on to a rope tied to a car going full speed then heck no I’m not willing to get out of my comfort zone lol. I totally understand that about the professors. I’ve only had 3 good teachers in my life in the education system. What I found weird was I got along with specific personalities than others. The ones I got along with the most I excelled. The ones I did not I still did good but I wasn’t as motivated. I am a visual learner so I can learn both in person or not if I have a picture or something to refer to. I remember how to check if a school is ABET accredited. It’s through the department of education website if I remember? I am definitely willing to go on campus and study my major though.
@Engineer80 I have a question about the labs. How are they different from say a chemistry or physics lab? Sorry remember I’m still transferring. I have taken all my chemistries and physics class in person. Couldn’t one just look at YouTube and then try out the circuits in person? Also, another concern of mine is what if my friend and me start dating? If I went to a different state or cities out of driving range it might affect that. I did make sure to apply to schools moderately close to me (about a 2-3 hour drive maximum). If I remember correctly I remember University of Arizona had Electrical & Computer Engineering online and I know ASU for Electrical Engineering is ABET accredited. When I talked to them involving labs they told me it’s very hands on and that I would be sent kits and supplies to work with and build stuff. I definitely made sure I applied to majority on campus school. I might apply to like 3 online schools all ABET accredited. Also for example me and a friend might start dating. I feel like if I moved out of state it could cause problems. If in state and close I’m more than happy to commute. What would your advice be so far as that goes? I currently work full time right now. However, when I transfer I might have to work part time. Oh wow that’s a lot of work to do. Good for you! I’m proud of you dude. Congrats! Wow 40 years? That’s long. I for sure am considering your advice. I’m just now waiting to see who accepts me and not. Thank you for the advice though it definitely helped me questioned somethings with the online program.
To check accreditation, go to abet.org and follow the links.
Nice to know that information about the lab kits. I can see how that would make some things more functional for students who had to pursue their degree at a distance. However, I think that the advantages of working in the lab with other people make it worth your time to try to find an affordable place to attend in person.
Working with team and lab partners is not solely about learning to get along, but it also reinforces your own mastery of the material. Most students really do learn better, and retain more, in cooperative project-based activities.
Re your potential long distance relationship: My parents met in the summer of 1948, and married two years later. Their wedding day was the 30th day they had spent together. If they could make and sustain a relationship almost entirely with letters that had to travel accross the country by rail and truck, you should be able to make and sustain a relationship with the technologies available in the 21st century. Have a bit of confidence about that!
@TotallyClassy- Consider for example the first and second year electrical engineering circuit analysis courses. In an ABET accredited program you will have at least two labs in which you build electric and electronic circuits using physical components (i.e., transistors, integrated circuits, capacitors, resistors, etc.), operate them, and measure their signals using various test instruments (oscilloscopes, voltmeters, ammeters), applying signals to them with signal generators, and analyzing their operation from those measurements. There are software simulation platforms for example that can do this (Labview, MATLAB, and others for example), however, watching a picture of an oscilloscope on a computer displaying a virtual signal from a virtual circuit (constructed on the CAD system by drawing a schematic diagram) isn’t the same thing has physically constructing the circuit and operating the actual oscilloscope. If you never physically touched electronic components or operated electronic test and measuring equipment, how can you be expected to do this as part of your first engineering job? Industry and companies do not expend a great deal of time and effort teaching new engineers what they are expected to have learned in school, in my experience. Consider for example a fluid mechanics lab in which one measures the lift and drag on a scale aircraft in a wind tunnel. That too can be simulated but, is that the same educational value as actually operating the wind tunnel and measuring the lift and drag using actual measuring equipment? In a chemistry lab, can you really learn from simulating mixing chemicals together and analyzing their properties as well as actually doing that in a physical lab? In a soil mechanics lab, one physically mixes soils, compresses them, and measures their strength, density, and other properties needed to design a safe building foundation. Can that be done adequately on a computer without touching the soil and the measuring equipment?
Fine, ASU may provide kits. Firstly, you won’t have the lab instructor or professor with you when you build the circuit and test it. You are on your own essentially to figure out what you did wrong if you do not get the proper results. How will you measure your results (how can ASU do this?). A typical laboratory quality oscilloscope used in modern engineering design costs several thousand dollars and more. A low distortion signal generator, say $2-3K. In more advanced courses - say design of radio frequency (RF) circuits, an RF network analyzer (such as Tektronix, Agilent, Rhode and Schwarz, etc) costs $15,000 or more (I know, we have them in my lab at work). Is ASU going to provide that to use at home? They won’t, believe me.
When I was in school we had a materials engineering lab. We got to view semiconductors and modify them (transistors and ICs) using a scanning electron microscope. That is a $1.1 million dollar instrument. Will you have that experience as an online student (other than viewing it online, but not hands on)? In that same lab, we did analysis and characterization of the makeup of metals using x-ray fluorescence (requiring radioactive materials and an atomic absorbtion spectrometer/multichannel energy dispersive analyzer). Notwithstanding the cost of the equipment, you aren’t going to be doing any experiments with radiation at home.
I know you are interested in electrical engineering, but for example in other engineering fields it is difficult or impossible to do the lab work at home or online. In civil engineering, one builds trusses, pours reinforced concrete (at least the CEs in my school did), measure soil properties, surveys land (how would you do that by yourself?), and more. Chemical engineers build pilot chemical plants, chemical reactors, separators, distillation columns, etc., Can you do that at home? How would you do chemistry experiments at home (chemistry courses require lab work too) - with a Gilbert chemistry set? Would ASU take the responsibility and the liability exposure for online students using chemicals at home (suspect not).
Even discounting the value of one-on-one interaction with classmates and professors, the hands-on experience is still essential to doing engineering work. Frankly, if it were up to me ABET would not accredit completely online programs. It debases the engineering profession and I sincerely hope employers are astute enough to hire engineers trained in an in-person manner.
Would you hire a lawyer or see a physician who got his degree online?
To check a school’s accreditation, go to:
They publish a list of all accredited schools and programs. They also have a separate list of accredited online programs.
I know it’s hard to go to school if you live a long distance from the campus. If you have to commute more than say 30-45 minutes each way I would suggest living on campus or nearby since engineering is a heavy course workload. When I was in graduate school I drove 52 miles to the campus after leaving work for the day. It was hard, but once again, if you want to do something bad enough you will. I am trying to learn to play the guitar (right now). Having not done it before it’s hard, but, it will get easier as I practice and put in the effort going forward. That is the case with all types of education or learning.
Hope this helps and best to you in all your endeavors!
Michael S., Ph.D., P.E., Consulting aerospace engineer
Online degrees are good, but they lack the in person experience. I would want a professor to talk to me in person, rather than waiting hours for them to respond to my email. If you want to have the luxury of staying at home or going anywhere any where the world for one class, then I recommend doing an online college class. These online classes are usually for students who have other duties to take care of, or work or family stuff that they need to do. Time management is the biggest thing people consider when trying to go to a university. Making friends or playing sports are also some of the key things that give you that full college experience. So if you believe these key things are irrelevant to you, then I suggest going online.
I earned an undergraduate degree on campus and I’m currently earning a graduate degree online. You learn more in-class, but there are various benefits to taking courses in an online format. I don’t have to relocate to the campus, I’m able to balance my schedule, and I can be employed full-time. It doesn’t affect your resume, as degrees and transcripts don’t say whether you took courses online or in class. I always recommend that you get your undergraduate degree in class to learn certain skills, unless your schedule doesn’t permit it. Once you begin your graduate studies, you should have more discipline and the skills needed to pursue online courses.