<p>How many good engineering schools offer part-time programs (evening or weekend) for graduate degrees in engineering. Small schools do it all the time, but what about the top 10 or top 50?
Is a graduate engineering degree, done part-time available at schools like MIT, Standford, Michigan, Virginia tech etc.</p>
<p>(if you had an experience, or have an opinion, about engineering work and part-time Masters feel free to share!)</p>
<p>You might look at Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara, CA. They offer classes that are either held early in the morning, or in the evening, in case you want to work during the day. Plus, they have good Silicon Valley connections. Last I checked, they are tied in the rankings with San Jose State University at 23 or so – among schools whose highest degree is a Masters.</p>
<p>It has been my experience that most of the schools that offer these programs are near large employers (or at least concentrations of employers) in the relevant industries, as they need a market for the procuct. I do not think Penn State (a top 50 program) offers a part-time degree because it is (as we say) out in a cornfield, whereas Johns Hopkins (another top 50 program) does, because it has a large market. Even schools without a dedicated program may have some part-time options, it just won’t be as formal and will probably be more restrictive.</p>
<p>I am not sure about top-10 schools - I am inclined to say that they would not, as a rule, but I cannot say with any certainty.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that most of these programs use different instructors and curricula, and sometimes even different facilities - they may not be equivalent to the nominally identical full-time program at the same school. I am a graduate of one such program (Hopkins), and while I am glad I did it I am under no illusions that I received a comparable education to the full-time students.</p>
<p>cosmicfish,</p>
<p>I thought about doing it at Hopkins. Has the degree paid off what you put into it? Did you get a salary bump with the new degree?
How much did you pay out of pocket?</p>
<p>blbk,</p>
<p>
Yes, but not as much as I had hoped. I gained some knowledge, and burnished my credentials a little bit, but nothing earthshattering.</p>
<p>
No, but my company does not tie degrees directly to salary, but it was a factor in my evaluation (from which I got a healthy raise) and is a factor in promotions. Notably, my previous employer did provided a flat and automatic salary increase for gaining an advanced degree, aside from other considerations or schedules…</p>
<p>
Books for my first couple of classes, but after that my company started covering ALL expenses, so that was it. I think the majority of my actual expense was gas.</p>
<p>The JHU program gives diplomas identical to resident students correct?</p>
<p>Just a note about Penn State: I know someone that got a Master’s in Industrial Engineering at Penn State part time (one class at a time). They did it while working a job full time. However, it was at a satellite campus, not University Park.</p>
<p>
Almost. The full-time research-based masters program is a Masters of Science in Engineering, whereas the part-time coursework-only program is a Masters of Science. The format of the diploma is the same, just the name of the degree is different.</p>
<p>That’s a bummer. So employers know that too I’m assuming? I dont see why they dont just give the same degree for part time as for full time.</p>
<p>Most employers don’t know the difference (especially since MSE is not a commonly awarded degree nationwide). They don’t give the same degree (I think) because it ISN’T the same degree. I am not sorry I entered the program - it was my best option at the time - but I have met people who have gotten far more out of “lesser” research-based programs. The vast majority of part-time masters programs are really only good for checking off that box on your credentials and adding some academic content to supplement on-the-job training.</p>
<p>I think that’s the case for all masters degrees. I found that in both masters degrees I did, I learned the material, took the test, and moved on. I learned the material, but I was learning how to do well on the exams and homeworks. I didn’t really feel like I learned engineering for practical use until prepared for the PE exam. Granted, it’s still studying to pass a test, but there was something about studying a broader range of subjects all at one time that seemed to make everything seem more sense than studying a few topics in depth and brain dumping to move on to the next thing.</p>