<p>Does anyone have experience doing that? How long does it take you? How hard is it? How does it work? Night classes only?
Thanks.</p>
<p>There are many people doing that at Columbia. In my department, there are many people working full-time and taking classes part-time. The department creates the class schedule in a way so that it allows these people to take the courses. Every MS course is in one of two time slots: 4:10-6:40PM or 6:50-9:20PM, so many people come in after work or leave an hour or two early from work. </p>
<p>We need 30 credits to graduate, which is 10 courses @ 3 credits each. Some people take 1 course every semester and graduate in 5 years. I know one person who's trying to graduate in 3 semesters. Some of the part-time students that I know find it pretty tough if they take two courses per semester.</p>
<p>If you plan on working full-time, one thing to consider is how much your company chips in for tuition (if they do).</p>
<p>EDIT: Not all engineering departments are like mine. I know of at least one (probably many more) at my school that has most of the classes in the middle of the day, which doesn't go well for those in the workforce.</p>
<p>A lot of schools also do their part-time MS students in an online program. A friend of mine has been looking at jobs for various companies, and has been told she could do online courses at USC or ASU (one company in Anaheim, CA the other in Phoenix, AZ).</p>
<p>Are you already working, or is this more theoretical? Some areas of the country (Wash DC, for example), have MANY graduate degree programs in engineering; employers will pay (with some limits) the tuition and fees for employees. A few schools with such programs locally include JHU, GWU, UVA, and Virginia Tech. These are generally taught after work hours to accommodate working engineers. You can plan on completing at least 2 courses per year up to perhaps 5, depending on if you take one or 2 courses per semester and any summer classes. As ken285 said, it could take as few as 2 years (or less if you are a workaholic) and as many as 5. </p>
<p>An evening program may be better if you want to add to your credentials in your current or a related field, rather than make a huge career change. There may be some limits on course selection, and while some schools value their evening and part-time students, some see them as a cash cow to support the day program. I earned two masters degrees earned at night, and some of my absolute best professors ever (leading practitioners in their fields, bringing in current examples of how to apply what we were studying), as well thankfully only a very few of my worst. One observation of the students - they're generally older, more mature, and focused. It's a big time commitment, and financial for many students. Your social life will suffer, but it isn't fatal - I met my wife while working on degree #1 and we had our 1st child while I was working on degree #2.</p>
<p>I am currently working full time as an engineering intern and going to grad school full time (3 courses/semester) trying to obtain a MS in EE. I am hoping to accomplish this in two and a half years. </p>
<p>The school I go to actually has a lot of students who work in industry during the day and attend classes at night. That's the the way to do it if you want to work during the day. I would say taking 1 or 2 classes in the evening is normal with a full time job. Depending on the school you attend, it may or may not be possible to do both full time. I know I definitely wouldn't have attempted to work full time and study if I was still attending school at a UC.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I am leaning toward industry over full time grad school, but I also wish to pursue an advanced degree for the sake of learning, hence the question.</p>
<p>Stanford offers an MSEE entirely online.</p>
<p>I work full-time and go to grad school part-time (not online). It is doable. Some schools have evening programs, but mine doesn't. It does have a small number of evening classes each term. Work is flexible enough that I can take one daytime class per term along with an evening class. There are actually a fair number of part-time grads in my department.</p>
<p>Many schools have Master of Engineering (which is a master program for working professionals). You may want to look into that. Basically you take 10 courses 3 credits each (classes are from 6pm - 9 or 10pm). Master of Science may require you to do research or thesis or even become a TA. It's hard to do all those when you are working full time. Master of engineering is more course-based and might fit you more.</p>
<p>Um... be careful, though, because an MEng degree isn't necessarily a program for working professionals... It's a program that's more geared towards eventual engineering practice, rather than a precursor for doctoral programs like an MS is. Some schools may market their MEng degrees as degrees for working professionals, but that's not gonna be the case in a lot of places... Just make sure you know what the expectations are of each MEng program that you look at.</p>
<p>well, for the people who take classes online, what about the exams? Do you show up for exams or is there some special arrangement worked out?</p>