Only available degree is NA....

The only Bachelor's degree in true blue engineering offered D/L is at California National University, which is only DETC accredited with ACE membership.
(www.cnuas.edu)

You can only do D/L.

Do you compromise and take a degree at an RA D/L school that isn't engineering, or do you take a chance on CNU?

(This is assuming you are older, near 40, not a fresh young whipper snapper just heading out into the world with no experience.)

I discovered CNU while researching MBA and MSIT options suggested by folks in this forum. CNU has what looks to be a great curriculum in computer engineering at bachelor and master's levels.

During the search I realized my heart was always set on the engineering side of things, but there never were any D/L programs and my local schools were too expensive or inconvenient.

 

I've been researching this and other issues all weekend, and now my eyes are bleeding.

Just kidding.

This is a difficult decision. I want it over with.

 

CNU has a nice new web site since I last looked (which admittedly was many months ago).

What about a foreign school -- e.g. USQ?

 

There seems to be an agreement, formal or informal, among the RA engineering schools, that non-resident programs will be offered only at the Master's level. There used to be a few -- the University of Minnesota had one, which they begged me not to list in Bears' Guide, for fear of being overwhelmed -- but they no longer do it.

 

I'm not sure who in the hell ever distinguished levels of accreditation in the U.S., but I wish it would've never happened.

The U.S. Dept. of Education views all accreditors as "equal".

CNU is a perfectly fine school. There are quite a few RA schools that will accept NA credits including DETC. What a prime example?

DETC accredited Columbia Southern has an agreement with North Alabama where CSU grads can enroll in RA North Alabama's ACBSP MBA program! http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/una/aboutuna/accreditation.html

Also, CSU graduates enroll in RA Northcentral University's Ph.D and DBA programs.

CNU should will fit your needs fine. Don't think of it as a "lesser" degree simply because it's NA. I sure wouldn't.

 

If you are THAT concerned about NA versus RA check out RA National Technological University's online programs:

http://www.ntu.edu/online/ol_feature.asp

 

I've done a little research into that...I even sent an application. I found it difficult to get in contact with people to answer my questions, however. It turns out that it was summer there or something, but I didn't know. I tried it a year ago...perhaps I should do try again.

 

A little pricey!

 

Thanks for the information and vote of confidence in my (possible) choice. If you read enough alt.education.distance and degreeinfo threads, you will eventually determine that DETC diplomas are proper only for the bottom of a bird cage.

(I really don't want to get into the DETC v. RA debate...I just want to make sure I'm not completely closing the door to a future with the CNUAS degree, which isn't cheap by any stretch.)

 

It sounds like I could have a better than small chance to get into an RA engineering Master's program...which may or may not be something I wish to do...I just want there to be the option.

I could probably get my employer to pay for the BSCE as well!

 

I feel a little guilty, coming to the board and demanding affirmation.




As I read my posts, I can see that I appear to be asking for people to support my decision (the decision has been made in my gut) rather than for advice.

I am only human.

I think I can safely "blame" this public soul searching on the forum member that asked "what is it you really want to do?"

That sparked a flurry of research and discovery. Suffice it to say my whole weekend has been spent trying to find out what best to do about my hunger.

I had forgotten it was there!

 

Greetings,

Regarding:

Since NTU does not offer bachelor degrees -- just obscenely priced, re-branded, credit & non-credit undergraduate and graduate courses/degrees, which are actually supplied by its member universities -- I don't think this will be of use to "agingBetter." Here are some other alternatives that are likely to be similarly unhelpful: <g>

1) Charter Oak State College (www.cosc.edu, an "assessment" college) offers a non-engineering BSGS degree in "Engineering Studies".

2) Engineering TECHNOLOGY degrees are available via distance. An ABET/RA degree is even available from Excelsior (www.excelsior.edu, another "assessment" college). You could pursue a BSEET and then a MS later. Since you have some control over the courses you take as an Excelsior student, you could even include BSEE courses in your degree plan, if you think it would be helpful or enjoyable.

Good luck, and please keep us (or at least me <g>) informed!


Cordially,
Richard Kanarek

 

Wow that is tough standard! Did any one actually say anything close to that? I would have no problem attending a rigorous DETC program as long as it would meet all my future needs. Given that, I would say full steam ahead!

 

Take it from the source.

No, that's not meant in a nasty manner toward anyone here or over at that other group you mentioned. First, I don't think anyone here has actually said anything quite that harsh about national accreditation vs. regional accreditation. But you are right, it's pretty much a given that "RA all the way" or even sometimes "RA or no way" is a very accepted view here, and probably at the other forum as well. But you must remember you are getting that impression two special interest groups, the Degreeinfo forum and alt.education.distance.

Any special interest group, regardless of subject, is bound to have more knowledge of their particular subject and more extreme opinions of different aspects of that subject. That specialized knowledge and those opinions are not shared by the general population, meaing everyone else outside the special interest group. Even though there are some here and over there who believe NA degrees are almost never worth pursuing over RA degrees despite what may be perfectly legitimate reasons, the truth is not everyone agrees. Not everyone here agrees, not everyone at that other group, and certainly not everyone "out there" beyond either of these small and very specialized groups. The U.S. Dept. of Education doesn't agree either, government employers don't agree and neither do most private employers. Specialized licensing boards for some professions agree and RA academia agrees, but that's about it. What everyone else (everyone meaning individuals and most organizations) cares about is legitimate accreditation recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education, which includes DETC.

Now if you were considering a less-than wonderful school with their own ficticious accreditor then it would be a completely different kettle of fish. But you're not considering diploma mills, you're considering earning your degree from a school with legitimate accreditation from a recognized accreditor. Go for it!

Kit

 

It must be my night to be amazed! I have participated here since the beginning and before that AED. I can't think of one person here, certainly no regular, who would say "RA or no way". I have seen that charge made when people are constructing a strawman argument against people who believe in accreditation. Now if you want to debate RA vs. NA utility that is another story (in another thread please). So lets not automatically believe what naysayers and people with agendas throw out.

 

You have other choices. Here are three RA schools that offer DL bachelor degrees in true engineering (by true engineering, I assume that you are not including engineering technology).

University of North Dakota
http://www.conted.und.edu/dist_engr

Champlain College
http://www.champlain.edu/coce/

Colorado Technical University Online
http://www.ctuonline.edu/

I hope this helps...keep us posted.

 

The issue with CNU isn't really R/A vs. DETC. The biggest concern is that CNU isn't ABET/EAC accredited. No purely D/L engineering school is, or can be.

An ABET degree, whether TAC or EAC, is usually necessary to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination. (New Hampshire seems to be the exception).

With engineering degrees, as with law degrees, PROFESSIONAL accreditation matters more than INSTITUTIONAL accreditation.

 

In addition to being RA, University of North Dakota is also ABET accredited.

They offer the following programs:
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (online)
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (online)
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (online)
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (online)

 

Yes, but they also aren't PURE D/L programs; some residency is necessary.

 

True, but I am not interested in becoming a state licensed engineer. I'm just more concerned about going on further with my education. I am looking to establish that I can pass the courses and learn the material. If I can do that, then I would feel confident about going on to a Master's program and perhaps PhD.

Unless ABET matters to the Master's level....?