DL Engineering Degree

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by soupbone, Jun 5, 2005.

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  1. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Hello all again...I'm back again and full of questions again.. :)

    Not sure if any of you guys remember me or not so I'll give a brief history of myself again. I am 29 years old and have been in Law Enforcement now for almost 10 years and I'm looking for a career change. I've always had a passion for Engineering and would like to earn a degree in Engineering. The problem as with most people is that I work full time and it is very tough to for me to go traditionally. I am considering many options right now including trying to quit full time work and going to school full time traditionally but i really don't know where to begin in all of this. I am open to any and all suggestions and they are greatly appreciated. :) I have thought of also trying to complete a Criminal Justice program and then getting a graduate degree in Engineering because I could obtain a CJ Degree faster but i just don't see how that benefits me in the Engineering field. I also cannot seem to find any Online only Regionally Accredited schools that offer Undergrad degrees in Engineering. If quitting full time work is not a feasible option then I am most certainly going to look for 100% online schools in Engineering but I just can't seem to find regionally accredited ones. I wonder if that's not due to Engineering being a tough program and very difficult to handle at an online level. I am really looking to make a major life change and do appreciate your help.
    PS I was most interested in Mechanical, Systems or Control Engineering.

    Thanks again in advance for your help :D
     
  2. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    You can probably knock out most of your pre-reqs (calc, physics, english,etc) through LSU's DL courses. As for completing the remaining courses, the only DL undergrad engineering program that I know of is through University of North Dakota. They have limited residencies however.
     
  3. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    The only DL RA engineering degree that I know of is from the University of North Dakota. Their engineering degrees are also ABET accredited.

    http://www.conted.und.edu/ddp/programs.html

    The main problem I see with completing a CJ degree and then attempting a graduate engineering degree later has to do with prerequisites. Engineering degrees typically require physics, chemistry, calculus, and a multitude of engineering specific courses. If you want to complete a graduate degree in engineering, I suggest you get an undergraduate degree in engineering first.

    The program is a little pricey at $645.92 a semester hour for non-residents and $367.00 a semester hour for in-state (North Dakota) residents.

    http://www.conted.und.edu/ddp/dedp/tuition_fees.html
     
  4. little fauss

    little fauss New Member

    After the bachelor's, remember that there are a ton of fine DL engineering graduate programs out there, including Stanford, Wisconsin, GTech, and a host of other luminaries; there's even a DL PhD program from a major university--Mississippi State.
     
  5. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Thanks for the help guys...I definately understood that this wasn't going to be an easy undertaking. I just want to make sure that if I try and pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree program that I find one locally that is really decent or one online that is also legitimate. I see that finding one 100% online is going to be difficult. I am determined to do this and will post updates as I do more research to find more information. :)
     
  6. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    When you're asking for a lot, you need to be prepared to compromise. You are asking for a lot.

    It's not that your general requirements are all that exotic. A Bachelors level program that's 100% non-residential. The problem is that in the field of engineering this is simply quite an uncommon creature. Part of the problem with making suggestions is that you haven't said anything about how you plan to use the degree. A career change, yes, I know. But into what? Getting a degree in Mechanical Engineering has got to be like getting a degree in English Literature. It's so general that it's not clear what would be useful and what wouldn't. What I'm getting at is that there are a few non-US degree programs that you might consider but I have no idea if a degree from Monash University (one of the Australian schools that offers such a degree) would be of help to you. How would it be viewed in the job market? It's a good school but no one in the USA has ever heard of it (a slight exageration). How about UNISA (they also offer a Bachelors degree in ME)? Would you consider that? It's a good school, 100% DL, pretty darn inexpensive, will it get you an engineering job? I'd like to say "yes" but I really don't know how it would be viewed in the job market. You might consider such a degree program and then use that Bachelors degree to get you into one of the more numerous Masters degree programs that will have better name recognition. Or, you might consider taking a slightly divergent approach and earning a Bachelors degree in Physics (I mean, how much difference could there be, really). For such a program you could look at Acadia University, Central Queensland University, Mary Baldwin College, Murdoch University and, of course, our old friend UNISA. In any case, good luck.
    Jack
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Here's a small sampling of prior threads on DL engineering degrees:

    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3709
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5958
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6085
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16327
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16559
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16561
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16607
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17282
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17592
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17859
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18424
    http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18954

    Hope some of this helps!
     
  8. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Gentle advice?

    Since a B.S. in Engineering is the degree that qualifies the holder in the profession, meaning that it leads to licensure, don't do it nontraditionally. An engineering degree is a big, big deal in the real world, in business and government. If you are going to earn this degree, get it from an ABET program. That way you will never, ever have to explain yourself.

    Do your masters and Ph.D. nontraditionally. Do your J.D. by D/L if you like and such a degree will meet your forseeable needs. But not your B.S. in Engineering. It needs to be bulletproof.
     
  9. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Awesome responses guys....I really do appreciate the help as this is going to be such a big change for me. I am checking into traditional means to complete the degree also but I have to figure out how to supplement my current income so that I won't go bankrupt. ;) Granted I dont make a ton of money in law enforcement but I have to figure out how to supplement that so I can pursue it traditionally. I know this may sound corney to some but I am wanting to pursue Engineering because I am interested in designing and developing amusement park attractions.( rides, resorts, theme parks, etc.) This has been a life long dream and I am at the point where I feel like I have the maturity in order to pursue the dream. I know it's a tough field but I am well prepared for the task ahead. Again, I appreciate all the help you guys have given and will be researching ABET Sponsored schools as well. :)
     
  10. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Wow...went to the ABET site and all these schools are accredited by them so i have many traditional options.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    University of Louisiana at Lafayette


    Lafayette, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2007 - 08

    Chemical Engineering (BS) [1967]
    Civil Engineering (BS) [1967]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1967]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1956]
    Petroleum Engineering (BS) [1963]

    Louisiana State University and A&M College


    Baton Rouge, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2009 - 10

    Biological Engineering (BS) [1950]
    Chemical Engineering (BS) [1939]
    Civil Engineering (BS) [1936]
    Computer Engineering (BS) [1989]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1936]
    Environmental Engineering (BS) [1998]
    Industrial Engineering (BS) [1968]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1936]
    Petroleum Engineering (BS) [1936]

    Louisiana Tech University


    Ruston, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2007 - 08

    Biomedical Engineering (BS) [1978]
    Chemical Engineering (BS) [1956]
    Civil Engineering (BS) [1948]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1948]
    Industrial Engineering (BS) [1972]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1948]

    Back to Top


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    M
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    McNeese State University


    Lake Charles, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2009 - 10

    Engineering (BS) [1981-1988;1989]

    Back to Top


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    N
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    University of New Orleans


    New Orleans, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2006 - 07

    Civil Engineering (BS) [1980]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1978]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1977]
    Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (BS) [1985]

    Back to Top


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    S
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    Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College


    Baton Rouge, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2009 - 10

    Civil Engineering (BS) [1970]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1970]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1970]

    Back to Top


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    T
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    Tulane University


    New Orleans, LA


    Date of Next General Review: 2007 - 08

    Biomedical Engineering (BS) [1981]
    Chemical Engineering (BS) [1954]
    Civil Engineering (BS) [1936]
    Electrical Engineering (BS) [1936]
    Environmental Engineering (BS) [2000]
    Mechanical Engineering (BS) [1936]
     
  11. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    Nothing wrong with that, soupbone. SOMEBODY has to design those things. Here is a link that might help point you in the right direction as to the type of education you might need.

    http://www3.ccps.virginia.edu/career_prospects/briefs/P-S/SummaryAmuse.shtml
     
  12. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    In addition, you might also want to get an MBA Entrepreneurship.

    And, like the man says, nothing corny about that!

    As Chuck Mangione says, "Without dreams, a man shall surely die!"
     
  13. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    :D Again thanks for all your replies and sincere opinions. I am trying to sit down and still figure out how to supplement my income so that I can go traditionally here in Baton Rouge. I would absolutely take on a part time job to supplement it some but I make around $40k a year so I need to figure out a way to do it without getting into financial trouble. My wife works full time as a counselor and her salary is decent too which helps. Do you guys think loans are an option to supplement some of the income I would be making or is that just digging myself deeper into debt and not worth it? I am open to any suggestions in this area also....:) Thanks again for all your help...
     
  14. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    Book of possible interest

    You might want to check out "The Fantastical Engineer: A Thrillseeker's Guide to Careers in Theme Park Engineering" by Celeste Baine. It's $17.95 at Amazon.com or ppi2pass.com. Haven't read it myself, but it seems like it might be relevant for you.
     
  15. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    You're right, soupbone. We seem to be in the same situation, although you make more $$$ than me.

    My plan was to kock out as many General Education requirements as possible with CLEP. The Community College I'm looking at seems to accept a decent number of CLEP credits. I was considering engineering, but the more I studied it, the more I realized I would just have to quit work outright and just throw myself into my studies, which isn't economically feasible for me right now.

    You could use student loans, and face a mountain of debt at the end of your program. You may want to consider a combination of part time work/loans/grants and scholarships. The work part is up to you. The grants and scholarships don't need to be repaid. The loan, of course, does. So the more money you can get from these other source, the less you need to depend on loans. There are websites to check for scholarships....Fastweb.com comes to mind. You said you're in law enforcement, so you could check to see if your union or the city offers any tuition reimbursement as part of their beneifits, and take a class here and there to see if you like it.
     
  16. JLV

    JLV Active Member

    Since you re interested in pure mechanical or control engineering you will need to go to an ABET accredited program, and therefore you might need to go to a traditional school to complete all requirements. However, you don´t need to quit your job. You can do a great deal of required courses on a distance learning basis from liberal arts and social sciences to mathematics and physics, including introductory (and even advanced!) engineering courses. You may be surprised to find out you would only need to attend a few semesters on campus if you plan your way appropriatedly. Once you get your bachelor´s there are plenty of master´s programs from well known universities both in the US and abroad. From a profesional point of view you should try to get engineering experience as soon as possible. In this field experience is as important as the degree, if not more. Good luck.
     
  17. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Soupbone,

    Seems there are two major issues going on here: finding an undergraduate engineering degree and finding financial aid. For starters, I would start by testing out of an AS from Charter Oak (cosc.edu), Excelsior (www.excelsiorcollege.edu), or Thomas Edison (www.tesc.edu). This will substantially reduce your overall costs and it is fast. As to finding financial aid, there are grants and loans. Some financial aid is internal (offered by the school itself) and some is external (offered by outside sources). Financial aid can be based on your college major, your/your parents' employer, your race, your religion, your/your parents' union, and many different things. Go to your friendly neighborhood local bookstore and check out the academic reference section or you could just go to www.amazon.com to find a good scholarship book. Also, check out the possibility of employer reimbursement. If you did go to school full-time in residence, you might look for some work as a security guard or campus cop. I give you the following list of accredited dl bachelor's programs in engineering (general) and/or mechanical engineering. Hopefully, from this array, you can sort through and find something that is ABET.

    DL BS ENGINEERING SCHOOLS

    University of Calicut www.collegeskerala.com/calicut (BG15, 177) Engineering (General)
    California National University for Advanced Studies www.cnuas.edu (BG15, 100) Engineering (General); Mechanical Engineering
    University of Central Florida http://distrib.ucf.edu/studentinfo/dlprograms.htm (BG15, 135) Engineering (General)
    Central Queensland University www.dtls.cqu.edu.au (BG15, 103) Engineering (General)
    Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu (BG15, 104) Engineering (General)
    Excelsior College www.excelsiorcollege.edu (BG15, 110) Engineering (General)
    Indiana State University www.indstate.edu/distance (BG15, 161) Mechanical Engineering
    Kettering University www.kettering.edu (BG15, 118) Mechanical Engineering
    Memorial University of Newfoundland www.ce.mun.ca/distance/default.html (BG15, 121) Engineering (General)
    Michigan Technological University www.admin.mtu.edu/eup (BG15, 163) Engineering (General)
    Monash University www.monash.edu.au/offcampus (BG15, 122) Engineering (General)
    Murdoch University http://wwwonline.murdoch.edu.au (BG15, 123) Engineering (General)
    University of New England www.unimelb.edu.au (BG15, 141) Engineering (General)
    University of North Dakota www.conted.und.edu (BG15, 179) Mechanical Engineering
    Old Dominion University www.odu.edu/home/distance.html (BG15, 125) Mechanical Engineering
    Open University www.open.ac.uk (BG15, 126) Engineering (General)
    Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education www.puk.ac.za (BG15,128) Engineering (General)
    University of Pretoria www.up.ac.za (BG15, 143) Engineering (General)
    Rochester Institute of Technology http://distancelearning.rit.edu (BG15, 129) Mechanical Engineering
    Technikon of South Africa www.tsa.ac.za (BG15, 132) Engineering (General)
    Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu (BG15, 133) Engineering (General); Mechanical Engineering
     
  18. soupbone

    soupbone Active Member

    Awesome and thanks again guys...I will look into possibly getting on with the campus police as there might be reduced tuition for working as an employee of the campus and being a student. I had another thought also....I wonder if its possible to get hired on by a local engineering firm while in school also to get some basic experience so that when I finish the degree program I at least have a basic understanding of how the field works. Thanks again for the help...:D
     
  19. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Just a thought ... I now seem to remember, at least vaguely, an old thread about ABET in which I think it said that ABET either does not (or at least not often) accredit DL. Am I remembering this correctly? Even if so, would ABET tell, e.g., Central Florida, Indiana State, Michigan Tech, North Dakota, Old Dominion, or RIT that their accreditation applies only to onground, but not online, programs? Just wondering. Hope I'm not totally confused.
     
  20. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

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