Engineering: BSEE degree by DL

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Lee Kay, Feb 18, 2002.

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  1. Lee Kay

    Lee Kay New Member

    ISU offers a BSEE by DL.

    "fully accredited"
    "the only one of its kind in the U.S. that has actually graduated students!"

    It is a upper division program primarily for Iowa residents...BUT..."may make special arrangements to...students living outside of the state...."
    Not all of the required courses are delivered by the internet, but clever DL students may find other colleges that offer the other required courses by internet. It may be possible for people outside Iowa to earn a BSEE by DL.

    www.ede.iastate.edu/bsee.html

    Lee
    :D
     
  2. James Stirling

    James Stirling New Member

  3. RKanarek

    RKanarek Member

    Dear Messrs. Kay & Stirling:

    Thanks for posting the information on distance BSEE courses. Regarding your posts:


    Unfortunately, the ISU web page was mis-quoted. ISU claims to be open to the idea of providing non-Iowa'ians access to some of the BSEE courses; those to the manor -- or, at least, not farm -- born are NOT, however, eligible to participate in the BSEE program itself. A more complete quote from the ISU website follows:

    From http://www.ede.iastate.edu/bsee.html :
    "At this time, the BSEE program is available only to students living inside the state of Iowa. Admission to the BSEE program cannot be granted to non-Iowa residents at this time. We may be able to make special arrangements to deliver some of the courses in the program to students living outside of the state, but not all of them."

    Also, at $290 a credit, you'd better hope for four years of good harvests! <g>


    Regarding the University of North Dakota link, the program does seem great. Not only is UND's BSEE ABET accredited (very handy for an engineering degree), UND gives the impression of being very amenable to transfer credits and for course requirement waivers for, essentially, life experience ("introductory engineering courses" only, see http://gocubs.conted.und.nodak.edu/cedp/). This impression takes a beating, however, once UND's fine print is read; some of the restrictions, like limits on transfer credits from RA, non-UND correspondence courses, seem arbitrary or self-serving. Still, they would seem more generous than most.

    The only problem with UND, as far as I can tell, deals with its cost. I'm no expert, but the price per credit cost for those poor souls who, like me, were not fortunate enough to have grown up in either North Dakota or an associated state (see http://gocubs.conted.und.nodak.edu/cedp/) seems breath-taking. Literally. Brace yourself as I'm about to tell you what it is. Really, if you're not in robust health, STOP READING NOW! Ready? $536.30 - $623.30 for one credit!!! (The per-credit charges decline slightly when taken in bunches.) Assuming that one took an entire upper-two years of schooling from them, the charge would be something like $33K. Surely one could purchase a large section of North Dakota for that kind of money, assuming one could justify such a purchase. <g>

    The previous estimate didn't include the summertime trip(s) for lab work to ND a UND distance BSEE student would need to make. ABET requires that in-person labs be a part of any ABET accredited engineering degree program. (BTW, ABET lists accredited schools on their web sit, www.abet.org, but doesn't list which offer distance programs. The ABET representative felt that it would be too much work. Currently, UND is the only school I know of offering ABET accredited BSEEs. Perhaps the people at ABET tire easily. <g>)


    So, if you're from Iowa and your keen to get a BSEE via distance education, your choice seems pretty clear. Further, if your from North Dakota, a state friendly with ND, or have more money than a Bear <g>, your choice seems clear as well. But what about the rest of us? Does anyone know of additional ABET BSEEs available essentially via distance education? Would anyone care to violate a sacred confidence by revealing plans for an upcoming ASBET accredited degree that they are aware of?

    Oh, and while I'm interesting in discovering what's available as far as a distance ABET BSEE are concerned, those who don't care if an institution is ABET or even RA have another distance BSEE option: the DETC accredited California National University (http://www.cnuas.edu/) They seem even more generous that UND as far as accepting transfer credits, and they don't have the sneaky restrictions (although they do have some restrictions).


    Cordially,
    Richard Kanarek


    P.S. All of the above institutions also offer degree programs other than BSEEs.
     
  4. wfready

    wfready New Member

    So, I guess, that means that no one knows of anymore online BSEE's (to say the least about an affordable one). I may just stay w/ Excelsior and get a BS there.

    I was thinking of getting a BST w/ Electromechnical specialty. I like the idea of having both mechanical and electrical concentrations in a technology degree. But, how valuable is this degree? Right now, I am a field service engineer at a semiconductor fab. Now, I know that the term "engineer" is used rather loosely in regards to an actual job description in the tech/computer industry. However, I am NOT just a technician. I do work w/ engineering to resolve complicated issues beyond the capacity of the technicians on shift (a glorified tech rep. I guess..).

    Anyways, Do you think the BS in Technology degree is geared more towards an entry level technician? If so, what do you people think about the BSEET? It is ABET accredited (which confuses me why the BST isn't because I compared the two programs and not MUCH is different).

    How about a BS in libral studies w/ a concentration in chemistry and physics? Would that be a valuable degree in the technology field?

    I just wish there was a BSEE online that was affordable (out of state tuition is outragous, and who ever thought of the idea of out of state tuition should be hung.)

    Kind of frustrating, anybody in a similar jam? Any suggestions? comments?

    Bill
     
  5. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    A good place to start is at TeleCampus which lists a lot of courses and programs in many different fields.

    Following the technology or manufacturing line and then going for a MS in EE is probably easier and cheaper.
     
  6. David Appleyard

    David Appleyard New Member

    Lee:

    Here are a few programs to consider:

    Bachelors Level

    BS Electrical Engineering

    Rochester Institute of Technology
    Thomas Edison State College

    BS Electronic Engineering

    Ferris State University
    Grantham College of Engineering Excelsior
    Thomas Edison State College

    Masters Level

    MS Electrical Engineering

    Arizone State U
    Auburn U.
    Colorado State U.
    Iowa State U.
    U of Colorado
    U. of South Carolina
    Central Queensland U.
     
  7. RKanarek

    RKanarek Member

    Dear David:

    Greetings.
    Regarding the list of BSEE sources you posted:

    1) Regarding Ferris State University (http://www.ferris.edu/):
    a. If it has a distance program, the webmaster did a find job hiding it from me!
    b. They don't offer a BSEE, only EET (RA & ABET accredited).

    2) Regarding RIT (http://onlinelearning.rit.edu/):
    a) RIT only offers EET (RA/ABET) not BSEE, and you have to attend labs on campus (3 day each?)
    b) Expensive?

    3) Regarding Thomas Edison State College (www.tesc.edu)
    Economical, but the only engineering related degrees TESC offers have major in Electronics Engineering Technology, Electrical Technology, or Engineering Graphics (see http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/undergraduate/areas.php#E). All are only RA (not ABET) accredited.

    3) I'm glad you mentioned GCE. I visited their web site recently (http://www.grantham.edu/prog.htm) and noticed that they don't offer BSEEs -- only BSEET (and others). Initially I assumed that I had only immagined them ever offering a BSEE. Now that I've seen your (incorrect, sorry!) post, I know that they most have had a BSEE once, but that they don't any more.
    I might also add that comparing GCE to the institutions originally on this list is like comparing apples to oranges. While I have no doubts that GCE's offering are nifty, GCE is DETC accredited while the UND and (I *think* ISU) are both RA & ABET acredited. (I place little value in the accredation process, but great value in its baseless esteem.)

    4) Excelsior College (www.regents.edu):
    Economical, transfer credit friendly, RA & ABET accredited. Unfortunately Excelsior (nee Regents) doesn't offer a BSEE only a BSEET.

    So, unless you or anyone else has any other good (sorry <g>) suggestions, it would seem that UND has little to fear from competition. <g>

    Cordially,
    Richard Kanarek
     
  8. David Appleyard

    David Appleyard New Member

    Richard:

    You are absolutely right in your assessment of the degrees at the schools noted. The suggestions were just alternates to the pure BSEE.

    Ferris did offer the degree through their: Gerholz Institute for Lifelong Learning, but has discontinued their program (I had it from an older list of schools and should have verified).

    There are a few more BSEE online, but this time with links:

    University of Florida
    http://www.list.ufl.edu/online/main.htm
    Ranked 22 (top 10%) of 291 U.S. Abet Accredited Undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering Programs; ranked 14th among public universities; Computer Engineering ranked 10th among the 22 institutions with scores between the 4.0 and 5.0 range; 1997 Gourman Report, 10th edition.

    Embry-Riddle University
    http://www.embryriddle.edu/engineering/electrical_engineering.html

    University of Southern Queensland
    http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2001/engineer/courses/bachdegengsurv/beng/index.htm

    Hope these are a little better.
     
  9. wfready

    wfready New Member

    Linyard,

    Embry Riddle does have engineering degrees, however, I don't think you can do them through distance learning. Only at the Prescott campus? I think they have management degrees online..

    UofF - Don't really tell that much on the website.. I emailed asking if that program was up yet.. We will see.

    Bill






     

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