Online Electrical Engineering?

Hi all. I'm new around here, and I have a dilemma. I wish to study electrical engineering/design online to furthur my own knowledge. A degree would be nice, but not totally essential. I was looking at Kennedy Western, but now I'm not so sure. Before you dismiss it, let me state what I am after. First off, I know KW isn't accredited. I know that their degrees may not hold clout anywhere. However, I don't know if I really care that much about the degree. I basically want the knowledge that I would gain doing the course. To that end, I have emailed KW asking for complete sylabuses (sylabae?) for each of the classes, listing texts, required work, etc. There are a few courses that sound really interesting to me.

So my question becomes this: Given that I may not care about the degree, and assuming that the course work looks interesting and possibly benificial to me, would it still be a horrible mistake to go with KW. I don't plan on using the KW degree for job placement, career advancement or any of that, I just want the knowledge.

I hope that this thread won't turn into an accredited vs state lisensed debate. I'm just looking for some more informed opinions.

Thanks!

Josh

 

Ahem...sorry, much embarresment here, but I realized that I forgot a bit of what I intended to say in my post. I just wanted to head off a bunch of posts saying "such and such online has an Engineering Technology program". My original attraction to KW was that the courses were mainly design related courses, like at an accredited institution. The few engineering technology courses I've looked at are a bit more simplified and usually less abstract. This is great if you don't want to design things, but I do. I hope this clears things up a bit.

Sorry about the double post!

Josh

 

If you are just looking for courses and don't necessarily want to enter a degree program, Engineering courses by distance learning can be found through various search engines like the one on the Excelsior College website.

http://distancelearn.excelsior.edu/

California National University which is DETC Accredited has a DL Engineering program in which your elective area can be electrical engineering.

http://www.cnuas.edu/pages/AcademicPrograms/DegreePrograms/Engineering/BsEngineering.shtm

The University of North Dakota's undergraduate DL engineering degree program offers a BSEE Degree, is regionally accredited and has ABET accreditation.

http://gocubs.conted.und.nodak.edu/dist_engr/

I personally would go for an ABET accredited engineering program because then I would know that the courses I took met the same minimum standards as, for instance, MIT's Engineering program. Also, the transferability of the courses would be excellent.


TaneaG

 

University of Southern Queensland offers a bachelor's in Electrical Engineering by distance learning. USQ has the only DL engineering program in Australia that's accredited by IEAust (i.e. similar to ABET accreditation, and significant if you want smooth sailing to PE licensure). The USQ program does require residencies.

See http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2002/engineer/programs/bachdegengsurv/beng/index.htm

 

It looks to me like the CNU program is the only 100% D/L program out there that has any of the "indicia of reliability". DETC accreditation is a good sign that you wouldn't get "took", but that's about all it DOES mean in this field. Trouble is, it is quite expensive.

K-W wants you to have five years in the field before they will enroll you. I don't know if they enforce that rule. I suspect it is a "selection device" in that K-W students are already successful in engineering before the school gets hold of them and could then be blamed for eventual failure. Indeed, that much experience could well be sufficient in many states to allow a person to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam with no degree whatever!

Nosborne, JD

 

Ad these to the list!

Josh,


If you have done your research and have no problem with a degree that "MAY" or "MAY NOT" have much utility then try these schools.
My opinion is neutral, however I have knowledge of some very good people that have graduated from one or the other schools.



Cook's Institute of Electronics Engineering
http://www.cooks.edu


Grantham College of Engineering
http://www.grantham.edu


Pacific Western University
Hawaii Campus
http://www.pwu.com

 

Re: Ad these to the list!

None of these schools would be accepted for an electrical engineering license. If money is a problem, you could try the australian ones, at least they will be accepted for license purposes.

www.usq.edu.au

 

An electrical engineering license will increase your chances to get a high paying job in the field, so look for a degree that allows you to write the PE, if you have a PE it doesn't really matter where you got your degree after. The KW program is very poor and I don't think it would give your the knowledge you are looking for, at the very least, you should look at a B.Sc in Electronics Engineering Technology from Graham college. A decent program in Electronics Engineering technology with some use in the work field.

You might find a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering from USQ interesting, but you will be asked to write proctored exams so don't expect an easy degree. Plus you will be asked to take many math courses.


From buying a book in electrical engineering and going to KW, I would suggest the first. At least you will stay with more money in your pocket and no degree to defend.

 

How do you REALLY know?

Mr/Mrs RFValve,

I know first hand the requirements and benefits of an accredited degree in the Engineering field. If you where to refer to the original thread, and I quote "I wish to study electrical engineering/design online to furthur my own knowledge. A degree would be nice, but not totally essential."


Obviously an RA degree would offer more utility or shall I say outweigh any or most of the aformentioned. Would I go the route of an unaccredited school, "NO" but then again to each is own as long as it works for them and yes I'm sure there will always be questions surrounding validity and credibilty of it. Cheers!

 

Re: How do you REALLY know?

Actually the ones that you recommended but the PWU are good options for some one looking to be a technician. The Graham College B.Sc is a very good one and can be used in the work field without too much questioning. PWU is not really a technical institute and I doubt they can offer a good education

 

MIT

I understand that MIT is in the process of putting outlines of all their courses online, although I don't know how far they are in this process. I suspect that using an outline from MIT and studying on your own might be better than working with one of the unaccredited schools.

Gerry Ashton PE (Vermont)
BSEE U. of So. California '78
MSEE Syracuse U. '83