The full lowdown on the Cleveland institute of electronics/WC?

Historically, engineering programs had to make a choice about ABET accreditation: ABET would accredit either the BS program, or the MS program, but not both. The normal choice was to have ABET accredit the BS program; ABET only accredited MS programs in unusual circumstances, like for graduate-only programs. As a result, the vast majority of engineering MS degrees lack formal ABET accreditation.

This rule changed a few years ago, but ABET-accredited MS programs are still rare in practice; schools don't seem to be rushing to add ABET accreditation for their MS programs. However, one school that has done this is University of Louisville, which now has ABET-accredited BS and ME programs in several major engineering disciplines.

 

Guys thanks for the information, but I don't even consider ABET when it comes to programs because I have no intentions, ZERO intentions of going full engineer. Not a bone in my body wants to go there. I just want to be a decently paid Electronics engineering technician or engineering technologist as they are sometimes called. I like that title better myself. Someone has to get there hands dirty, and work on the actual equipment, and that engineers do not do.

 

I located the consumer information on PF's website with relative ease. Some degree programs have a low of 1.5% completion rates to a high of about 18% completion. I don't know how this compares with other schools but I'd think it's par for the course in online learning. Of course there are all kinds of variables that come into play as to whether someone completes or not, but there seem to be a lot of students that think they'll coast through a program until they get into the thick of it.

 

Yes I agree, most people think "oh online school, I'll coast right through and cheat". It does NOT work that way. You have GOT TO work, and work hard. I wanted to jump off a building a few times in the Electronics technician program. I worked, VERY, VERY hard and ended up with an 84 average. I was up to an 89 at one point until I got some 70's and 75's that killed me average. Still an 84 would be a 3.0 right? Not too bad for teaching yourself a VERY technical subject. You cannot coast, you cannot cheat. I mean I guess you could, but you will work harder cheating than doing the actual work.

 

Hi Terry,

I would love to hear about the courses that you are taking to supplement CIE.
How far down into the program are you?
It's great to hear from someone else in the program!

Cheers,
Mark

 

Hi pfelectonicstech,

I have not used the chat feature, so I cannot comment there.

The material is very straightforward and I have had few problems with it. The course follows a logical path, though sometimes the lessons alternate between a couple of topics. For example 'Solid state design I' is followed by several lessons before going back to 'Solid state design II and III'. However, they don't mind if you jump around a bit.

So far the instructors have given me clear guidance when needed, though I only had a few problems. Whenever I contact them, I get an answer within a day or so. Since I live overseas it takes a bit longer, I presume. The exam results are always quick (within a day, usually) and the proctored exams also seem to be quick: sent by mail and results by email in 3 or 4 days.

There are some tutorials online, but only for some specific areas.

The website is not polished like others, but it seems functional

Cheers,
Mark

 

I certainly wasn't expecting the interest that my post got, but I'll answer the questions that I can here and I'll try to address the PM's as I can get to them.

As mentioned I supplemented the BEET coursework with actual Electrical Engineering courses (NOT engineering technology). Why? Because I wanted my overall education to be more reflective of actual engineering and not engineering technology.

Here's how it breaks down so far:

Local Technical College
Intro to Electrical Engineering
Engineering Analysis
Thermodynamics*
Fluid Mechanics*
Engineering Economics
Circuit Analysis

*Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics are more towards mechanical engineering than electrical engineering, but both have applications important to my line of work*

Straighterline
Business Statistics
Physics I w/Lab
Physics II w/Lab (currently taking)

I wanted to do physics through the local technical college, but the labs aren't offered in the evenings so I went this route instead.

CALCampus
Calculus I for Science and Math Majors
Calculus II for Science and Math Majors
Calculus III for Science and Math Majors
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra (currently taking)

*CALCampus is an expensive option - NOT for someone with limited resources trying to finish a degree on the cheap; however, you most certainly get what you pay for in this case: the full calculus sequence required for engineering (NOT general calculus) AND RA accreditation.

Was it the supplemental coursework that made the difference? I don't know for sure, I didn't ask and UWP didn't say. I'm sure it didn't hurt, along with 18 years of manufacturing experience on my resume (operations management and industrial/process engineering).

I was told they would accept the BEET and that's why I looked into them. I added the other coursework for my benefit, not simply to appease an admissions officer.

Additional trivia question answer: N.C State University offers an online Master of Engineering (NOT Master of Science), that I think will also accept a WC/CIE BEET for admission.

* Please forgive the typos and lack of concise organization; I'm tired. It was a long day at the ol' salt mine today. Lol. *

 

Hi I am in New Zealand and had my eye on CIE for many years. I also was keen to do the Excelsior degree but thats not how things have worked out for me.

I now have multiple local diplomas at under grad & graduate level. I completed more than the required credits for a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree in New Zealand but I kept failing one of the math papers so I missed out & got a Diploma. I have four software engineering diplomas one at graduate level & a graduate diploma level Project Management qualification.

I figured I would transfer all of my credits to Excelsior & pick up my full degree from them. Spent the money to do this through ECE and I have about two degree's worth of actual credits.

Shock horror at the time that I did my electronics & electrical my universities lab work was not accredited. Excelsior said I would need to redo all labs for the degree - I said no thanks. I passed all labs and its just a red tape thing. So I still dont have a degree in electronics even though I have done way more than the required upper level papers.

My plans next are to do machine learning & artificial intelligence at graduate level and I am sorely tempted to also do the Boulder Masters in Electrical Engineering.

I have already been over the entire thing not for credit and I am familiar with most of the material from prior study.

In hindsight I would study Electronics online from two institutions:

1. Undergrad from Stony Brook https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/eeonline/index.php

2. Masters from Boulder https://www.colorado.edu/ecee/academics/online-programs/master-science-electrical-engineering