ABET-Accredited Online Engineering Degree Programs

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by TheProf, Dec 6, 2014.

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  1. TheProf

    TheProf New Member

    Our university has ABET-accredited engineering degree programs in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering. If we could offer one or both of them completely online for $150 to $200 per credit, would there be enough students to make the effort worthwhile?
     
  2. Michigan68

    Michigan68 Active Member

    Yes, there would be enough students. I would be one of them.
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Well, how many students would you need for those programs for you to consider them worthwhile?
     
  4. FenderCam

    FenderCam New Member

    Yeap I'm in... keep us posted


     
  5. TheProf

    TheProf New Member

    It would be hard to justify paying an online instructor if there were fewer than about 20 people in an online class.
     
  6. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    The first 100% on line ABET Engineering degree is offered by Arizona State University.
    The cost is much higher then what is discussed on this board.

    ABET lists on its site all the DL programs accredited by them.

    Once immediate question I see people are asking is how are the hands on labs performed, in Traditional school you have real lab not simulations only.

    How will licensing boards treat such degree?
     
  7. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    If it was USD $150 per credit extended to out-of-state students too, I'd definitely be interested in Computer Engineering. It is a field I want to study, but the programs I found are too expensive so gave up on that. Is this an undergraduate or graduate program? Private school, public school? In which country? Can you post a link to the current program's web site?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 7, 2014
  8. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    No question there would be interest - likely for both undergraduate as well as graduate students. I, too, would be interested.
     
  9. FenderCam

    FenderCam New Member

    Would this school take all the basics like CLEP,ACE,Etc, if so how many credits toward the degree?
     
  10. TheProf

    TheProf New Member

    Despite the common misconception that hands-on laboratories are always superior to virtual labs, distance labs, or kit labs, there is actually plenty of research published in the literature that disputes this claim. In fact, many researchers have concluded from their findings that virtual labs are superior in almost every category except learning to physically operate a particular instrument.

    Here are just 10 examples of the "plenty of research" I mentioned:

    Corter, J. E., Esche, S. K., Chassapis, C., Ma, J., & Nickerson, J. V. (2011). Process and learning outcomes from remotely-operated, simulated, and hands-on student laboratories. Computers & Education, 57, 2054-2067.

    Coble, A., Smallbone, A., Bhave, A., Watson, R., Braumann, A., & Kraft, M. (2010, April). Delivering authentic experiences for engineering students and professionals through e-labs. Paper presented at the 2010 IEEE EDUCON Education Engineering – The Future of Global Learning Engineering Education, Madrid, Spain.

    Gomes, L., & Bogosyan, S. (2009). Current trends in remote laboratories. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(12), 4744-4756.

    Gustavsson, I., Nilsson, K., Zackrisson, J., Garcia-Zubia, J., Hernandez-Jayo, U., Nafalski, A., Nedic, Z., ... Hakansson, L. (2009). On objectives of instructional laboratories, individual assessment, and use of collaborative remote laboratories. IEEE Transactions on Educational Technologies, 2(4), 263-274.

    Clark, R., Flowers, G., Doolittle, P., Meehan, K., & Hendricks, R. (2009, October). Work in progress: Transitioning lab-in-a-box (LiaB) to the community college setting. Paper presented at the 39th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, San Antonio, TX.

    Harms, U. (2008, July). Virtual and remote labs in physics education. Paper presented at the 8th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies, Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

    Ashby, J. E. (2008, October). The effectiveness of collaborative technologies in remote lab delivery systems. Paper presented at the 38th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY.

    Nickerson, J. V., Corter, J. E., Esche, S. K., & Chassapis, C. (2007). A model for evaluating the effectiveness of remote engineering laboratories and simulations in education. Computers & Education, 49, 708-725.

    Bonatti, D., Pasini, G., Peretto, L., Pivello, E., & Tinarelli, R. (2007, May). A novel approach for laboratory activities in e-learning courses. Paper presented at the 2007 Instrumentation and Measurement Conference, Warsaw, Poland.

    Finkelstein, N. D., Adams, W. K., Keller, C. J., Kohl, P. B., Perkins, K. K., Podolefsky, N. S., & Reid, S. (2005). When learning about the real world is better done virtually: A study of substituting computer simulations for laboratory equipment. Physical Review Special Topics -- Physics Education Research, 1. doi:10.1103/PhysRevSTPER.1.010103
     
  11. TheProf

    TheProf New Member

    We are just in the discussion-phase about this right now. The university is located in the United States and has about 17,000 on-campus students, with about 450 of them majoring in electrical engineering or computer engineering. Another 900 are enrolled as mechanical engineering majors. The on-campus degree programs are ABET-accredited and require 120 credits to complete. Two related degrees are already online for a limited population of students: software engineering and web design.

    Please understand that I am not a university spokes-person, or making any announcements. I am just one of the professors who would be involved in its development if the proposal is approved. I am asking the question to gauge student interest in such a program.
     
  12. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I think the program should generate interest among military serviceman. ASU Bachelors is more expansive.
    So this may become a better solution.
    I think service man elect a lot of times DETC or non ABET accredited options because so far only one or two options, one I think North Dakota has short residency labs during summer time.

    initially there can be a combined program partly DL partly on campus, and 100% DL.


    As to virtual labs, or kit labs, They are highly effective. I'm a fan of NI Multisim, shortens time to prototype and other benefits. Labvew. I also used it for number of Engineering classes I took in the past. In our day and time we can have lab at home for electronics, computing etc, and do the same experiments and projects as on campus.

    BTW I'm talking about undergraduate Bachelors of Science in Electronics Engineering or Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering.

    DL Master programs in Engineering exist for a while now, and there are more of them.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 9, 2014
  13. nyvrem

    nyvrem Active Member

    i would do it ! if the program accepts second degree students.

    :love::love::love:

    $150-$250 per credit is a nice selling point.
     
  14. cbryant

    cbryant New Member

    Granted I'm more comp sci rather than comp engineering, however I could be persuaded at that price tag, esp. if leveling courses were offered.
     
  15. Pelican

    Pelican Member

    I'd be even more interested in the software engineering. Is that program currently accepting applications?
     
  16. addision

    addision Member

    Will there be interest?

    Will there be interest? YES, however there will be a few concerns before you will get a flood of applicants.

    First off would be credibility, you mention that your school already has some programs ABET accredited so that part is taken care of, if this would be an ABET program as well you should have no problem.

    Next would be the price, GA Tech has a very good program at a very good price for their MA degree online which shows that a reasonably priced degree can work. If you could come to market with an ABET undergrad degree at a reasonable price it would find a good market as the current ABET undergrad options are limited.

    But be warned that a degree will not perform if it is too expensive, learners would rather choose a school with less name recognition to achieve their goals, as you can see from the comments regarding ASU and its pricing. Make it a good value for out-of-state students as well, for schools other than state universities that may be required to charge more, there should be no reason to have a higher tuition charge for out of state online students.

    The last major consideration I would be looking for is the amount of transfer credit. I understand all schools, even state schools must be able to support their programs and want to make sure the student gets the benefit of the quality of education that particular college provides. Therefore they want a certain number of units taken "in residency". If you have an ABET program you will still want to keep your standards high as well, but attempt to find a way to allow the greatest amount of transfer credit. Many using these boards are looking to maximize their dollar and their existing education.
     
  17. GoneFishin

    GoneFishin New Member

    American Military University/American Public University kicked off their 100% online BSEE in September 2014, asking $250/credit hour. The labs are virtual, based around the National Instruments product lines (LABVIEW, ELVIS, RIO, DAQ, etc). They've put together fairly decently priced packages of the equipment for students. The equipment costs are separate from tuition, and estimated to max out for the degree at under $12K. The books are covered under the school's "book grant", which means basically students get free eBooks for course use. They offer three tracks at present - General, Communications, and Mechatronics. As this is a new program, it can't be granted ABET until the first students graduate from it - estimated 2016 (at least that's when I'll be done mine! Yay!). Dr. Colin Doyle, the program director, is happy to talk with interested students about the ABET process. He has worked with them to align the curriculum to standards, and anticipates accreditation will not be a problem. I've found him very responsive to emails, so I'd recommend contacting him directly for more information. They accept a lot of transfer credit...I *think* I read generally up to 91 credits for a bachelors (meaning 25% of the degree must be done in-house...the EE program may require more in-house, for ABET accreditation, but I'm not sure).

    Here's a link: APUS BSEE
     

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