Grantham, yet again

On their web site, Grantham now makes the flat statement that students who complete their BSEET and BS in Computer Engineering Technology are qualified to work as entry level engineers in various fields like hardware and software development, power systems, and the like, depending on the degree.

Is this accurate?

Nosborne, JD

 

It would depend on the company. Where I work, generally a newly graduated BSEET would be hired as technician, not as an engineer. I'm not even talking about DETC vs. RA here, it's a BSEE vs. BSEET curriculum thang. Not that the DETC vs. RA thang is unimportant, mind you.

I would be interested to find out where Grantham College students wind up working after graduation, and how useful their degree is in getting hired at a new company or promoted in their current company. From the "Testimonials" page it looked like people use a Grantham degree to get ahead at their current job. Does anyone have any statistics?


Mike Goldberg
BSEE, Illinois Institute of Technology, 2002

 

Might be an interesting dissertation topic.

Nosborne, JD

 

Sorry, I'm going to pass on the thesis topic.

My guess is that Grantham gives you some kind of (DETC) accredited degree that could be used for promotion to jobs that require a technical degree. If it helps you break through a glass ceiling, that is indeed a "good thing".

I don't think that a Grantham diploma by itself would open doors to entry-level engineering positions the way a diploma from a decent state university would. It might open the door to a technician-level position. Then it might not, too.

Where I come from, schools get a good part of their reputations from the quality of their graduates. I have never met any Grantham grads, so I couldn't tell you how bad or good they are at their stuff. For what it's worth, on paper, the Grantham BSEET curriculum looks similiar to my memory of the RA & ABET accredited DeVRY BSEET program that I researched a few years ago. (The DeVRY program was NOT DL but residential, with required regular on-campus class attendance.) A BSEET program is a less theoretical, more hands-on program than a BSEE. The existence of a real lab would help such a program. For some entry-level engineering jobs at some companies, a BSEET would be acceptable. At least a BSEET from places like DeVRY or Southern Illinois University would work. I don't know if you can get hired for such a position with a DETC accredited BSEET from Grantham. I would be interested to hear the experiences of any Grantham alumni.

Sorry to beat this dead horse some more, but it is a subject too close to my heart and my life.

 

In all likelihood a definite maybe... Most "entry level" positions have limited responsibilities associated with them. The typical new engineer would be woking under the suprevision of a more experienced one for the first year in most any large company. The newbie would be relied upon to do significant grunt work while they learn the ropes and gain experience.

The real question is advancement. Mike is right on with his comments about the differences between BSEE and BSET. If the path to advancement is the design and development route, the BSET is at a disadvantage. If the path to advancement is via project management, then the differences between the degrees is not relevant.

So as I said... a definite maybe....

Dick

 

Grantham Graduate

I am a Grantham graduate, and have done well. However, I can say that my career path was a bit unconventional.

After getting a degree from Ambassador College (at the time, a CA state approved brick and mortar religious "finishing school" operated by Herbert Armstrong and the WorldWide Church of God), I worked on campus in the AV department, but did a Cleveland Institute of Electronics course in Electronics.

After 18 months, I knew enough to pass the technicians entrance exam at NEC as a cellular mobile technician--just when cell phones first came out. (circa 1984).

Went on to get Associates Degree from CIE, then spent six years getting a BSEET from Grantham.

Was promoted up to Engineering Manager, and relocated from LA to Dallas, but eventually left in 1993 to run the Base Station product Management group for Glenayre Electronics in Quincy IL.

During this time, got my MBA from Heriot-Watt University.

Got promoted up the ranks to division president, and relocated to Vancouver BC in 1997.

In 1999 took a job as VP & COO of Panasonic Wireless Design in Atlanta. (Cellphone product development)

Became President of the operation in January 2002. (A first for a Japanese company)

During the last few years have been working on my PhD, Organization & Management from Capella University (Information Technology Management). Expect to finish comps and begin dissertation with 30 days or so.

So-the message is this--it can be done. It takes a lot of work, but if life has put you on a suboptimal path, distance learning can help you get to where you want to go.

Jim Marion

 

Jim's story has a moral... it is not all about the school(s), it is about the person who is seeking the education and what he or she does with it.

I really enjoyed reading this!

Non scholae sed vitae discimus - We learn not for school, but for life (Seneca)...

John Craparo

 

Jim,

Thanks for your response. Your accomplishments are quite impressive, and reflect well on both you and your schools.

 

Jim,

Great story and excellent achievement with your undergraduate DETC accredited degrees. Good luck with your continuing doctoral studies at Capella.

John

 

I agree. I work in the semiconductor industry. One of the operators (junior technician) has a BSET from Devry. One of the process engineers hold the very same degree (however, I believe they started out as an engineering-tech and moved up). I myself, am a field service engineer (tech-rep) and hold an Associates from Excelsior and have several years experience in electronics. A coworker of mine has a BSME from RIT.

I think in some situations they look at who you are and what experience you have before even taking into account what degree you hold. It also depends on what kind of engineering job you are looking for. If you want to be electronics engineer at NASA, odds are you will need BSEE. If you want a maintenance engineering, industrial, technologist, operations, etc. then a BSET (with some experience) might suffice.

If you pursue a BSET with no prior experience, I guess you would have to settle for an engineering-tech or senior technician job before moving to an engineering position (I am guessing, it probably depends heavily on which field and what position you are looking at). If you can convince the person doing the hiring that you are a good match to an engineering position, you can probably have a BS in gameboy and get the job.

Best Regards,
Bill

 

Thanks

Good Morning, I really enjoyed reading this posting and hope the administrators consider posting it on the web page introduction. Great luck in your continued work and education. Hille