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Guide to the Best Online Engineering Degrees

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Engineering Degrees Guide discusses certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and PhDs in Engineering. Considered to be a very creative aspect of science, the field of engineering also includes math and evidence. Students that enter the engineering field will use creative applications of various scientific principles to develop and design structures, manufacturing processes, and more.

There is a broad range field under the umbrella of engineering, and each focuses on specific areas of math, different types of applications, and applied science. Engineers develop certain operating conditions within factories and other areas. They implement safety for others and property at the forefront, along with the economics of operating different machinery and equipment.

Online Certificate In Engineering

Is Engineering A Good Career?

Graduates with a degree in engineering will have a lot of different responsibilities, such as brainstorming different ideas to create solutions for various issues. They will work to develop plans for developing mechanical and structural devices. Engineering graduates will also analyze a variety of existing data to identify all the things they need to consider for each project they tackle.

Engineering is a good career for students who enjoy science and math. Engineers can earn very good salaries since their work has a major impact on the company they work for in a direct correlation with the company’s profitability. For students who want to positively impact the world or society around them, engineering can be a great field to consider. Many engineers have worked diligently to create essential breakthroughs in the world of technology, which significantly impact the quality of life for many people, locally and throughout the world.

For example, people in the engineering field are working towards alternate forms of energy to help prevent climate change. For students who enjoy producing tangible results, engineering is an excellent field for them to enter. Graduates will have diverse opportunities to choose from when they begin to enter the workforce. Some jobs require more hands-on, practical skills, while others focus more on analysis and digital tasks.

What Is A Certificate In Engineering Used For?

Many graduates with a degree in engineering will enter into a certificate program and there are literally hundreds to choose from. Certifications can assist graduates in gaining credibility and increasing their marketability when job hunting or applying for promotions. Certificate programs broaden the professional knowledge of the graduate which gives them an edge over their competition when interviewing for new job positions.

A certificate can also help a graduate secure a higher salary and will open doors for them in the future. Graduates can choose which types of certificates they want to earn and once they do, their certificates will show employers the areas in which they have the most knowledge and interest. A certificate program will help students develop a certain level of expertise in areas outside their degree in engineering.

The typical path for engineering graduates to pursue certifications is to first obtain their bachelor’s or master’s degrees and then work in the industry for a period of time. Engineering certifications require certain standards and ongoing research to meet organizations’ current needs in the overall field of professional engineering.

How Do You Get A Certificate In Engineering?

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or even a master’s degree in engineering can enter into a certificate in an engineering program that will help increase their knowledge and marketability. Certifying agencies will want students to train, then apply and take a test to earn certificates. Those agencies normally offer the training needed for a certificate program, but students can also receive it from an outside organization.

The certificates are governed by several issuing organizations, which are the ones that will set the standards, assess the applicants, and then award the certifications in a variety of specialized areas of the field of engineering. A certificate program allows graduates with a degree in engineering to achieve higher levels of knowledge to advance their careers and increase their viability in finding solutions for issues within the workplace or other areas.

For example, suppose there is an issue with a bridge and a graduate works for a municipality or county that is responsible for the bridge. In that case, they can specialize in a certain area of engineering. This will help them attain the knowledge and skills they need to find a solution to the issue with the bridge.

Online Associates In Engineering

Engineer technicial drawings and mechanical parts.

What Is An AA In Engineering?

An AA in engineering is an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering degree. It is a two-year technical degree offered through various colleges and technical schools throughout the United States. Many students who embark on an engineering program online can complete it in less than two years since they can work at their own pace and possibly finish their coursework sooner than expected.

Students in an engineering program working towards their associate degree can also embark on a hybrid program that includes both online and in-person classes. Engineering programs consist of an intense study of engineering technology, math, science, chemistry, physics, and computer science. Many students will have a variety of options to choose from, which can include engineering science, engineering technology, or pre-engineering.

These programs will form the basis for students who want to continue their education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering. A two-year associate degree will also help a graduate garner a position as an engineering technician. It will allow him or her to be eligible for various entry-level career opportunities.

Is It Hard To Get Into An Engineering Career?

Students interested in a career in engineering can choose from several different associates in engineering degree programs. They can obtain an associate of science degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering technology, petroleum engineering, engineering management technology, and even civil engineering.

This can help determine what types of jobs graduates want to pursue within the field of engineering. It is not difficult for a graduate to enter an engineering career. Engineering is one of the most in-demand and fastest-growing career opportunities in the United States job market, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To find the best position, graduates should take some time to research various career opportunities, then put together a career portfolio to help them out in their job search. Graduates should also create a fantastic resume and cover letter to go with it that will impress potential employers and show them that they are serious about obtaining a long-term position. Graduates can also opt to continue their education to earn their bachelor’s degree in engineering, making them even more marketable within this growing career field.

What Jobs Can You Get With An Associate Degree In Engineering?

Graduates with an associate degree in engineering can apply for a variety of jobs. Some include mechanical engineer jobs, such as test lab leaders and project mechanical engineer technicians. They can become engineer technicians within the design engineering field or even the biosource engineering area of this constantly growing field.

By obtaining an associate degree in engineering, graduates can enter the workforce as engineering technicians much sooner than someone pursuing a bachelor’s degree since it is only a two-year program versus a four-year bachelor’s degree program.

Graduates working as engineering technicians can learn all the ins and outs of engineering while already earning a salary and advancing in their careers. An associate degree also provides a basis upon which they can build to obtain their bachelor’s degree in engineering and become a full-fledged engineer.

Is An Associate’s Degree In Engineering Worth It?

For students who enjoy science and math, an associate’s degree in engineering is definitely worth it. Graduates can work as engineering technicians; a two-year degree is much more affordable than pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university. Also, students can earn their degree much quicker, which means they can enter the engineering field much sooner.

Students who pursue a two-year associate degree in engineering fully online or through hybrid classes, which combine both online and in-person coursework, can obtain an associate degree in less than two years. While graduates of an associate degree in engineering program will not earn as much money as graduates with a bachelor’s degree, they can still secure a very good salary as engineering technicians.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineering technicians earn a median annual wage of about $50,000 per year to nearly $68,000 per year depending on what area of engineering technology they enter into. A graduate with an associate degree in engineering can earn about $10,000 per year above the current median wage for all other workers who have earned an associate degree in other fields.

Online Bachelors In Engineering

How Do I Get A Bachelor’s In Engineering?

Considered to be a traditional degree in engineering, a bachelor of science degree in engineering will prepare students to work as computer scientists and professional engineers in various areas. Students will study various subjects, including mathematics, general engineering, and physical and life sciences.

They must fulfill general education requirements in the humanities or social sciences that are put in place by the college or university they choose to attend. Students can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Engineering program or a Bachelor of Engineering Technology program. The technology-based degree will still include applied sciences and mathematics but will emphasize the basic principles and applications of the technological side of engineering.

Students with this degree will have a variety of job opportunities also, including in the fields of practical design and even production work. Students will have extensive laboratory experience when they graduate also.

In today’s growing world of technology, many students may opt to enroll in an online bachelor’s degree in engineering program which has many advantages. This program is much more convenient and flexible for students who are working adults who want to earn their degree or build upon the current skills they already possess. Students can earn their degrees while still working full-time and honoring other commitments they have. This also means that students can work at their own pace and possibly graduate much sooner than the traditional four years it takes to obtain a bachelor’s degree by attending in-person classes.

Is A Bachelor’s In Engineering Worth It?

According to a recent survey of 1,350 engineers by Electronic Design, 90 percent said they recommend engineering as a career path for young people. Another survey by Machine Design found that 87 percent of the respondents to the survey are satisfied to extremely satisfied with their job.

A bachelor’s degree in engineering program combines advanced engineering topics with general topics. It focuses on the practical experience needed in the workforce. And engineering degree is very highly valued, so graduates have a wide range of career opportunities. They can work in various areas, such as structural engineering, aerospace, computer hardware, and even mechanical engineering.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an engineer is around $92,000 per year. Based on the above information, yes, a degree in engineering is well worth the effort for students interested in the field.

What Can I Do With A Bachelor’s In Engineering?

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering will have an array of different career opportunities throughout a variety of different industries when they graduate. Those areas include IT, finance, supply chain, aerospace, and biomedical. Some of the most popular jobs for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering include aerospace engineer and computer hardware engineering.

An aerospace engineer will be tasked with designing missiles, satellites, and spacecraft, making around $85,000 annually. A computer hardware engineer is in high demand and will help develop, research, design, and even test various components in computer systems. This type of position pays around $86,000 per year. More common positions include mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. Those jobs pay over $70,000 annually and are needed within various industries nationwide. Software and structural engineering are also very popular.

As a software engineer, the graduate will apply engineering principles to analyze and make changes to existing software while making around $88,000 per year. A structural engineer can work for cities, counties, and other government agencies and within the private sector to design things like buildings, bridges, and other structures. The average wage for a structural engineer is around $71,000 per year. There are a variety of other engineering positions that graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering will be eligible to apply for.

Is Engineering A Stressful Job?

According to people who already work in engineering, it can be very stressful, yet they enjoy it very much. Engineers are responsible for a variety of different tasks depending on what area of engineering they are hired to work in and some of those can be very stressful. For example, if a graduate gets a job as a mechanical engineer, the workflow at a company may directly depend on that person completing a large project quickly to keep things running smoothly.

A structural engineer can be tasked with designing a bridge that has to be safe as well as durable and cost-effective. These jobs can be very high-stress situations, but a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, will be prepared to take on the responsibilities of their positions.

Online Masters In Engineering

Is A Master’s In Engineering Hard?

When it comes to careers in the STEM areas of science, technology, engineering, and math, there are many job opportunities and with those, come higher pay than many other careers. A master’s degree in engineering has held a reputation for being a very challenging academic pursuit for many years. It is not as simple as just taking math and physics classes, which means the coursework can be very difficult, but the outcome is wonderful regarding entry-level positions and long-time careers.

For those who have worked in the engineering field for several years and already hold a bachelor’s degree in the field, the obvious next step is to embark on a couple of years of classes to earn a master’s degree in engineering. At the master’s degree level, engineering students can specialize in the area of engineering of their choice, which can include mechanical, electrical, software, biomedical, aerospace, computer hardware, and a variety of other areas of the very diverse and large engineering field.

The classes will be challenging, and a master’s degree program normally takes about two to four years to complete. The upside is that many master’s degrees in engineering programs are now available fully online. So students can work at their own pace and earn their degrees in less than two years.

Do I Need GRE For A Master’s In Engineering?

Students interested in heading back to school to earn their master’s degree in engineering may be interested to know if they will need to take any standardized test to gain entry into the program. One of the most common tests for students to take for admission into Graduate School is the GRE which stands for Graduate Record Exam.

Not all universities require this exam to enter master’s degree programs, but many do. It is a way for the university to be able to test the analytical writing, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and verbal skills of potential students for the program. It lets the Graduate School program admissions official know if the student has the skills needed to succeed in a master’s degree in engineering program. The GRE test will apply to the program’s management and engineering areas.

How Do I Prepare For A Master’s In Engineering?

There are many ways that students can prepare to embark on their path to earning a master’s degree in engineering. Most students will already have several years of experience working in the engineering field and all students will already hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering. To be more prepared to enter into a master’s degree in an engineering program, students should first set their graduate school and post-graduate school goals.

Students should also know and understand the requirements expected by the university of their choice regarding testing scores and grade point averages. They can explore various graduate engineering programs ahead of time so that they choose the one they are the most interested in and possibly already experienced in. Students should also find out the various research requirements that will be expected of them.

So, students should write a very thoughtful and riveting statement of purpose for the admission department at the university of their choice and provide a relevant resume. It also helps if students have several high-quality letters of recommendation.

What Field Of Engineering Pays The Most?

When it comes to the field of engineering, the average salaries are higher than the average salaries of many other professions. This is partly due to the fact that engineering jobs require an array of different technical skills in high demand as industries become increasingly reliant upon technology.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineering salaries are about 88,000 per year while mining and ecology engineers make more than $90,000 per year. The highest-paying position is engineering manager, which garners an annual salary of about $141,000.

Other high-paying positions within the field of engineering include environmental engineer with a salary of about $88,000 annually and biomedical engineer, which pays about $93,000 per year. A systems engineer can secure an annual salary of around $98,000, while an electrical engineer can earn more than $103,000. Chemical engineers are tasked with using science to produce compounds used in people’s everyday lives, such as food, fuel, and medications. This type of position pays more than $108,000 per year.

Online Doctorate In Engineering

What Is A Doctorate In Engineering?

A doctorate degree in the field of engineering is awarded to students who have completed advanced coursework, along with a practical project, in the field of engineering and applied science. This knowledge will be used to assist in solving problems within the industry of engineering. In the United States, this degree is considered a terminal professional doctorate equivalent to a Ph.D. in engineering.

It is, however, a little different because it has a more solid base of industrial concepts, and it is usually geared toward working professionals. This degree is the highest academic qualification that students can work towards within the field of engineering. Upon completing a doctorate in an engineering degree program, graduates will have several doors open. They can gain employment as a full-time university professor that will be on track to receive tenure. Graduates can also work as postdoctoral researchers within the field of engineering.

Graduates can use the academic title of doctor after completing this degree program, which includes submitting a very significant project. This is often referred to as a thesis or a praxis and will encompass practical methods as well as applied scientific methods and products to achieve the main goal of finding a solution to various complex industrial issues. Students will need to defend their work, possibly in front of a panel of experts referred to as a dissertation or thesis committee. Requirements for the program can vary from university to university, but students must learn the overall basic concepts and skills to receive a doctorate degree in engineering.

How Long Does A Doctorate In Engineering Take?

It can take students three to five years to complete the coursework to receive a doctorate in engineering. This degree will allow students to conduct research and create solutions that can be groundbreaking in the field of engineering. They will work towards finding solutions to problems in various areas, including environmental, technological, medical, and even the aerospace industry. The work of engineers across the United States and other countries directly impacts the lives of people throughout the world from all walks of life.

This degree program can be completed in less than three years if students enroll in a fully online program. An online program allows students to work at their own pace while still working full-time or raising a family. If they work ahead in their classes, they can actually complete the program in less than two years.

Is It Worth Getting A Doctorate In Engineering?

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, professionals who have earned a doctoral degree in engineering can secure a salary of 17 percent more than professionals in the field with master’s degrees and about 30 percent more than those who only hold a bachelor’s degree. That means that even though a doctoral degree in engineering will take a lot of time and money, it is well worth it in the end.

Graduates will enjoy professional advancements since companies are more likely to hire an engineer with a doctorate degree for a leadership position with the high pay range that goes along with it. Graduates also have more job security if they enter the field of academia. This means that a professor at a university with a doctoral degree in engineering will be in line for tenure since they hold a terminal degree in the field.

What Can You Do With A Ph.D. In Engineering?

Graduates with a doctorate or a Ph.D. degree in engineering have a high level of knowledge within their field of study. A career in engineering is very lucrative, with the average meeting salary being around $92,000 per year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor statistics. The Bureau also estimates that more than 41,000 new engineering jobs will be created between the years 2016 and 2026.

Graduates with a doctoral degree in engineering will be able to secure a variety of different positions, including that of a chemical engineer. According to Payscale.com, this position pays nearly $120,000 annually and includes bonuses and profit sharing. As aerospace engineers, graduates can garner a salary of around $114,000 each year. The job growth rate in this field is expected to be about six percent per year until 2026.

Graduates can choose to work in the field of engineering management also. This specialized field will require the graduate to have plenty of technical skills as well as strong organizational skills. Graduates can garner positions in smaller-scale projects as well as large-scale ones in a variety of different industries. Since this job is a very complex one, they can make a base pay of about $117,000 per year. A petroleum engineer can make nearly $130,000 per year and that area of engineering is expected to see a job growth rate of about 15 percent over the next decade.

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