Engineering Distance LearningThe world of technology is inextricably linked to engineering and vice versa. Technology is constantly and exponentially improving, but it can only do so through the efforts of engineers. The field of engineering is in continuous evolution. Individuals who currently hold jobs in the field but would like to earn a higher degree in order to advance professionally might be reluctant to step away from that dynamic world to attend college. After all, not all learning takes place in the classroom, and as quickly as the engineering work world transforms itself, leaving for a period of a year or more could put those folks at a disadvantage.
Remaining at an engineering job while earning a higher degree can be the best of both worlds, because you’re not only earning while learning at school, you’re also learning on the job. And that’s not the only reason to remain on the job while earning a degree. Consider that when other students graduate, they must still find a job in the field. For anyone who already has an engineering position, distance learning offers the perfect opportunity to get ahead at your own pace without risking job security. Anyone pursuing certification or a college degree should understand how important it is to consider only schools that have been accredited by a recognized authority. Because accreditation is voluntary, there are a lot of schools out there that don’t bother with it. Those schools should be at the bottom on your list for two big reasons. First, without legitimate accreditation, any piece of paper you are awarded is pretty meaningless in the real world. The reality is that although accreditation is voluntary, it’s still extremely important. The second reason stems from the first. Any school, which by definition is in the business of imparting knowledge, should want to do the very best job it can. Going through the accreditation process is one way a school knows it’s on track. The agency, group, or organization that evaluates course materials, teachers, and everything else that goes into a program is independent; they have nothing personally invested in whether or not a school achieves their stamp of approval. It should be obvious, then, that a school that doesn’t want to undergo the lengthy, rigorous process of being evaluated probably doesn’t want outsiders looking too carefully and judging them. However, that doesn’t mean all distance learning engineering programs that claims they have been accredited are necessarily any better. Unfortunately, there are a good many fraudulent accreditation groups willing to sell their stamp of approval without taking a very close look. In some cases, the school itself has created its own accrediting agency in such a way that it isn’t easy for the average person to recognize it. The safest route is to consider only distance learning engineering programs that have been reviewed and approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. This board has been the most widely recognized accreditation group in the field of engineering for over 70 years. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is so widely respected that in order to be granted a state-required engineering license prior to beginning to work, nearly every state lists graduating from schools that are recognized by the board as one of their requirements. To check if your state has this requirement, you can visit the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying official website and review your state’s requirements. One more thing to keep in mind regarding exploring only accredited programs is that government loans and scholarships are not offered to students in programs that aren’t accredited, nor those that are accredited through an unrecognized agency. If getting a low interest loan or free money through a scholarship sounds good, don’t waste time considering schools that lack the necessary accreditation. Distance learning programs often have at least one thing that makes them distinct from strictly online programs. Distance learning programs are designed to offer students ways to meet some or even most of their requirements online or through other media. Depending upon the school and the area of study, some of these programs also have a component that cannot be fulfilled from a distance. Engineering, of course, requires a certain amount of lab work that can’t realistically be taught or supervised at a distance. The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying doesn’t accredit programs that lack the requirement of on-campus labs. This means that even people who are interested in earning a distance learning degree or certification need to determine how much time they will have to dedicate to being on campus. For example, a college or university with a strong engineering program that offers students the opportunity to specialize in civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or aerospace engineering might offer some or all of its classes through a distance learning model. This particular school might permit students to work entirely at their own paces, turning in assignments as they complete them. In many cases, though, there will be some deadline expectations since each new learning piece is likely to build on something that came before it. In other cases, the deadlines might be a little stricter, especially if the instructor also teaches face-to-face classes. In order to keep things organized, these teachers often assign papers or examinations to be due when they are due in traditional classes. Another alternative is that the instructor might require distance learners to take exams on campus, along with classroom learners. Because most schools offering distance learning courses understand their students may have work or family conflicts, in many cases schools that have a class-testing policy might allow a student to sit for an exam with a proctor within a one or two day window of the scheduled test. |
Fortunately, there’s no longer a need to leave a position at work in order to return to school. Distance learning options abound from a wealth of schools with excellent engineering programs. It makes sense. After all, since distance learning is so dependent upon technology, and technology is so dependent upon engineers, this type of program was one of the first to explore the options that distance learning offered.