Several decades ago, the idea of taking courses and completing a degree through a computer was practically a work of science fiction. But with the onset of the internet, improvements in technology and higher levels of computer literacy among the population of the U.S., online degree programs are becoming increasingly popular across the nation. In line with this trend, many colleges and other academic institutions have adopted strategies to provide remote learning opportunities for students who either cannot attend classes at a physical location, or simply prefer the convenience of the online model.
As an engineer, a master’s degree can help to further your career by opening opportunities for promotions and specialized positions in areas of the field in which you are most interested. Whether you have recently completed your bachelor’s in engineering or are a working professional with years of experience in the field considering the next step in your career, enrolling in an online master’s of engineering degree will allow you to further your education while simultaneously advancing your professional career by having the option to continue working full or part-time.
The growing popularity of online learning
A major factor in the increasing popularity of online learning is simply that with the technological advancements of the last two decades, it is becoming easier than ever to complete a degree online. As technology progresses, options for remote learning improve and their reach is expanded. Greater access to reliable WiFi and affordable personal computers have made remote learning not only possible, but an extremely appealing option for thousands of students of all ages and backgrounds across the nation. While this form of education was at one time marketed largely toward older learners going back to school, age is no longer a major determinant of who chooses to pursue a degree online, as an increasing number of students under the age of 25 are opting to learn remotely, according to a 2015 study by Learning House and Aslanian Market Research. In 2012 only a quarter of online learners were under the age of 25. As of 2015, that number had increased to 35 percent.
The variety of degrees that are offered and enrolled in is also expanding in the U.S. Students can enroll in programs as diverse as political science, business, counseling and criminal justice, to name only a few, all from the convenience of their own computer. Today, you can enroll in almost any program online that you would have traditionally taken at a physical location. Even many degrees such as nursing, that require hands-on clinical components, can now be completed online. These students will often be instructed in how to partner with a local organization to gain the necessary in-person experience.
In addition to the draw of the convenience offered by online degree programs, students report that the quality of the coursework does not suffer in remote learning. In the study by Learning House and Aslanian Market Research, only 10 percent of online students said that their online instruction was not as good as instruction they had received in person. And with advanced remote communication technology, such as teleconference calls, students are able to connect with their instructors and classmates easier than ever before.
Engineering and online degree programs
This growth in online education opportunities has not excluded engineering. Far from it, in fact. According to the report by Learning House and Aslanian Market Research, engineering tied with sociology as the fifth most popular major among online learners who were surveyed. The more specialized major of computer science and engineering was even more popular, coming in as the third most common choice.
While many students prefer to pursue a bachelor’s degree in person, building on that foundation with an online master’s is an appealing alternative to uprooting your life in the midst of your career to go back to school at a physical location. On top of the hands-on experience that you have already established working in the field, the online degree is an opportunity to dig deeper into a specialized facet of engineering or a related field, such as material science, nanotechnology or data science.
Students are not the only ones who are warming in growing numbers to the educational option of online learning. Employers are also increasingly acknowledging the value of an online engineering degree, according to an article by U.S. News and World Report editor Jordan Friedman. Accreditation and the institution’s reputation appear to matter more than the method by which students completed the courses, especially if the candidate completed a bachelor’s degree while physically attending a university.
In an interview with the publication, Dani McDonald, vice president of national engineering recruitment at Kelly Services, an employment agency, confirmed that employers are increasingly recognizing online programs as a valid way to complete a degree. “The degree at the end of the day is really just a credibility statement,” she said. “They’re looking for your experience and what you’ve contributed and what you will contribute to their organization… They don’t necessarily dig into whether or not that was completed traditionally or via an online or distance learning program.”
When you have already completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering, employers know that you have a solid academic and professional foundation. An online master’s degree is your opportunity to show hiring professionals that you have in-depth knowledge of a particular area of expertise. The knowledge that you gained is more important than the manner in which you obtained the information.
The benefits of your online engineering degree
When you enroll in an online engineering degree program, you are not simply furthering your education. You are making an important investment in your career. A master’s degree will open up new opportunities for you in the workplace, and make you more competitive when it comes to promotions within your organization. It will also set you apart if you decide to apply to work with a new company. When an employer looks at that stack of resumes, the higher degree on yours will help make you stand out as an applicant. It is a clear signal to employers that you not only have the knowledge and expertise to take on an important role within their organization, but that you are also committed to pursuing excellence in your field.
In addition to opening opportunities for new positions, an engineering master’s degree can have a positive impact on your financial earnings at work. According to a 2015 report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average starting salary for a chemical engineering major at the bachelor’s level was $67,184, but increased to $72,362 at the master’s level. Similarly, electrical engineering’s average salary increased from $64,081 to $71,747 and mechanical engineering from $63,501 to $70,161. Your higher degree is a symbol of your advanced knowledge and abilities in the field of engineering, and it will help to ensure that you are recognized and compensated fairly for that expertise.
While any master’s degree has the potential to help jumpstart your career, choosing an online program can be particularly strategic for advancing in your profession. By pursuing your degree online, you do not need to deal with a costly and time consuming move that might require you to quit your current position. You are able to further your education from the place of your choosing, whether that is at a location which is close to family or within easy commuting distance of your current job.
When you learn remotely, you also have greater flexibility as to the time that you complete your coursework. In a traditional degree program, you are limited to taking classes at the times that the instructors offer the courses in person on campus. If you work during the day, it may be hard to complete all the courses that you need around your work schedule. But when you pursue your master’s in engineering online, you can tailor your coursework around your existing professional obligations, continuing to advance your career in the workplace and earn wages while simultaneously earning a degree. In addition to avoiding the challenge of taking a gap year to complete your degree, your ability to work while pursuing your education demonstrates to hiring managers that you are able to handle multiple projects at once, a skill that is valuable in the field of engineering.
Online engineering at UC Riverside
Interested in pursuing a master’s in engineering online? Consider enrolling in the University of California Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering. In the online program, you will take courses conducted by world-class instructors and interact with classmates who are passionate about engineering and also learning remotely.
Through the UCR online engineering program, you can choose to pursue your master’s with a specialization in one of six specialized programs:
- Bioengineering
- Data science
- Electrical engineering – power systems
- Environmental engineering systems (water)
- Materials at the nanoscale
- Mechanical engineering
Contact admissions today to be a part of one of the country’s fastest growing and highly ranked colleges of engineering.
Sources:
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2015/07/17/younger-students-increasingly-drawn-to-online-learning-study-finds
http://www.learninghouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OnlineCollegeStudents2015.pdf
http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2016-04-26/what-employers-think-of-your-online-masters-in-engineering
http://www.msol.ucr.edu/ https://www.asme.org/career-education/articles/early-career-engineers/engineering-salaries-on-the-rise