E-Learning: Engineering Degree Online - Advice Welcome!

[allenewood]

Hello, I'm new to these forums. I'm interested in working towards a degree in aerospace engineering. The problem is I am stationed on a very isolated island for the navy for a while. My question is do any of you have experience in taking courses towards an engineering degree online? What college did you go through or would you recommend?

My plan is to take as many classes online that will go towards an aerospace engineering degree, and transfer to a four year university once I get out.

Thanks

 

[allenewood]

I am leaning towards Central Texas University. They seem to have a good program for military personnel. With them I'll be able to get math out of the way up until calculus III. That, and they teach russian. How awesome is that!

 

[Astronuc]

See what Texas A&M (College Station) has to offer.

 

[allenewood]

Looks like they have a great aerospace program, but for campus only. They do an online masters engineering degree plan though. Interesting

 

[allenewood]

There are no engineering degree plans online. I guess the only route is a general studies associates degree and use the electives to take russian, math, physics, etc. However, I am not sure how this degree would add into a bachelors of aerospace engineering.

 

[chingkui]

My experience for online engineering courses is limited to graduate courses. Not sure if you could find a decent undergraduate program. Maybe this link will help though:
http://www.usnews.com/directories/online-education/

 

[allenewood]

I was able to find two colleges that offer online mechanical engineering degrees. I know it's early to even think about a masters degree in anything but it might be best to get a bachelors in mechanical engineering and a masters in aerospace engineering since aerospace is not offered online.

Which programs would apply more towards aerospace engineering? One is electromechanical and one is just mechanical.

Old Dominion - curriculum - http://dl.odu.edu/database.php?todo=program&id=22
-program information: http://dl.odu.edu/military/navycollege/bset.shtml

University of North Dakota - curriculum - http://distance.und.edu/degree/requirements/MechanicalEngineering.pdf
-program information - http://distance.und.edu/degree/?id=mechengbs

I'm also considering an AA in General Studies at Central Texas University with electives aimed towards math, science, and russian (my minor). http://www.ctcd.edu/navy/C-2_CTC.pdf (page 16)

Which would be best? I will only be restricted to online education for 2.5 years. Would it be best to try and finish a general associates by then? or to work towards a mechanical engineering degree and then transfer to a local university prior to completion when I am released from the navy? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just trying to get the best of advice from those who're most knowledgeable. That, and there's no navy college office here :P.

 

[Cod]

From the two mechanical engineering programs you're looking at, I'd go with the UND program. The program from ODU is an engineering technology program while the UND program is full-bore mechnical engineering with an ABET accreditation.

What part of aerospace engineering interest you? If its the structural side of things, then mechanical is the way to go. If you're interested in the electronics, UND also offers a BS in Electrical Engineering. Last, if you're interest are avionics, then I'd say go for a degree in computer science / software engineering.

I'm hoping to earn a masters degree in aerospace engineering (or applied mathematics) after finish up my bachelor's. Right now, I'm interested in avionics and sensor packages; therefore, I'm trying to earn my undergrad in computer science.

On a side note, are you currently part of the US Navy?

 

[allenewood]

Thanks for the advice. I've been researching for hours and hours today trying to find the right college so I can get registered in time for winter quarter. I am more interested in the structural side of things, but I am an electronics technician in the navy. That would bring applicable experience to my resume, and I would give myself an upperhand in college if I did EE instead of mechanical.

I am from Washington so my hope is to get a job at Boeing. What I believe I am going to do is attend Pierce College located in WA to get an AA in General Studies. Reason being is a) they are local. b) tuition assistance won't cover ODU or UND fully c) pierce has an engineering transfer program and I would like to transfer to UW to receive a BS in EE once I get back to the states.

So that does it...research done. Final decision is:

1) AA General Studies distance learning at Pierce College
2) Complete Electrical Engineering transfer program at Pierce
3) Earn a BS in EE at UW and a minor in Russian
4) Earn a MS in AE at UW

And good luck with your CS degree!

 

[Cod]

I understand what you're going through because I'm in the Air Force and its hard to find schools which TA will pay for. With that said, tuition assistance completely covers tuition and fees at NDU If you take a look at UND's Veterans Service website, it states that all active duty military pays in-state tuition rates ($239 per credit hour). TA pays up to $250 per credit hour.

Good luck with your endeavors as well! It took me forever to find a school since deployment rotations are insane right now and I can't get enough time to take a class in the classroom.

 

[allenewood]

Almost a year later and I'm just about done with this tour. Turns out the Navy would not provide me TA while out here. So, I will begin class 1st quarter next year in EE.