Electrical Engineering Online Degree

[eddie90]

Hello I would GREATLY appreciate any help or guidance you can provide in this matter.

I am a 21 year old student currently enrolled at the California State University of Los Angeles and I am currently preparing myself to begin working on my Electrical and Computer Engineering BS. Only problem is that I am paying for school out of my own pocket at the moment and as you guys probably know it is not cheap right now. So I want to find alternatives to getting my degree for cheaper perhaps. I know many schools like ITT Tech offer what many people call "watered down" education so this is why I want to be careful about where I go if I do find an alternative.

Also, I know that finding a good quality, fully-online BS program might be hard so if you guys can instead, refer me to any place where I can get an Associates degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering I would also appreciate that.

The reason I mentioned the Associates is because I've been reading and learned that by getting an Associates I can start seeking employment as an Electrical Engineering Technician (or a similar title). I know this will provide me with working experience in the field and definitely provide me with a better income to have a more comfortable living style and help pay for by Bachelors. I AM working full time at the moment for a surveillance company but the money is not all that. So what do you guys think about this Associates degree idea(or backup plan) of mine??

I have beginners experience with programming microcontrollers, building simple robots/circuits etc and I am very good at learning on my own, well at least when it comes to this subject since it is of great interest to me.(Idk if this helps but I thought I'd share)
Anyway ANY help would be very appreciate it since I've been trying to figure this out like crazy, I will continue to do research and see what I come up with as well.

P.S. Sorry for the long post

 

[sweetpotato]

I doubt there are Associate's degrees in "Electrical and Computer Engineering" as "Engineering" usually implies a 4 year degree. What you may be looking for is an Electrical Engineering Technology program, or something of that sort. You'll probably want one that's ABET accredited. I suggest you go here:

http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

and look at the list of colleges with accredited programs in your preferred field.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of introductory engineering and science classes have a laboratory component (for example, Chemistry, Physics, Circuits, and Electronics often have labs). So by doing a degree entirely online you may be missing out on important skills.

 

[eddie90]

I doubt there are Associate's degrees in "Electrical and Computer Engineering" as "Engineering" usually implies a 4 year degree. What you may be looking for is an Electrical Engineering Technology program, or something of that sort. You'll probably want one that's ABET accredited. I suggest you go here:

http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx

and look at the list of colleges with accredited programs in your preferred field.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of introductory engineering and science classes have a laboratory component (for example, Chemistry, Physics, Circuits, and Electronics often have labs). So by doing a degree entirely online you may be missing out on important skills.

Thank you for the reply. You're right, what I meant to say was Electrical Engineering Technology. Thanks for the link I am currently looking through the results I got there and there is nothing in california for a 2 year Associate's program. Anyway I thought about what you said and yes I agree that hands on labs are very essential in this field so I might just though it out for now and stay at CSULA.

Thank you for you're help. I will keep looking around at community colleges too, I think I should be able to find at least a few EE classes that are transferable right?

 

[sweetpotato]

Usually community college classes like calculus, physics, and chemistry transfer to 4 year schools. For more "engineering" type classes, like say if a community college offered a Circuits class, I would double-check that it transfers to a 4 year college. Many community colleges have programs where a student studies there for 2 years then transfers to a 4 year school, and will have lists of classes that will transfer over. For example, you should take the chemistry class intended for students who plan to transfer to an engineering program, not "Chemistry for Food Sciences" or something of that sort. Similarly if a community college offered a circuits or electronics class, I would check that it is intended for students who want to be engineers, not, say, electronics technicians or electricians, as those might not transfer to a 4 year school.

 

[eddie90]

Usually community college classes like calculus, physics, and chemistry transfer to 4 year schools. For more "engineering" type classes, like say if a community college offered a Circuits class, I would double-check that it transfers to a 4 year college. Many community colleges have programs where a student studies there for 2 years then transfers to a 4 year school, and will have lists of classes that will transfer over. For example, you should take the chemistry class intended for students who plan to transfer to an engineering program, not "Chemistry for Food Sciences" or something of that sort. Similarly if a community college offered a circuits or electronics class, I would check that it is intended for students who want to be engineers, not, say, electronics technicians or electricians, as those might not transfer to a 4 year school.

Got it, yea I'm looking at different community colleges in my area right now actually and I found a couple that have transferable physics and calculus classes. I verified this on assist.org
I even found this at Los Angeles City College, they offer a set of classes specifically for students planning on majoring on Electrical and Computer Eng:
http://www.lacitycollege.edu/academic/departments/physics/fc_eece.html

Ok well I think I can take it from here thanks a lot again, its good to know I have options

 

[JazzFusion]

I am aware of a few state universities that offer accredited online engineering degree or degree completion programs. The degree completion programs assume you have completed your Associates (thus, have taken all your undergraduate introductory lab courses) and allow you to finish the remainder of your courses online. Some have the entire program online, except for on-campus required labs.

See for instance:
http://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/departments/technological_studies/undergraduate/applied_engineering/delivery_options/, MN "2 + 2" program in applied engineering - if you have completed a two-year degree and are working, you can finish your degree in Applied engineering online.

Univ of North Dakota 6-yr ABET accredited programs in Chem En, EE, Mech E, and Civil E

http://bamabydistance.ua.edu//degrees/bs-in-mechanical-engineering-blended/ BSME online program allows courses to be transferred in from other two and four-year courses, with the ability to complete the degree online, with only three courses that have an on-campus lab requirement

 

[chendon]

I am planning to attend the University of North Dakota starting in Spring of next year. Does anyone have experience with this university and its curriculum?

I understand that there are lab requirements that must be met in person on campus, but what is the overall education like?