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Dr. Daniel Ratner is the associate dean for academics and a professor of bioengineering for the College of Engineering at the University of Washington. He completed his undergraduate studies in the liberal arts at Pomona College, earned his PhD at MIT, and did postdoctoral training in Infectious Diseases at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Ratner is a biomedical researcher by trade and has spent the last seven years in academic administration, initially as the associate vice provost for enrollment management and now as the associate dean for academics. His primary work involves supporting 9,000 students in the College of Engineering, particularly focusing on first-year students and major discernment.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: What do you believe prospective students should consider when choosing between different types of engineering degree programs (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, certificates)?
Dr. Ratner: Beyond choosing what degree to pursue, students should focus on the impact they want to create and the types of problems that motivate them to be part of the solution. If you stay centered on the impact you aim to have and what inspires you to contribute to the solution, you’ll see that engineering disciplines naturally align with that purpose.
There’s no exclusive link between a specific impact area and a particular discipline. The world we live in today, and the types of problems we aim to solve, demand teamwork. They require interdisciplinary approaches. They also require communication skills that enable them to collaborate with diverse and broad teams to address these more complex challenges.
Engineering is incredibly versatile. While there is a specific discipline involved, there’s also a lot of flexibility. You’re equipped with a set of skills that allow you to pivot and explore different directions.
Not everyone will leave college or grad school with a very specialized technical skill set that can be easily applied to new areas. An example I often give is of the former head of the 787 program, who is now leading the 777 program at Boeing. He graduated in 1982 with a degree in civil engineering and initially worked on building bridges. Now he’s designing some of the most common airliners in the world. Think of a 15-story building on its side being supported in the middle—that’s a plane. So, he lost interest in bridges but is essentially building bridges in the sky. That’s the kind of flexibility we encourage.
OnlineEngineeringPrograms.com: How are engineering programs evolving to meet the needs of today’s students and the demands of the modern workforce?
Dr. Ratner: We now run a four-year undergraduate program where we admit students as first years. We engage with them initially, focusing on major discernment, and help them decide which majors to pursue.
Additionally, we’ve launched a dozen new stackable master’s certificate programs. We aim to facilitate the changes people want to be part of, emphasizing the skills you need. You don’t have to love every class to see how it equips you to address real-world problems.
Aerospace engineering covers both aeronautical (aircraft) and astronautical (spacecraft) endeavors, paying attention to the complex interplay of temperature, pressure, structural loads, and other considerations, allowing machines to take flight.
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering provides an online master of science in aerospace engineering (MSAE) in six subspecialties: aerodynamics or fluid dynamics, aerospace control, aerospace design, aerospace structures, computational fluid dynamics, and propulsion.
Some of the courses across the varied subspecialties include partial differential equations for engineering applications, compressible gas dynamics, flight vehicle stability and control, elements of vehicle and energy systems design, aircraft structures analysis, introduction to computational fluid mechanics, and liquid rocket propulsion, among others.
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign also offers an online master of science degree in aerospace systems engineering through its Aerospace Engineering Department, which is organized into three major sectors, including aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, combustion & propulsion (AFMCP), astrodynamics, controls & dynamical systems (ACDS), and structural mechanics & materials (SMM).
Courses in this 32-credit program include partial differential equations for engineering applications, compressible gas dynamics, flight vehicle stability and control, elements of vehicle and energy systems design, aircraft structures analysis, introduction to computational fluid mechanics, and liquid rocket propulsion, among others.
Automotive engineering is a cross-disciplinary field combining electrical, mechanical, software, and safety engineering knowledge to create vehicles. It covers all aspects of the process, including the design, testing, and production of automobile systems.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor offers an online master’s degree (MEng) in global automotive & manufacturing engineering with instruction in integrated vehicle systems design, global engineering leadership, model-based systems & design, automotive powertrain and electrification systems design, vehicle human-centered design & architecture, vehicle structure & materials, vehicle electrical & software, and vehicle dynamics & controls.
University of Michigan, Dearborn
The University of Michigan, Dearborn offers a 30-credit master’s degree in automotive systems engineering through its innovative online distance learning program. Several courses in this program are specifically designed to cover emerging and new technologies in the automotive industry. Graduates will not only learn about advanced technologies but also how to apply them practically for creative design and problem-solving.
Classes include automotive manufacturing processes, automotive systems modeling, vehicle electronics, automotive powertrains, material selection in automotive design, internal combustion engines, energy storage systems, vehicle package engineering, automotive air conditioning systems, and lightweight automotive alloys.
Notably, this program is available in four distinct concentrations: electrical & computer, industrial & manufacturing, mechanical engineering, and automotive materials.
Lastly, to learn about the future of this engineering field from interviews with the experts, please visit OEP’s exclusive piece on Automotive Cybersecurity.
Biomedical engineering sits at the intersection of engineering and medicine, using research and development cycles to create prostheses, diagnostic and therapeutic tools, implants, equipment, pharmaceuticals, and other healthcare tools.
Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, MD provides an online master of science (MS) in applied biomedical engineering where students choose between five major foci: Biomechanics, imaging, translational tissue engineering, medical devices, and neuroengineering.
Courses include physiology for applied biomedical engineering, principles of medical instrumentation & devices, regulation of medical devices, medical image processing, and biomaterials, among others.
Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, offers a 30-credit online master’s (ME) in biomedical engineering. Uniquely positioned to offer educational strengths in the sciences, animal and human medicine, and engineering, this online program helps students gain a solid foundation in biomedical engineering in a flexible online format designed for working professionals.
The program features courses such as quantitative systems physiology, materials engineering, material issues in mechanical design, structure & function of biomaterials, cell & tissue engineering, and digital signal processing, among others.
Chemical engineering involves the production, transportation, creation, storage, and use of chemicals, especially those used in materials and energy.
The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks provides an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in chemical engineering. This 130-credit program can take up to five years or more to complete and requires periodic travel to campus for in-person lab sessions.
Distance-based courses include the fundamentals of chemistry, calculus, chemical engineering fundamentals, chemical engineering reactor design, elementary differential equations, unit operations in chemical engineering, and engineering statistics and design of experiments.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University of Raleigh offers an online master of science (MS) in chemical engineering which can be completed in three to five years. Classes include thermodynamics, transport phenomena, advances in pollution prevention, polymer science & technology, colloid science & nanoscale engineering, and chemical reaction engineering, among others.
Civil engineering involves designing, building, and maintaining structures in society, such as bridges, buildings, and roads.
The University of North Dakota of Grand Forks offers an online bachelor of science in civil engineering, comprising recorded lectures and sporadic campus visits for laboratory intensive sessions.
This ABET-accredited program includes 128 units of instruction in areas such as graphical communication, introduction to civil engineering, computer applications in engineering, general surveying, mechanics of materials, elementary differential equations, and fluid mechanics.
The University of Washington in Seattle offers an online master of science (MS) in civil engineering with a construction engineering concentration. This 42-credit program features coursework in design and construction law, cost analysis and measurement, construction procurement systems, heavy construction estimating, energy infrastructure and the environment, construction materials, and computer-aided construction.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering studies how environmental factors impact humans and vice versa. It covers areas like public health, water management, pollution control, and law, promoting a healthy relationship between people and their environment.
Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore offers a distance-based master’s degree in environmental engineering, teaching the latest technologies to promote effective solutions to the complex challenges that threaten the environment through waste and pollution in the water, soil, and air.
The curriculum includes instruction in the principles of water and wastewater treatment, environmental biotechnology, environmental contaminant dispersion and transport, air quality control technologies, and hazardous waste engineering and management.
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton, offers an online MS in environmental engineering, which provides students with technical knowledge and practical information on contemporary environmental issues and topics such as water reclamation and reuse, potable water treatment, solid and hazardous waste management, global warming issues, landfill design, wastewater treatment and disposal, and air pollution control engineering.
The curriculum includes courses such as the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment, hydraulics and hydrology for environmental engineers, solid waste management, system design, and sustainability, remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, wastewater treatment and water reclamation, surface water pollution and control, air pollution control engineering, and a graduate project.
Water Systems Engineering
Water systems engineering focuses on the movement of fluids, mainly water and sewage. Also called hydraulic engineering, this subfield uses fluid mechanics theories to address issues with dams, culverts, canals, levees, and other water infrastructure.
Villanova University of Pennsylvania offers an online MS in water resources and environmental engineering (MSWREE). Classes in this 30-credit program include hazardous waste management, microbiology for environmental engineers, principles of sustainable development, surface water hydrology, introduction to hydraulic engineering, lake, stream & wetland ecology, water resource planning & management, and river mechanics & engineering.
The University of Illinois based in Urbana provides an online MS in civil engineering with a concentration in water resources engineering and science. Students take 36 credits of coursework in areas such as environmental systems, surface water hydrology, environmental fluid mechanics, groundwater, fate & cleanup of environmental pollutants, air quality modeling, and atmospheric chemistry.
Another concentration related to water resources in this online civil engineering program is energy-water-environment sustainability. This concentration focuses on supporting and providing sustainable solutions for the production, exploration, delivery, and use of energy, and their intersection with water and the natural and built environment.
Computer engineering involves testing and developing software and hardware, including microprocessors, computers, circuit boards, operating systems, and analog sensors, among other components.
Iowa State University of Ames offers an online master’s degree in computer engineering. This is a course-based program primarily for online students. Applicants to this program must have a four-year bachelor’s degree, official academic transcripts, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and proof of English proficiency.
Courses include distributed systems & middleware, computer networking & data communications, advanced protocols & network security, information warfare, cryptography, legal & ethical issues in information assurance, and more.
Colorado State University of Fort Collins provides two computer engineering options: a 30-credit master of engineering program with a computer engineering specialization and a 27-credit master of science program in computer engineering. Both are coursework-only degrees focusing on the fundamentals of innovation, from artificial intelligence to big data to robotics.
Classes include digital control and digital filters, computer organization and architecture, introduction to robot programming, computer networks, digital signal processing, network-centric systems, embedded systems and machine learning, dynamics of complex engineering systems, silicon photonics for computing systems, and computer architecture, among others.
Computer Science
Computer science (CS) is central to computing, encompassing the theory and design of algorithms for storing, processing, and representing information.
Regis University in Denver, CO, has an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in computer science that educates students in the theory, abstraction, and design of computer systems and software applications. This degree prepares students for employment in several computing careers, such as programmers, software architects, and software engineers, and for further Graduate School work.
Made up of 117 to 121 credits, the program includes courses such as data structures, algorithms and analysis, computer organization and architecture, software engineering, introduction to artificial intelligence, distributed systems, computer systems security, machine learning, and data networks.
Colorado State University of Fort Collins, CO provides an online master of computer science program with coursework in object-oriented design, computer networks & the internet, introduction to artificial intelligence, parallel programming, machine learning, database management systems, fault-tolerant computing, software product and process evaluation, foundations of fine-grain parallelism, and distributed systems.
Data Science
Data science involves analyzing complex phenomena by systematically processing large amounts of data. It originates from diverse fields such as statistics, computer science, visualization, and machine learning, among others.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University, based in Manchester, offers an online BS in data analytics, a field related to data science. The program also has a concentration in project management for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Courses in this data analytics bachelor’s degree include applied statistics for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, introduction to structured database environments, the role of data analysis in organizations, gathering requirements and collecting data, data policy and decision making, emerging technologies and big data, data analysis techniques, and leveraging data analysis for organizational results.
Southern Methodist University offers an online master of science program in data science with specialization options in machine learning and business analytics. This program requires 33.5 credits of coursework.
Courses include statistical foundations for data science, doing data science, applied statistics: inference and modeling, file organization and database management, machine learning, visualization of information, quantifying the world, cloud computing, machine learning, statistical sampling, and data and network security.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is the protection of computers and networked systems from data theft, destruction, corruption, and other problems. It includes not only detecting breaches but also strengthening existing systems that are vulnerable.
Excelsior College of Albany, NY, offers an online bachelor of science (BS) program in cybersecurity with two subspecialties: general and cyber operations. This fully online program allows students to enhance their technical skills and knowledge in cybersecurity.
Students take courses such as fundamentals of programming, introduction to cybersecurity, cloud computing and virtualization, cybersecurity defense in depth, security-focused risk management, cyber attacks and defense, computer operations and operating systems, computer forensics, network and application security, and secure software development.
Norfolk State University of Virginia provides an online master of science (MS) in cybersecurity, empowering graduates from multidisciplinary fields with the skills and knowledge to realize their full potential as next-generation organizational and technical leaders in the ongoing war against cyber terrorism and cyber crime.
This 36-credit program features instruction in computer security, the management of information security, computer & network forensics, human aspects of cybersecurity, healthcare information security, and ethical hacking & penetration testing, among other subjects.
Software Engineering
Software engineering is the development, design, evaluation, and maintenance of computer software and systems.
Arizona State University (ASU) has an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in software engineering. This program includes coursework in computer systems fundamentals, design & analysis of data structures & algorithms, computer organization & assembly language programming, software enterprise: design and process, object-oriented programming and data structures, principles of distributed software systems, principles of database management, and operating systems and system programming.
The Penn State World Campus offers an online master’s of software engineering. Students in this program learn cutting-edge approaches to creating, maintaining, and improving software systems.
This 36-credit program features classes such as requirements engineering, software system design, software systems architecture, software construction, web security & privacy, software project management, software testing, mobile computing and applications, and software engineering studio.
Electrical engineering deals with electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It embraces many subfields such as control systems, telecommunications, instrumentation, signal processing, microwave engineering, and digital computing.
Excelsior College of Albany, NY has an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in electrical engineering technology with two distinct tracks: electronics and power systems. The program is made up of 124 credits. Notably, students in this program must complete at least eight laboratories: four labs from the core area, one physics lab in the natural sciences or mathematics area, and three labs in the area of concentration.
The curriculum includes courses such as circuit theory, electronics, digital electronics, microprocessors, computer programming, electronic communications, control systems, advanced digital electronics, programmable logic controllers, and power electronics.
Arizona State University (ASU) boasts campuses throughout the state and provides an ABET-accredited online BS in electrical engineering. This online degree starts with fundamental courses on advanced math, the engineering design process, and science. Students take specialty courses covering microprocessors, electromagnetic fields, hardware design, solid-state electronics, photovoltaic cells, circuits, energy systems, and more. As part of this program, students will also have the option to pursue a concentration in electric power and energy systems.
This 120-credit curriculum includes courses such as introduction to engineering, digital design fundamentals, circuits, signals and systems, computer organization and assembly language programming, fundamentals of electromagnetics, random signal analysis, and senior design laboratory.
University of Arkansas Grantham
The University of Arkansas Grantham also has an ABET-accredited BS in electronics engineering technology. Students in this program gain hands-on experience that applies to real-world scenarios in the field through simulation software and practice using hardware such as sensors, microcontrollers, controllers, motors, and oscilloscopes.
Made up of 120 credits, the program includes courses such as programming essentials, digital electronics, analog integrated circuits, circuit analysis, technical project management, security trends and legal issues, fundamental properties of AC circuits, fundamental properties of DC circuits, and microprocessor systems engineering.
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Electrical and computer engineering (ECE) focuses on the design, testing, and operation of machines that incorporate computers. These technologies include robotics, motors, lasers, medical equipment, vehicles, consumer devices, power systems, etc.
The University of Arizona based in Tucson provides a distance-based master’s of science (MS) in electrical and computer engineering, which includes 30 units of instruction with the opportunity to specialize in areas such as digital signal processing, high-performance computing, wireless communications, or software engineering and artificial intelligence.
The curriculum includes courses such as advanced linear systems theory, machine learning and data analytics, radar signal processing, digital signal processing, semiconductor processing, quantum communications and quantum networks, fundamentals of information and network security, fundamentals of computer networks, and advanced topics in electrical engineering.
The University of Delaware of Newark has an online master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. The program comprises 30 credits.
Coursework includes mathematical methods for signal processing, signals & systems, digital communications, applied cryptography, search & data mining, and the smart grid.
Nanoengineering
Nanoengineering—true to its name—is the design and production of very small materials and structures to be used in computing, medicine, manufacturing, and other fields.
University of California–Riverside
University of California–Riverside offers an online master’s in nanotechnology engineering degree program that explores nanoscale processes and applications such as nanostructured materials' design, synthesis, and processing.
Made up of 32 credits, the program includes courses such as engineering in the global environment, technology innovation and strategy for engineers, introduction to systems engineering, principles of engineering management, thermodynamic foundations of materials, crystal structure and bonding, nanoscale science and engineering, and introduction to microelectromechanical systems.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University of Raleigh provides a distance-based master’s of nanoengineering (MNAE) with coursework in modern concepts in materials science, mechanical properties of nanostructured materials, nanoscale simulation & modeling, defects in solids, thermodynamics of materials, physical electronics, chemical processing of electronic materials, and colloid science & nanoscale engineering, among other subjects.
Power Systems Engineering
Power systems engineering encompasses the creation, transportation, and use of electric power. In addition to its essential relationship with civil engineering, it leans heavily on electrical engineering theories.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California offers an online master of science program in electrical engineering-electric power ideal for students seeking careers in the electric power industry. The program’s plan of study combines traditional topics in transmission, distribution, and power generation with cutting-edge topics such as integrating renewable energy sources in the smart grid.
Consisting of 28 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to power systems, power systems technology, power system analysis and design, sustainable infrastructure systems, net-centric power system control, digital control systems, linear system theory, power electronics, and renewable energy in power systems.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts offers an online master of engineering (MEng) program in power systems engineering. The program is made up of 30 credits.
Classes include power electronics, power system analysis, transients in power systems, electromechanical energy conversion, advanced applications in protective relaying, power system dynamics, power distribution, power system operations and planning, distributed and renewable power generation, and power transmission.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute also offers an online graduate certificate in power systems and an online master's in power systems management.
Engineering management involves the application of leadership skills such as organization, administration, problem-solving, and planning to engineering.
Arizona State University (ASU) provides an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science in engineering (BSE) focusing on engineering management. Students in this program learn about engineering science and design principles while gaining insights into business administration and organizational management. The program comprises 120 credits.
This program includes instruction in probability & statistics for engineering problem-solving, lean Six Sigma methodology, engineering administration, risk management, introduction to systems engineering, and system dynamics & thinking.
The prestigious Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore provides an online master’s of engineering management (MEM) with several concentrations to choose from. Some examples include applied & computational mathematics, applied biomedical engineering, applied physics, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, information systems engineering, mechanical engineering, and structural engineering.
The program's core courses include planning and managing projects, technical organization management, strategic communications in technical organizations, finance, contracts, and compliance for technical professionals, as well as executive technical leadership.
Industrial engineering seeks to optimize complex systems in manufacturing and other fields, improving the use of time, money, raw materials, labor, machines, and resources through meticulous study and testing.
University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi offers an ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in industrial engineering technology featuring classes such as performance technology, industrial quality control, operations and logistics concepts, production and inventory control, industrial automation, plant layout and material handling, motion and time study, lean production systems, global supply chain management, and industrial simulation and modeling.
The University of Southern Mississippi also offers a fully online industrial engineering technology degree with an emphasis on logistics.
Arizona State University offers an online master of science program in industrial engineering, which teaches students the technical knowledge and skills needed to find economical, practical, and efficient solutions to complex problems across a variety of industries.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as information systems engineering, web-enabled decision support systems, advanced simulating stochastic systems, production systems, design engineering experiments, reliability engineering, applied deterministic operations research, applied stochastic operations research models, and regression analysis.
Materials engineering involves designing, discovering, and processing new materials, especially solids like metals and minerals, as well as synthetics like plastics.
The University of Arizona, based in Tucson, offers a distance-based BS in materials science and engineering, with coursework in solid state chemistry, vector calculus, ordinary differential equations, thermodynamics, introductory electricity and magnetism, introduction to materials science and engineering, physical properties of materials, and a capstone project.
Graduates will be ready to take up careers in energy, optics, defense, aerospace, manufacturing, medicine, and information technology.
The University of Florida, based in Gainesville, provides an online MS in materials engineering with 30 credits of coursework. The curriculum includes courses such as material structures & mechanical properties, materials thermodynamics, kinetics, properties of functional materials, polymer physical science, fracture of brittle materials, finite element analysis and application, future of microelectronics techniques, and semiconductor device fabrication.
Mechanical engineering draws from fields such as thermodynamics, materials science, mechanics, and electricity to create and operate machines.
The University of North Dakota based in Grand Forks has an ABET-accredited online BS in mechanical engineering, which requires a few campus visits for select laboratory intensives. Four optional specialization options are available in mechanical design, manufacturing and materials, thermal sciences, and aerospace.
This 128-credit degree program can take four years or more to complete and includes courses in calculus, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fundamentals of electrical engineering, elementary differential equations, materials science, fluid mechanics, design of machinery, and the fundamentals of heat and mass transfer.
Purdue University of West Lafayette, IN, offers a 30-credit-hour online master’s of science in mechanical engineering (MSME) program. US News and World Report ranks this program #1 in the country among the best online master’s degrees in mechanical engineering.
Courses include engineering acoustics, an introduction to scientific machine learning, human motion kinetics, computational fracture mechanics, advanced thermodynamics, numerical methods in mechanical engineering, an introduction to scientific machine learning, heat transfer in electronic systems, design and modeling of fluid power systems, continuum mechanics, and micromechanics of materials.
University of Southern California
USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering offers an online master of science in mechanical engineering (MSME) program. Concentration options are available in combustion, design, dynamics and control, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mechanics and materials.
Courses in this 27-credit program include engineering analysis, partial differential equations for engineering applications, fundamentals and applications of combustion, advanced mechanical design, engineering vibrations, compressible gas dynamics, advanced problems in heat conduction, continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, and advanced engineering dynamics.
Nuclear engineering incorporates both the fission and fusion of atomic nuclei, especially in energy creation, medical devices, radiation, and weapons.
Excelsior College, based in Albany, N,Y provides an ABET-accredited online BS in nuclear engineering technology with three distinct concentrations available: generalist, nuclear cybersecurity, and nuclear leadership.
Classes include introduction to computers, health physics and radiation protection, introduction to heat transfer and fluid mechanics, electrical theory, power plant components, fundamentals of reactor safety, material science, reactor core fundamentals, and plant systems overview.
Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University of Trenton, NJ offers an ABET-accredited online BS in nuclear energy engineering technology, emphasizing the practical application of engineering principles as they impact nuclear power generation. This 120-credit program provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform competently in quality assurance, reactor operations, instrumentation and control technology, and other related areas.
Coursework includes nuclear physics for technology, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, primary reactor systems, reactor fundamentals, nuclear instrumentation & control, radiation interactions, and nuclear instrumentation and control, among other areas.
Learn more about online nuclear engineering degree programs.
Robotics engineering deals with the development of computers, sensory systems, and information-processing mechanisms in robots. It relies heavily on several other disciplines, including mechanical engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering.
Johns Hopkins University offers an online master’s degree in robotics and autonomous systems. Students in this program will be immersed in a curriculum focused on developing their skills for designing, analyzing, programming, building, evaluating, and deploying robots and autonomous systems.
Focus areas are available in dynamics, navigation, decision, and control, perception and cognitive systems, autonomous systems, human-robot and robot-robot teaming, and general robotics.
Courses include algorithms for data science, mathematical methods for engineers, introduction to robotics, kinematics & dynamics of robots, protecting critical infrastructure against cyber attacks, dynamics of robots and spacecraft, and cognitive and behavioral foundations for artificial intelligence.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute of Massachusetts provides an online MS in robotics engineering. This 30-credit program also has an online specialization in autonomous vehicles.
Courses include foundations of robotics, robot dynamics, robot control, project management, technology commercialization, leadership, and managing technological innovation, among others.
Safety engineering is closely related to industrial engineering and aims to mitigate risks in manufacturing, aircraft, medical devices, and other systems.
San Juan College offers an online associate of applied science degree in occupational safety, preparing students to help keep workplaces safe. This two-year degree teaches students essential safety principles so they can start or advance their careers. With this AAS degree and one year of experience, students can take the associate safety professional (ASP) certification exam, which will further advance their careers.
Made up of 61 to 64 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to instrumentation technology, introduction to electricity, safety, health & environmental concepts, environmental management, industrial hygiene, fire prevention and protection, and risk assessment & hazard control.
Eastern Kentucky University of Richmond offers an ABET-accredited online BS in fire protection & safety engineering technology. The program comprises 120 credits.
It’s 100 percent online and offers instruction in fire prevention, fire behavior and combustion, fire protection and hazardous materials, fire protection design, advanced structural fire protection, and fire protection hydraulics and water supply.
East Carolina University of Greenville has an ABET-accredited online MS in occupational safety. This 36-credit program prepares graduates for ethical leadership positions in occupational safety and related fields and also provides academic and practical experiences in the management and design of enterprise-wide safety systems that prepare, protect, and preserve organizational resources from risk, danger, and loss.
The curriculum includes courses such as the regulatory aspects of occupational & environmental safety, technical aspects & field audits in occupational safety, occupational ergonomics, fire protection & prevention & emergency management, risk management and workers’ compensation, applied safety management, systems safety and risk analysis, and occupational safety monitoring and control.
Systems engineering is closely related to engineering management and tackles problems related to the design of complex systems, including reliability, logistics, optimization, coordination of teams, and evaluation.
Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, MD, offers an ABET-accredited online MSE in systems engineering. Available subspecialties include cybersecurity, human systems, modeling and simulation systems, software systems, and project management.
Courses in this program include management of systems projects, system design and integration, system test and evaluation, system conceptual design, introduction to systems engineering, system of systems engineering, systems thinking and systems dynamics, and systems engineering process improvement.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, offers an online MEng in systems and design, which features courses such as the development and verification of system design requirements, introductions to systems engineering, systems engineering architecture and design, model-based systems and design, integrative thinking, socio-technology, global engineering leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, and systems analysis.
The program comprises 30 credits.
Bachelor of engineering (BE/BEng) and bachelor of science (BS/BSE) degrees generally share their coursework and program objectives, the main difference is regional. In the US, most undergraduate engineering degrees are BS degrees, but in the UK and Canada, most undergraduates in engineering earn a BEng.
In contrast to the limited distinction between bachelor's degrees, there are some definable, if minor, differences between a master of engineering degree (ME/MEng) and a master of science in engineering (MS/MSE) degree. Namely, the research-heavy MS degree may be preferred for those engineers who plan on continuing their academic career and earning a PhD, while the MEng degree is more practice-based, ideal for those who prefer hands-on engagement to research or academia.
In staying with these differences, an MEng degree often requires a practical graduate project, which can be presented to prospective employers, while an MS degree may have a more theoretical, research-based capstone project. Finally, the MEng is a terminal degree, while the MS may be used as a stepping stone to a PhD.
The master of science in electrical and computer engineering (MSECE) and master of science in electrical engineering (MSEE) may have had larger differences in the past, but the distinction has become much less defined. While the MSECE may emphasize computer engineering and computer science topics in its foundational coursework, the job opportunities available to the different degrees are generally similar.
Engineers interested in pursuing management positions may consider an advanced degree in engineering management or an MBA. Between the options of a master's in engineering management (MEM or MSEM), a master's of business administration (MBA), or an MBA/master’s joint program, the choice rests on what the student really wants to pursue and how much time they want to devote to their studies.
| MEM/MSEM | Engineering MBA | MBA-MS/MSE | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Learn business fundamentals |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multiple industry curriculum |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Technical skills required |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Increased demand for graduates |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Average Duration (full-time) |
2 Years |
2 Years |
2+ Years |
Even for those engineers who have decided to pursue graduate-level education, there is still the choice between a master of science in engineering (MS or MSE) or a PhD. A PhD may be ideal for individuals who are passionate about a specific type of engineering or those who want to pursue an academic career upon graduation.
| MS/MSE | Engineering PhD | |
|---|---|---|
|
Prerequisites |
BS/BSE |
BS and MS |
|
Types of Coursework |
Practical, hands-on |
Theoretical |
|
Increased employment/leadership opportunities |
Yes |
Not necessarily |
|
Average Duration (full-time) |
2 Years |
4 Years |
|
The degree is ideal for: |
Aspiring professionals in engineering interested in the empirical applications of the work |
Those interested in working in theory, research, or academia, strengthening the canon for future engineers |
After graduating from UC Berkeley, Jocelyn traveled the world for five years as an English teacher and freelance writer. After stints in England, Japan, and Brazil, she settled in San Francisco and worked as a managing editor for a tech company. She’s recently become interested in the underrepr...
