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Aerospace engineering involves the principles that allow machines to take flight, covering both aeronautical and astronautical ventures.
The University of Illinois College of Engineering has seven online graduate certificate programs in aerospace engineering:
Admission requirements include a bachelor of science degree in science or engineering from an accredited university or college in the United States or an approved institution of higher learning abroad, basic knowledge of aerospace engineering, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, a completed online application, transcripts, and a current resume.
For the most basic specialization (aerodynamics and flight mechanics), students may choose from courses that include topics such as computational aerodynamics; applied aerodynamics; flight mechanics; aeroelasticity; wing theory; and viscous flow & heat transfer.
For the spaceflight engineering specialization, coursework can be selected from the following options: orbital mechanics; spacecraft attitude control; advanced orbital mechanics; optimal aerospace systems; and optimal space trajectories.
Each option consists of 12 credits. Online courses are taught by the same faculty members who teach classes on campus.
Automotive engineering deals with the design, production, and testing of vehicles by incorporating several other engineering sub-disciplines, such as electrical, software, mechanical, and safety engineering.
The University of Michigan–Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science offers an online graduate certificate program in automotive materials and design engineering. This program can be completed entirely online. It provides an opportunity for automotive engineers to learn about advancements in structural and ergonomic design, lightweight materials, advanced manufacturing techniques, and vehicle dynamics.
Students may choose their courses from a list of topics, such as vehicle ergonomics; design of automotive chassis; vehicle stability and control; vehicle package engineering; mechanical behavior of materials; and composite materials. The program consists of 12 credits.
Applicants to the program must have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher, a completed online application, a current CV, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, and proof of English language proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English.
Graduates will be able to evaluate automotive manufacturing designs and techniques and will be prepared to apply knowledge of structural design and automotive materials in the field.
Biomedical engineering combines medicine and engineering to fuel the research and development of implants, prostheses, pharmaceuticals, and more.
The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering offers an online post-master’s certificate in applied biomedical engineering through its Engineering for Professionals program. The program’s faculty includes acclaimed experts in medical care and biomedical research, imparting the latest techniques in research and practice.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college or must be in the last semester of their undergraduate study, a GPA of at least 3.0, official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, and proof of proficiency in English through TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. Applicants must have also earned a master’s degree in a relevant engineering or science discipline.
Drawing from the same pool of classes used for the master’s curriculum, students will take core classes that cover physiology for applied biomedical engineering; applied medical image processing; advanced signal processing for biomedical engineers; and biomechanics of cells and stem cells. Electives are available in the following foci: imaging, instrumentation, and translational tissue engineering. The program consists of five three-credit courses.
Civil engineering involves the design, construction, and maintenance of society’s physical infrastructure.
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University has an online graduate certificate program in civil engineering offered through its Columbia Video Network. The program is taught by world-renowned engineering faculty members who are innovators and leaders in their respective fields.
The major admission requirements for the program include official transcripts, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, a personal professional statement, a current resume, the $150 application fee, and three letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Students choose four classes from an expansive list that includes: bridge design and management; uncertainty and risk in infrastructure systems; theory of vibrations; geosynthetics and waste containment; technology and strategic issues in manufacturing enterprises; and the economics of earth resources industries. The program is made up of 12 credits.
Environmental engineering uses science to study and improve the relationship between industrial society, the natural world, and the shared environment.
The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate in environmental engineering that focuses on managing waste and pollution in the air, water, and soil. The program’s faculty includes distinguished professionals guiding students through the latest techniques used for examining engineering solutions to these multidisciplinary and complex problems.
Students select courses from a wide range of topics, including environmental engineering principles; radioactive waste management; solid waste engineering and management; industrial processes and pollution prevention; air quality control technologies; and environmental biotechnology. The program consists of five courses.
For admission to the program, students must be in the last semester of their undergraduate study or have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, official transcripts from all institutions attended, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Water systems engineering deals with the movement of fluids, with applications in environmental engineering, power systems engineering, and waste management.
The University of Colorado–Boulder Engineering Management Program offers an online graduate certificate in water engineering and management providing students with the skills and tools needed for succeeding in the water profession. Courses in this program are delivered on campus. The program also provides live-streaming or recording options for online students.
Required courses cover water utility management (current issues and future challenges); water profession (communication and utility finance); and water profession (utility leadership and management). Students then choose an elective from the following options: engineering economics and system design; wastewater treatment; environmental politics and policy; or water reuse planning and implementation. The program comprises 12 credits.
Course credits earned in this certificate can be utilized in the pursuit of the MS in civil engineering, the MS in environmental engineering, or the ME in engineering management.
The major admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree in engineering or a related field and an understanding of the water profession.
Computer engineering involves the testing and developing computer software and hardware and all of its components.
The Colorado State University College of Engineering has an online graduate certificate program in computer systems engineering that teaches students to problem-solve for future challenges. Students may specialize in one of three areas: networking; embedded systems; or computer architecture. The program is ideal for professionals and students seeking skills and knowledge in hardware architectures, algorithms, networking technologies, and parallel software programming.
Potential course subjects include computer architecture; internet engineering; hardware and software design for embedded systems; parallel processing; and fault-tolerant computing. The program is made up of 10 to 12 credits.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor of science degree from a regionally accredited institution in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or any other related field, a completed online application, official transcripts, and TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores for international students.
On successful completion of the program, graduates can take up roles such as network analyst, network programmer, computer security analyst, network designer, computer architect, and big data analyst, to name a few.
Computer science involves collecting, storing, processing, and transmitting information.
Drexel University’s online graduate certificate in computer science provides students with basic programming, theory, and other technical skills. This program is especially ideal for students who have a bachelor’s degree in an area outside of computer science. Credits earned in this program can be transferred towards MS degrees in software engineering, cybersecurity, and computer science.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, a completed online application, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, one letter of recommendation, a 500-word essay, a current resume, and TOEFL scores for international students.
Comprising 12 credits, the program includes courses such as introduction to programming; data structures & algorithms; systems basics; and introduction to software design.
The program opens up several opportunities for graduates. They can take up roles such as business intelligence analyst, network architect, computer systems analyst, database administrator, software developer, and information security analyst.
Cybersecurity uses computer science, data science, and software engineering to protect the information stored on computers and networked systems from outside attacks.
The Stanford School of Engineering has an online graduate certificate program in cybersecurity that provides technical, professional, and policy-level perspectives on the security risks emerging in IT. Students in this program will learn about cryptographic techniques, identify potential threats using digital forensics, and will also learn about the legal issues involved in computer security.
For admission to the program, students need at least a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
Students take classes in operating systems and systems programming; computer networking; computer and network security; and cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. The program requires successful completion of 12 credits.
Combining machine learning, math, and computer science, data science involves the analysis and processing of massive amounts of data.
The Stanford School of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate program in data, models, and optimization. This program is ideal for engineers, mathematicians, researchers, and investors who use optimization or scientific computing in their work.
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree and a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0.
Students will take core classes in machine learning and convex optimization, and then choose from an array of electives that include topics such as the Fourier transformation and its applications; linear dynamical systems; modern applied statistics and data mining; and digital signal processing. The program consists of between 12 and 14 credits.
Graduates will be able to develop efficient algorithms and accurate models and analyze and solve large-scale problems. They will be exposed to an amazing array of tools and applications used in finance, electrical engineering, and communications.
Software engineering deals with designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining computer software systems.
The University of Michigan–Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science offers an online graduate certificate program in software engineering, providing students with a disciplined, quantifiable, and systematic approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software.
Applicants to the program must possess an undergraduate degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
After taking core courses in software engineering and embedded systems, students chose two electives from a long list of topics, which include algorithm design and analysis; software quality assurance; data analytics in software engineering; information engineering; data mining; and fuzzy systems. The program is made up of 12 credits.
At the end of the program, graduates will be able to use scientific and mathematical techniques for solving software engineering problems, design experiments, formulate problems, recognize problems, evaluate different methods, and use software engineering principles to solve those problems.
Electrical engineering covers the subjects of electromagnetism, electronics, and electricity, and incorporates a wide range of subfields, such as telecommunication, signal processing, and control systems.
Offered through the Columbia Video Network, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University has an online graduate certificate program in electrical engineering that specializes in wireless and mobile communications. This program is ideal for those who wish to deepen their fundamental knowledge of electrical engineering.
Consisting of 12 credits, students in this program choose one required course in either communications circuits, analog electric circuits, or wave transmission and fiber optics. For electives, students select three courses from a diverse list which includes topics such as digital signal processing; communication theory; visual information systems; stochastic models in information systems; microwave circuit design; and wireless communications.
For admission to the program, students must possess an undergraduate degree in civil engineering or a related field from an accredited academic institution, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, official transcripts, a personal-professional statement, three letters of recommendation, a current resume, and the $150 application fee. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Electrical and computer engineering (ECE) involves designing, developing, and deploying machines with computers.
The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate program in electrical and computer engineering. All courses in this program are available online and taught by subject-matter experts.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university or college, a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Students may take electrical and computer engineering courses that fall into one of several foci: communications and networking; computer engineering; electronics and the solid-state; optics and photonics; RF and microwave engineering; signal processing; or systems and control. The program consists of five courses.
Nanoengineering deals with designing and producing very small materials that fall on the nanoscale with implications in manufacturing, medicine, aerospace, and computing.
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
The nanoscience department at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro offers five graduate certificates in nanoscience, advanced materials, analytical instrumentation, medical science, and synthetic biology technical areas that will afford numerous opportunities for collaboration with industrial partners and advanced degrees.
The nanoscience certificate program allows students with STEM bachelor’s degrees to continue their study and understand the fundamental concepts in nanoscience and prepares them for their future careers related to this ever-expanding field.
Made up of 12 credits, the program includes courses such as principles of nanoscience: physical, chemical, and biological foundations; principles of nanoscience: analytical, statistical, and computational foundations; introduction to nanotechnology; and nanomaterials chemistry.
Power systems engineering involves creating, storing, and transporting electric power.
The University of Kentucky’s College of Engineering offers an online graduate certificate program in power systems that is ideal for students with a background in electrical engineering or a related field seeking specialized knowledge in energy generation, transmission, and distribution. Credits earned in this certificate can be applied towards any graduate degree in electrical engineering.
Students in this program will learn the theory of several aspects of power systems and master the techniques and tools for operating and planning power systems and solving real-world problems.
Applicants to the program must have a baccalaureate degree with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75.
This 12-credit program includes courses such as power system analysis; power system fault analysis and protection; power distribution systems; and alternative and renewable energy systems.
Engineering management involves the application of leadership skills and analytical processes in the interest of optimizing organizations, projects, and planning.
Drexel University’s online graduate certificate in engineering management provides scientists and engineers with the knowledge and skills needed for management roles. The program’s faculty includes distinguished professionals with years of experience in the field.
Consisting of 15 credits, the program includes courses such as leading and managing technical workers; design thinking for engineering communications; engineering economic evaluation & analysis; financial management; and analysis and decision methods for technical managers. All courses earned in this certificate can be applied towards an MS in engineering management program.
For admission to the program, students require at least a four-year bachelor’s degree in engineering or sciences from an ABET-accredited institution in the United States or its equivalent, a cumulative grade point average of 3.0, a completed online application, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, two letters of recommendation, a 750-word essay, a current resume, and TOEFL scores for international students. Five years of relevant professional work experience is preferred.
Industrial engineering deals with optimizing complex systems related to manufacturing and other industrial modes of production.
Through the Columbia Video Network, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University offers an online graduate certificate program in industrial engineering. The school has been hosting industrial engineering courses since 1919.
Students must take two required courses: introduction to probability and statistics; and optimization models and methods. For electives, students must choose two from the following list: stochastic models; quantitative corporate finance; applied systems engineering; scheduling; or dynamic pricing and revenue management. The program consists of 12 credits.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, computer science, or any other related field from an accredited academic institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal-professional statement, a current resume, and the $150 application fee.
Materials engineering deals with discovering, designing, and manipulating solids and synthetics.
The University of Michigan–Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science has an online graduate certificate program in materials science that is fully focused on plastic and composite materials. Students will be exposed to both manufacturing and design considerations of plastic and composite materials.
Applicants to the program must possess at least an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Students take courses in the following areas: injection molding; mechanical behavior of polymers; composite materials; and advanced engineering materials. The program is made up of 12 credits.
Mechanical engineering involves the use of materials science, mechanics, electricity, and thermodynamics to create and operate machinery.
Stanford University’s online graduate certificate in mechanical engineering introduces students to core concepts in mechanical engineering emphasizing electromechanical systems. The program’s curriculum applies to various emerging technologies such as the internet of things, automation, biomedical engineering, and robotics.
Admission requirements for the program include a conferred bachelor’s degree, an undergraduate grade point average of 3.3, basic electronics, linear algebra, introductory programming, and multivariable calculus.
The program requires the successful completion of four courses. Required courses include an introduction to micro & nanoelectromechanical systems, an introduction to mechatronics, and an introduction to sensors. For electives, students must choose one from the following list: feedback control design; automated model discovery; and advanced dynamics.
Nuclear engineering involves the study and application of the fission and fusion of atomic nuclei.
The Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh offers an online graduate certificate program in nuclear engineering through the Stephen R. Tritch Nuclear Engineering Program. The curriculum of the program focuses on the several facets of nuclear power including operations safety, environmental issues & policy, and energy generation.
Courses are selected from a wide range of topics that include: linear system theory; nuclear core dynamics; nuclear plant dynamics and control; nuclear materials; heat transfer and fluid flow in nuclear power plants; computational radiation transport; and case studies in nuclear codes and standards. The program comprises 15 credits.
To be accepted into the program, students need a BS in engineering from an ABET-accredited university program or a BS in other technical disciplines, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and GRE scores.
Safety engineering seeks to mitigate the risks associated with manufacturing, energy, biomedical, and other systems.
The University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering offers an interdisciplinary online graduate certificate program in safety engineering that aims to bridge the gap between engineers and safety professionals. This 100 percent online program is taught by the same expert faculty members as its on-campus classes.
Applicants to the program need at least a BS degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited university program or a BS in any other technical discipline, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. GRE scores are not required.
Students take three required courses: introduction to safety engineering; engineering for process safety; and work design. Students then choose two electives from any of the following departments: bioengineering; mechanical and materials science (nuclear engineering); electrical and computer engineering (electric power); and civil and environmental engineering (construction management). The program consists of 15 credits.
Systems engineering studies the problems of complex, organizational systems, and their logistical optimization.
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) offers an online graduate certificate program in systems engineering through its UTEP Connect Extended University. This fully online program is ideal for students and working professionals interested in learning about developing and managing complex systems. Providing a pathway towards a master’s degree, this graduate certificate prepares its students to apply new engineering models to constantly changing environments.
The program consists of 15 credits—12 of which are coursework-based and three of which are derived from a project practicum. Coursework covers the following topics: systems engineering fundamentals; systems engineering management; systems requirements analysis; and systems integration, verification, and validation.
To qualify for admission, students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, submit a graduate admissions application, official transcripts, a brief statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and TOEFL scores for international students.
The program opens up opportunities for graduates in manufacturing, defense, aerospace, healthcare, automotive, electronics, education, government, software, and other sectors.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
