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Aerospace engineering deals with the mechanics and physics of flight, including the interplay between pressure, temperature, and structural materials.
Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics offers an online master of science program in aeronautics and astronautics. The curriculum is taught by the same faculty who teach the on-campus MSE program, and the graduate AAE program is ranked second in the nation by US News & World Report. Focusing on aerospace engineering, this program is specifically geared towards working engineers and offers a flexible plan of study.
Students in this 30-credit program must complete 10 courses. Four courses must be from one of the six available focus areas. Focus areas include aerodynamics; aerospace systems; astrodynamics & space applications; autonomy and control; structures & materials; and propulsion.
Courses include plasma and electric discharges; decision-making for engineering systems design; spacecraft attitude dynamics; aerospace engineering probability & estimation; physics of non-ideal fluids for propulsion applications; data science in mechanics of materials; and multiscale structural mechanics.
Automotive engineering combines mechanical, electrical, software, and safety engineering to design, test, and produce land vehicles.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s master of science in engineering in automotive and mobility systems engineering program can be completed entirely online, entirely on campus, or through a combination of both. Covering emerging topics such as advanced design and manufacturing, lightweight materials, and intelligent control systems, graduates will develop a systems-thinking approach to automotive-related problems and strengthen their teamwork skills.
Students in this 30-credit program will complete two required courses and will choose the remaining eight from one of five concentrations. Concentrations include vehicle powertrain and performance; vehicle electrification; vehicle design and manufacturing; intelligent vehicle systems; and general study.
Courses include vehicle mobility systems; modeling of automotive systems; vehicle electronics; vehicle ergonomics; automotive powertrains; internal combustion engines; fundamentals of program management; and sustainability science and engineering.
Combining the fields of engineering and medicine, biomedical engineering is focused on medical technology such as implants, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic tools.
Purdue University offers an online master’s in biomedical engineering (MSBME) program that is taught by the same faculty as the on-campus program. This online graduate program is consistently ranked in the top ten by US News & World Report.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as biomedical signal processing; neural mechanisms of health and disease; fatigue of structures and materials; mechanical properties and behaviors of polymers; introduction to biomaterials; quality systems for regulatory compliance; tools and methodologies for designing systems; and safety engineering.
With a particular focus on energy and materials, chemical engineering deals with the production, storage, transport, and usage of chemicals.
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside offers an online MSE degree with a specialization in chemical engineering. Designed to bolster both leadership and subject-specific knowledge in the area, it can be completed in 13 months or more.
Students in this program will complete 16 credits of core engineering classes and 16 credits within the chemical engineering specialization. Moreover, this program does not include a required residency, instead, students participate in four one-credit capstone courses throughout the program.
Core courses include engineering in the global environment; technology innovation and strategy for engineers; introduction to systems engineering; and principles of engineering management.
Specialization courses include advanced engineering computation; transport phenomena; advanced kinetics and reactor design; and advanced chemical engineering thermodynamics.
Civil engineering focuses on the design, production, and maintenance of civil infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and bridges.
Ohio University has an online master of science in civil engineering program that can be completed in as few as five semesters. This 32-credit program is ideal for professionals who wish to evolve their understanding of how to address sustainability, emerging engineering technologies, and globalization. Graduates will also hone their communication, problem-solving, and management skills.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited university with a 3.0 GPA. Work experience will be considered if submitted. GRE scores are not required for admission.
Notably, this program allows students to choose from four available concentrations in construction engineering management; structural engineering; environmental engineering; and transportation engineering.
Courses include communication skills for engineers; project management; applied civil engineering statistics; structural reliability; construction planning and scheduling; water resources engineering; and prestressed concrete design.
A subfield of civil engineering, environmental engineering explores forms of healthy interaction between the natural, built, and lived environments, including areas like water management and public health.
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton offers an online MS in environmental engineering. The program is structured on a cohort model that sees students move through the two-year curriculum as a unified group. The program provides students with technical knowledge and practical information on contemporary environmental issues and topics such as potable water treatment, sustainable development, solid and hazardous waste management, and stormwater runoff management and treatment, among others.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as fate and transport of chemicals in the environment; hydraulics and hydrology for environmental engineers; water supply, treatment, and system design; environmental engineering practices and project management; remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater; wastewater treatment and water reclamation; air pollution control engineering; and surface water pollution and control.
At the end of the program, students are prepared to sit for the professional engineering exam in environmental engineering.
Built upon the foundations of civil and electrical engineering, power systems engineering focuses on the creation, transport, and usage of electric power.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University has an online MS in electric power systems engineering that does not require a thesis, oral exam, or on-campus residency. Providing graduates with a thorough understanding of the methods, practices, and tools of electric power engineering, this program aims to offer an education that is directly applicable to a career in industry and is suitable for new or recent graduates, as well as experienced professionals.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as power system operation and control; smart electric power distribution systems; renewable electric energy systems; power electronics; system control engineering; design of electromechanical systems; and dynamics and control of electric machines.
A subset of civil engineering sometimes referred to as hydraulic engineering, water systems engineering deals with the movement, storage, and usage of fluids, especially water and sewage.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers an online MS in civil engineering where students may add a concentration in water resources engineering and science. This concentration prepares students for the design, planning, management, and operation of surface and groundwater systems; design and construction of water control facilities; conservation of water resources; and preservation and enhancement of the natural river and watershed environment.
Core courses in this 36-credit program include environmental systems; surface water hydrology; environmental fluid mechanics; and groundwater. Concentration course offerings include fate & cleanup of environmental pollutants; environmental engineering principles; air quality modeling; and atmospheric chemistry.
Computer engineering focuses on the design and development of both hardware and software.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn has an MSE in computer engineering program that can be completed entirely online. Students in this program will develop advanced skills in designing, developing, and integrating computer hardware and software.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in electrical or computer engineering with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Those with an undergraduate background in a field other than electrical or computer engineering will be required to take preparatory courses in computer or electrical engineering.
All students take a class in embedded systems and then choose two from the following list: computer networks; computer architecture; reconfigurable computing; and advanced operating systems. Students may choose to concentrate in one of four areas: computer architecture and design; networks and communications; intelligent systems; or multimedia engineering. The program consists of 30 credits.
Computer science designs and tests algorithms to store, process, and transfer information.
Stanford University offers an MS in computer science that can potentially be completed entirely online. Students in this program will complete coursework covering the fundamental aspects of computer science and deepen their expertise in at least one specialized area of study.
Students must fulfill breadth requirements, including two different areas of depth. Approved specializations include artificial intelligence; computational biology; computer and network security; human-computer interaction; information management and analytics; software theory; systems; theoretical computer science; and visual computing. While most specializations require attending some in-person classes, students can complete the AI, information management and analytics, and systems specializations entirely online.
Note that this degree is generally considered a terminal degree in computer science, but some students take it before deciding whether or not to pursue doctoral study. The program consists of 45 credits and part-time students generally take three to five years to complete the program.
A subset of computer engineering and computer science, cybersecurity is focused on securing networked systems.
The University of Arizona offers an MS in cybersecurity that can be completed entirely online. Designed for working professionals who wish to gain technical mastery in this rapidly growing field, this program helps students learn about assessing, preventing, and managing information and systems security-related risks by applying systems security management and post-breach practices.
Core courses include information security in public and private sectors; systems cybersecurity engineering; business data communications and networking; and engineering trustworthy security systems. After completing core courses, students may choose to focus on either information systems or physical systems. The program consists of 33 credits.
Data science uses statistics, computer science, and machine learning to search through large quantities of data for meaningful insights.
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside has an online MSE program that can be specialized in data science. Coursework in this fully online program is designed to allow graduates to develop efficient techniques for identifying, analyzing, and visualizing hidden patterns within data groups to extract critical information.
Foundational courses in the core curriculum cover engineering in the global environment; technology innovation and strategy for engineers; introduction to systems engineering; and principles of engineering management.
For the data science specialization, students may choose courses from a list that includes the following: the foundations of applied machine learning; application of visualization in data science; data mining techniques; information retrieval and web search; and statistical mining methods. The program consists of 36 credits.
Software engineering deals with the design, development, operation, and maintenance of software applications.
Arizona State University has an online MSE in engineering science program that has a software engineering concentration. Designed to uniquely position graduates for leadership roles in today’s technology-driven workplaces, this program helps students develop expertise in code-based testing, various development methodologies, software design, and proficiency in multiple programming languages. Additionally, graduates will acquire a comprehensive skill set encompassing cutting-edge technologies, such as big data processing, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software integration, software architecture and design, and web-based computing.
The curriculum covers courses such as software engineering principles and concepts; software project, process and quality management; software verification, validation and testing; artificial neural computation; coding and applications; design of engineering experiments; software design; and technology entrepreneurship. The program consists of 30 credits.
A large subfield of engineering with numerous applications across industries, electrical engineering revolves around electricity, electrons, and electromagnetism.
Arizona State University has an online MSE in electrical engineering degree that ranks in the top quarter of the nation. Students in this program will be able to gain the skills and knowledge needed to advance their technical career path in fields such as signal processing, power systems, or other specialized areas.
Students in this program will have the opportunity to choose from five areas of specialization. These include electric power and energy systems; electronic and mixed signal circuit design; electromagnetics, antennas, and microwave circuits; signal processing and communication; and physical electronics and photonics.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as advanced analog integrated circuits; electromagnetic fields and guided waves; electron transport in nanostructures; fundamentals of microelectronics packaging; introduction to microelectromechanical systems; and semiconductor memory technologies and systems.
Electrical and computer engineering focuses on the design, development, and testing of machines that contain computers: everything from lasers to robots to vehicles.
Purdue University offers an online master of science program in electrical and computer engineering that is currently ranked at #1 by US News & World Report among ‘Best Online Master’s in Electrical Engineering Programs’.
Students can select one of these ECE focus areas or build a plan of study to incorporate multiple areas. Focus area options are available in automatic control; computer engineering; communications, networking, signal, and image processing; fields and optics; schweitzer power and energy systems; microelectronics and nanotechnology; and VLSI and circuit design.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as random variables & signals; electromagnetic field theory; computational models and methods; solid-state devices; advanced lithography; deep learning; energy conversion; computer architecture; applied algorithms; and radio frequency integrated circuits.
Engineering management combines business and engineering, focusing on the logistics, administration, and maintenance of technical organizations.
Youngstown State University has an MSE program in engineering management that can be completed entirely online. The program combines both engineering and business courses to prepare graduates for leading technical organizations. Students typically take two years to complete the program.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as competitive manufacturing management; supply chain engineering; project management; engineering statistics; decision analysis for engineering; industrial economics; cost-based decision-making; and corporate financial management.
Geographic information science (GIS) uses software and spatial techniques to visualize geographic data for a variety of industries.
The Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California offers a 28-credit online MS in geographic information science and technology that equips students with an understanding of how spatial data shapes decisions in the modern world and provides hands-on experience with leading-edge GIS tools.
The program’s core courses provide a comprehensive understanding of data acquisition, spatial thinking, and the characteristics of spatial information, as well as a capstone thesis experience. Moreover, by selecting a track, students can develop specialized expertise designed to support their career path. These include spatial data management, spatial computing, and spatial analytics.
There are also four GIS certificate programs with transferable credits.
Industrial engineering focuses on optimizing complex systems such as manufacturing through the analysis and testing of large data sets.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers an MSE in industrial and systems engineering which can be completed entirely online. This program is designed for engineers and other professionals who are responsible for installing, designing, evaluating, and improving large integrated systems that include materials, people, equipment, energy, and information.
There are three core courses: design and analysis of experiments; human factors and ergonomics; and production and operations engineering. Students may then choose from five specializations: human factors and ergonomics; operations research and management science; quality systems and manufacturing; information systems; and project management and product development. The program consists of 30 credits.
Materials engineering deals with the discovery, design, and manipulation of solid materials.
The University of Central Florida offers an online master of science program in material science and engineering with both thesis and non-thesis options. Students in this program will develop new materials, create more efficient machines and processes to speed up development and discover fresh uses for existing materials. Their research and studies may include subjects like biomaterials, nanomaterials, degradation, material stability, and much more.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering or a closely related discipline. GRE scores are not required for admission to this program.
Consisting of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as intermediate structure and properties of materials; metallurgical thermodynamics; materials kinetics; mechanical behavior of materials, colloids, and interface engineering; corrosion science and engineering; research methods in materials science and engineering; and optoelectronics materials processing.
Nanoengineering involves the design, production, and manipulation of extremely small materials and structures that can be used in medicine, manufacturing, and other industries.
University of California, Riverside
The University of California, Riverside, offers an online MS in engineering with a concentration in materials at the nanoscale. While not as rigorous as other MS/MSE programs, the curriculum offers an introduction for those coming from other subdisciplines of engineering and can be completed in 13 months.
Core courses in the program include engineering in the global environment; technology innovation and strategy for engineers; introduction to systems engineering; and principles of engineering management. In addition to the foundational courses, students explore topics such as crystal structure and bonding; nanoscale science and engineering; thermodynamic foundation in materials; and introduction to microelectromechanical systems. The program consists of 36 credits.
Mechanical engineering deals with the design and operation of machines by pulling together the fundamentals of materials science, mechanics, electricity, and thermodynamics.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
The University of Michigan-Dearborn has an online MSE in mechanical engineering. Covering both advanced theory and modern engineering practice, the program prepares students for career opportunities in the automotive, aerospace, energy, biomedical device, and microchip manufacturing industries, among many others.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as advanced engineering analysis; finite element methods; structural dynamics; advanced biomechanics; advanced mechanics of materials; advanced fluid mechanics; sustainability science and engineering; microfluidics; advanced thermodynamics; and acoustics and noise control, among others.
Nuclear engineering focuses on the fission and fusion of atomic particles, with major applications in energy and medicine.
Purdue University offers an online master of nuclear engineering (MSNE) program that is designed for professional technicians, scientists, and engineers looking to advance their skills without disrupting their careers. Equipping students with the expertise needed for tackling complex challenges in nuclear engineering, this program prepares graduates to pursue diverse career opportunities in environmental remediation, power generation, medical applications, and beyond.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as nuclear engineering principles; nuclear engineering systems; nuclear reactor theory; mass, momentum, and energy transfer in energy systems; fuzzy approaches in engineering; numerical methods in mechanical engineering; and neural computing in engineering.
Robotics engineering covers the design, development, and testing of components included in robots and other semi-autonomous devices.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute created the nation’s first online MS in robotics engineering program. Students may choose to add a specialization in autonomous vehicles (AV). Students in this program master the fundamentals of electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, and mathematics underlying robotic systems while also studying advanced topics such as computer vision, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and wireless networking.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as foundations of robotics; robot dynamics; robot control; swarm intelligence; legged robotics; machine learning in robotics; and biomedical robotics. Each student must complete a capstone project that offers a substantive evaluation and application of the program’s coursework.
Closely related to industrial engineering, safety engineering aims to mitigate the risks surrounding manufacturing, transportation, and other industrial operations.
Texas A&M University offers an online master of science program in safety engineering. This program teaches students the practices and principles of safety engineering for leadership careers in industry.
The program requires a minimum of 32 credits of approved coursework and research. Of these, 16 credits are required for core coursework while the remaining 16 credits consist of a combination of research, directed studies, and electives.
Courses include material safety in semiconductor manufacturing; process safety in semiconductor manufacturing; vapor phase techniques for semiconductor manufacturing; process safety engineering; risk engineering; reliability engineering; safety management systems; system safety engineering; and fundamentals of safety.
Systems engineering focuses on the engineering of specific processes to maximum effect, with particular attention paid to logistics, reliability, and evaluation.
Johns Hopkins University offers both an online MS and an online MSE (ABET-accredited) in systems engineering. There is no difference in the curriculum for the MSE (ABET-accredited) and MS programs. Focus areas are available through electives in the following tracks: cybersecurity; human systems; modeling and simulation; project management; and software systems.
Courses include introduction to systems engineering; management of systems projects; software systems engineering; systems engineering of deployed systems; principles of network engineering; foundations of human systems engineering; metrics, modeling, and simulation for systems engineering; and software project management. Both the MS and MSE program consist of ten courses.
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...
Upon completing a dual MBA and engineering degree program, students will hold master’s degrees in two of the most coveted fields. They may be eligible to take up leadership roles such as vice president of engineering, chief technical officer, and chief operating officer.
Operations management is an important cog in any business wheel. This role ensures that all products and services are produced and delivered on time; there is minimum wastage of resources; and quality is maintained across all units.
A master’s degree in data science trains students to expertly analyze data, as well as in other important disciplines such as machine learning, programming, database management, and data visualization. This degree is ideal for aspiring data scientists, data analysts, and pricing analysts.
Electrical engineering is a field where professionals research, develop, and design various electrical components and systems. An online master’s degree can be valuable to students who wish to take up advanced positions in their career.
Businesses today have large amounts of data at their disposal, thanks to the increasing dependence on technology. The job of a data analyst is to dissect the information available, derive meaningful conclusions, and finally, help make sound business decisions. A master's degree in business data analytics helps students get on the fast track to a successful career as an analyst.
