Online Engineering Schools in Delaware

Although Delaware may be one of the smallest states in the nation, it is replete with opportunities for aspiring engineers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2016) reported that there were 5,330 engineering and architecture professionals in the state, and openings are expected to swell in coming years. Projections Center predicted that the subfields of civil and mechanical engineering were slated to expand significantly between 2014 and 2024—growing 7 and 5.9 percent, respectively. Further underscoring the trend, a targeted online job hunt highlights the demand for skilled engineering professionals in the state. By illustration, a Monster search (Oct. 2017) for engineering positions in Delaware yielded over 1,000 results with companies such as Synerfac, Comtec Consultants, Kforce Inc., Randstad Technologies, Kane Partners, LLC, and Hunter International, Inc.

In addition to enjoying a thriving industry, engineers in Delaware are also close to a renowned institution that offers high-quality education: the University of Delaware. While not all engineers in the state attend this university, they still may benefit from proximity to networking events, continuing education opportunities, and other tangential resources.

Perhaps one of the greatest draws of starting a new career in engineering is the wealth of professional organizations that operate throughout the state. Groups such as the Delaware Engineering Society and the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers offer professional advocacy, education, networking events, job boards, and a myriad other benefits for members to enjoy.

To become an engineer in Delaware, a person generally has at least a bachelor’s degree prior to seeking employment. Some students choose to enroll in traditional, on-campus programs, while a growing cohort of aspiring engineers is choosing to study online instead. Distance-based programs boast more flexibility in scheduling and can accommodate residents of rural Delaware who don’t have easy access to a brick-and-mortar institution.

In reality, there are not many online engineering schools within the state, except for the University of Delaware, which offers a master of engineering in mechanical engineering. That said, an abundance of high-quality online programs are offered from East Coast institutions, many of which accept students residing in Delaware.

This guide explores online engineering programs in Delaware, including profiles of three professors, curricular breakdowns, and other relevant information.

Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering

A bachelor’s degree is typically required to become an engineer. Although no schools in Delaware currently offer an online bachelor’s degree in engineering, there are two nearby institutions which admit Delaware residents:

Bachelor of Science in Modeling and Simulation Engineering – Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University of Norfolk, Virginia offers a distance-based bachelor of science in modeling and simulation engineering. This online program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to design, test, analyze, and interpret systems and data with real-world applications. Students must complete 127 credit-hours to graduate. Tuition is set at $369 per credit-hour for out-of-state students, bringing the total cost to $46,863, not including additional fees.

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering – Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University in New York offers an online bachelor of science in electrical engineering, which includes courses taught by faculty members at Stony Brook University, the University of Buffalo, and Binghamton University. The curriculum for this 120-credit-hour program includes courses on random signals, electronics, object oriented programming, technical communications, and engineering design, among others. Tuition is set at $898 per credit-hour for out-of-state residents, along with an $108 fee per course.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering

Online master’s programs in Delaware can help engineers further their knowledge and develop a greater level of specialization in their chosen field:

Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering – University of Delaware

The University of Delaware in Newark offers an online master of engineering in mechanical engineering, which can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. This 30-credit-hour program includes courses on solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, dynamics, heat transfer, orthopedic biomechanics, and engineering mathematics, along with other elective classes. Tuition for this program is $1,770 per credit-hour, excluding additional fees.

Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering – Virginia Commonwealth University

The Virginia Commonwealth University of Richmond offers an online master of science in mechanical and nuclear engineering, which can be completed entirely online. This 30-credit-hour degree program includes courses on mechanical and nuclear engineering analysis and continuum mechanics; topics in nuclear engineering; and directed research, among others. According to the school’s tuition calculator, the program costs $1,950 per credit-hour for part-time students, although prospective applicants should reach out to the school directly for a customized assessment.

Other Online Engineering Programs

In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, here are two outstanding online certificate programs in engineering which can enhance one’s specialized knowledge, salary, or career prospects:

Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering, Analysis, and Design – New Jersey Institute of Technology

The New Jersey Institute of Technology of Newark, offers an online graduate certificate in software engineering, analysis, and design. This 12-credit-hour program covers courses on systems analysis and design, software design and production methodology, enterprise database management, and data management system design, among others, and is provided 100 percent online. Furthermore, all credits obtained in this program can be applied towards a future master’s degree. Graduate tuition for out-of-state students is set at $1,716 per credit-hour (including fees), bringing the total cost of this program to $20,592.

Graduate Certificate in Reliability Engineering – University of Maryland

The University of Maryland of College Park offers an online graduate certificate in reliability engineering and a master’s degree in the same field. The programs can be completed entirely online, and include four-credit courses on topics such as the fundamentals of failure mechanisms and reliability analysis, among others. Tuition is set at $1,153 per credit-hour, excluding additional fees.

Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider

Anyone interested in pursuing an online engineering degree in Delaware or a surrounding state is encouraged to perform thorough research prior to applying. Prospective applicants are advised to ask the following questions:

Can the program be completed on a part-time basis?
Are students required to visit the campus throughout the program? If so, how many times?
Will the program assist with job placement upon graduation? For out-of-state programs, will the job placement assistance be offered in Delaware, as well?
What have past graduates gone on to achieve?
How do students stay engaged with professors, peers, and course material at a distance?
What is the total cost of the program?

Also, all aspiring online students should be aware of two other program aspects: accreditation and state authorization status.

Accreditation

To secure accreditation, engineering degree programs must meet certain quality standards surrounding the education delivered, the management of finances, student outcomes, and other measures. Accreditation is important because many financial aid agencies only offer loans to students enrolled in accredited programs; furthermore, graduating from an accredited program is necessary to qualify for PE licensure and in some cases, employment.

Prospective applicants should note, however, that not all accreditation holds the same weight. They should search for programs that have received accreditation through an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Some of the various CHEA-recognized accrediting agencies include:

National accreditation

Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)

Regional accreditation

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Programmatic accreditation

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

State Authorization

State authorization means that a school is eligible to operate in a certain state. In other words, an online school based in one state may not always be able to provide education to residents of other places. This information is often readily available on program websites (e.g., University of Delaware). Students should contact admissions offices with any questions about eligibility not answered on state authorization pages.

Admissions Requirements for Online Engineering Programs

The admissions requirements for most online engineering programs are similar to their on-campus degree programs at the same level of study. For example, the online master of engineering in mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware requires that qualifying students have:

A bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field
An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
A minimum combined quantitative and verbal score of 308 on the GRE
A minimum of three letters of recommendation from former teachers or supervisors

Other common application requirements include the submission of additional test scores; proof of prerequisite coursework; a personal statement or letter of intent; a resume; and other materials.

Online Engineering Professors in Delaware

The University of Delaware is the only school in the state to offer an online engineering degree, and it boasts a faculty of talented educators and researchers. Here are three exceptional engineering professors in Delaware:

Dr. Dennis Assanis – University of Delaware

Dr. Dennis Assanis is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, where he also serves as the president of the university. He has received a host of awards, including the 2016 Paideia Award from the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia and 2013 recognition as a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science. Notably, he was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has been an editor of the International Journal of Automotive Technology since 2008 and on the editorial board of numerous other publications.

Dr. Michael H. Santare – University of Delaware

At the University of Delaware, Dr. Michael H. Santare works as a professor of mechanical engineering, where his research interests include applied mechanics, orthopedic biomechanics, and composite materials. He co-holds a patent in the United States for a stemless hip prosthesis, and he has author credits in numerous high-impact publications, including the Journal of Power Sources and the Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, among others. According to his biography, the “unifying theme to his research is the mechanics of complex material systems in which microstructure is a key element.”

Dr. Ajay K. Prasad – University of Delaware

Dr. Ajay K. Prasad is an engineering alumni distinguished professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, where he also serves as the department chair. His research lies in the area of clean energy, including fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, wind and ocean current energy, and vehicle-to-grid technology. Dr. Prasad has been a reviewer for numerous influential publications, including the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, the Journal of Engineering Mechanics, and the Journal of Fluids Engineering, among others.

Jocelyn Blore

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...