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Generally, earning a bachelor’s degree is the first step to become an engineer in Idaho. Aspiring engineers in the state can consider one of the following online programs.
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering – Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University in Idaho of Rexburg offers an online bachelor of science (B.S.) in software engineering, which includes 120 credit-hours. This program features courses on software development, data structures, computer security, human-computer interaction, software design, and systems security, among others. Notably, the online student cohort progresses together and enjoys abundant opportunities to interact. Students enrolled in more than 11 credit-hours pay a flat rate of $1,960 per semester if they are affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or $3,920 if they are not.
Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development – Brigham Young University
BYU in Idaho also offers an online bachelor of science in web design and development, which may be a jumping off point to a career in computer or software engineering. This 120-credit-hour program includes courses on systems security, web engineering, systems analysis and design, object-oriented programming, advanced visual media, and vector graphics, among others. Similar to the program mentioned above, tuition is set at a flat rate of $1,960 per semester for those affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; unaffiliated students are charged $3,920.
Obtaining a master’s degree can help an engineer develop his or her skills and deepen one’s specialization in specific field. Additionally, a master’s degree can enhance one’s earning prospects and opportunities in leadership, as well as qualify a person for positions in academia.
Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering – University of Idaho
The University of Idaho of Moscow, ID offers an online master of engineering degree in civil engineering. This program includes a variety of emphases, including environmental and sanitary engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydraulics and water resources engineering, structural engineering and structural mechanics, and transportation engineering. Students must complete 33 credits at $755 each.
Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering – University of Idaho
The University of Idaho also offers a master of engineering and a master of science degree in electrical engineering, both of which are delivered entirely online. The areas of focus in these programs include supercomputing, microwaves, VLSI circuits, control systems, signal analysis, and network synthesis, among others. Both of these programs require students to complete 30 credit-hours to graduate, which generally take two years of study. Tuition costs $755 per credit.
A number of other Idaho-based online programs are available to aspiring engineers, including certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees.
Certificate in Power System Protection and Relaying – University of Idaho
The University of Idaho offers an online certificate in power system and protection and relaying through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This 12-credit-hour program comprises two required courses (power systems analysis and power system protection and relaying), as well as two electives such as communication systems, digital filtering, or symmetrical components, among others. Tuition is set at $755 per credit-hour, meaning the whole program costs $9,060, not including additional fees.
Certificate in Computer-Aided Design and Drafting – Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University in Idaho provides a number of online certificate programs for aspiring engineers, including one in computer-aided design and drafting. This 15-credit-hour program has five courses: engineering computation, computer-aided draft and design, engineering graphics, mechanical CADD and GD&T, and a mathematics course. Similar to the programs profiled above, the tuition is $1,960 per semester for those students taking at least 11 credits and who are affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and $3,920 for those who are not. Additionally, students who take fewer than 11 credits are charged $163 per credit-hour.
The lure of a competitive salary and a growing industry are reason enough for many aspiring engineers in Idaho to pursue an education in this field. Prior to applying to an online program, however, applicants are advised to perform thorough research to ensure they know what to expect. For example, online program candidates should determine the following information before applying:
Furthermore, applicants are encouraged to determine whether or not the program is accredited and is authorized to admit students from their state of residence.
Accreditation status signifies that the program has met various quality standards set forth by an accrediting agency, thus demonstrating the value of a program. Many employers favor job applicants with a degree from an accredited program, and proof of enrollment in an accredited program may be required to obtain financing for education.
Not all accreditation is the same, however, and applicants should search for programs accredited by agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Here is a handful of the CHEA-approved organizations which accredit online engineering programs in Idaho:
National accreditation
Regional accreditation
Programmatic accreditation
Students may only attend online programs that are eligible to operate in their state of residence. This is referred to as a program’s “state authorization” status. Generally this information is readily available on program websites (e.g., University of Idaho), and for those institutions which don’t have it, people should contact admissions offices to determine eligibility.
In general, many of the online engineering degree programs in Idaho have similar admissions requirements to their on-campus versions. For example, the online civil engineering master’s degree program at the University of Idaho calls for applicants with:
While admissions materials vary by degree level and institution, other common requirements include the submission of proof of specific coursework; test scores; letters of recommendation; and candidate interviews.
Here are exceptional professors from the University of Idaho, a school which boasts various online engineering programs.
Dr. Patricia J.S. Colberg – University of Idaho
Dr. Patricia J.S. Colberg is a National Academies Education Fellow and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Idaho, where she also serves as the department chair. Her research interests include basic and applied questions, although she’s largely focused on “remediation of organic and metal contaminants in the subsurface.” Before joining the University of Idaho, she spent several years in Switzerland and the Netherlands, and is an ABET IDEAL Senior Scholar. Dr. Colberg has an array of authorship credits to her name, including influential publications in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering and Water Science Technology.
Dr. Brian Johnson – University of Idaho
Dr. Brian Johnson is a university distinguished professor within the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Idaho, where he also serves as the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories endowed chair in power engineering. He leads a number of different courses, including digital logic, introduction to power systems, power systems analysis, symmetrical components, and transients in power systems, among others. He is also a member of the University Research Council and the Department Laboratories Committee, as well as the chair of the Department Graduate Committee and a coordinator for the certificate program in power systems protection and relaying.
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...