Online Engineering Schools in South Carolina

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Fortunately for engineers in South Carolina (SC) and beyond, not only is this sector among the most lucrative in the state, but it’s also growing significantly faster than many other occupations. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 2016) reported that the following subfields of engineering are expected to be the top-growing fields nationwide; between 2014 and 2024, the BLS projected the following additions of fresh positions across the country: civil engineers (305,000 new positions, 2014-24); mechanical (292,100 jobs), industrial (243,200 jobs), electrical (180,200 jobs), and computer hardware (80,100 jobs). Of course, in percentage terms, the list of top-growing fields changes substantially; during that same decade, the fastest growing specializations include biomedical (23.1 percent increase in positions, 2014-24), environmental (12.1 percent), and civil (8.4 percent). Notably, these engineering occupations are projected to increase substantially faster than the expected average growth across all occupations nationwide (6.5 percent).

In South Carolina, the fastest growing subfields change somewhat. In fact, drawing from data from the BLS, Projections Central (2017) reported that the following subfields of engineering would grow the fastest in SC between 2014 and 2024: biomedical (19 percent increase in positions), industrial (10.9 percent), civil (10.5 percent), mechanical (9.9 percent), and aerospace (9.2 percent).

Not only is engineering a high-growth field, but it’s also relatively high-paying. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2016) found that there were 37,800 engineering and architectural professionals in South Carolina, accounting for nearly two percent of the workforce. These workers earned a substantially higher average salary than that of all workers in the state; as proof of point, the BLS (2016) reported that this group had a mean annual salary of $75,400, well above the average salary for all professions in SC ($41,530). And some subfields commanded extraordinarily generous salaries. Among the top-paying subfields of engineering in SC were electronics ($95,600 average annual salary), computer hardware ($92,340), and mechanical ($88,770).

Once an engineer in the Palmetto State is working in the field, there’s a wealth of professional organizations and societies offering continuing education, events, networking opportunities, scholarly journals, newsletters, and other resources to members. These include:

Not surprisingly, engineering is an attractive career prospect for its relatively high growth projections and salary. Prior to joining this field, it’s important to secure the proper training and credentialing. Historically, there were exclusively campus-based engineering degree programs available, but there’s a growing array of online degrees as well.

This guide explores online engineering degrees in South Carolina, including information about the exceptional faculty, expected coursework, and accreditation.

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Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in SC

A majority of engineering careers and professional certifications in South Carolina require candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree. While most of these programs are still on-campus, here are two standout distance-based (and hybrid) bachelor’s degrees from institutions in SC.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Charleston Southern University

At Charleston Southern University, students can complete a B.S. degree in computer science or information systems. While some attendance is required, the majority of the coursework can be completed entirely online. Courses include introduction to information technology, graphics, advanced networking, database management, and systems analysis, among others. Online tuition is $490 per credit-hour, although the school’s website does mention that 95 percent of students receive some sort of tuition assistance in the form of scholarships or other compensation.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – University of South Carolina, Palmetto College

Palmetto College, which is associated with the University of South Carolina system, also offers an online B.S. degree in computer science. The degree requires 121 credit-hours to graduate, including coursework in information storage and retrieval, information systems, information policy, knowledge management, and competitive intelligence, among others. Tuition for South Carolina residents is $4,941 per semester. Additional fees may apply.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in SC

Aspiring engineers seeking a higher salary, increased employment prospects, or positions in management may consider pursuing a master’s degree in the field. A majority of distance-based programs in engineering in SC and nationwide are at the graduate level, and students will likely find a greater range of specializations than at the undergraduate level. Here are two outstanding SC-based online master’s degrees in engineering.

Master of Science in Computer Science – University of South Carolina

At the University of South Carolina based in Columbia, students can pursue a M.S. degree in computer science in a hybrid setting. Some of the coursework must be completed on-campus, but several classes are offered through the school’s APOGEE distance education program. This 30 credit-hour program has both thesis and non-thesis options, as well as instruction in computer architecture, compiler construction, analysis of algorithms, and advances in computing, among other subjects. Since tuition varies by many factors, interested students are encouraged to contact the USC’s Bursar’s Office to determine cost.

Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering – Clemson University

Students at Clemson University can pursue an online M.Eng. degree in industrial engineering. This program offers a significant amount of flexibility and is specifically designed for working professionals who wish to stay employed full-time. This 30-credit program covers descriptive analytics; foundations of quality; supply chain and logistics modeling; and health, safety, and the environment. It costs $864 per credit-hour, putting the total cost of the program at $25,920, excluding additional fees.

Other Online Engineering Programs in SC

In addition to the distance-based bachelor’s or master’s degree programs, here are two notable online associate degree programs based in South Carolina.

Associate of Science in Computer Science – Limestone College

At Limestone College in Gaffney, aspiring computer software or hardware engineers can pursue an online A.S. degree in computer science. This program includes courses on C# programming, internet programming, operating systems and network fundamentals, and basic concepts of the internet, requiring a total of 62 credit-hours. Tuition costs $1,323 per three-credit hour course, putting the total at approximately $27,342. Additional fees may apply.

Associate of Science in Computer Science (Web Development and Databases) – Limestone College

Limestone College also offers an online A.S. in computer science with a concentration in web development and databases. The courses include microcomputer applications, introduction to scripting, internet graphics, and web development tools, among others. This program comprises 62 credit-hours at $1,323 per three-credit hour course. Similar to the program above, it costs approximately $27,342, excluding additional fees.

Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider

Prior to applying to an online engineering program in SC or elsewhere, prospective students are encouraged to research the following questions:

How long does it take to complete the program?
Can the program be completed on a part-time basis?
What is the total cost of the program? Are scholarships available?
Can practical experience courses be completed in the student’s own community?
Can the program be completed entirely online? If not, how many hours or days of on-campus attendance is required?
Does the program offer job placement assistance after graduation or other student services?
For undergraduate programs, does this prepare students to continue on to graduate degrees?

Furthermore, future students are strongly encouraged to verify their program’s accreditation and state authorization statuses.

Online Engineering Program Accreditation

Accreditation is essentially a stamp of approval from an accrediting organization, demonstrating that a given program or institution has met baseline standards of quality. Accreditation can be offered on a national, regional, or programmatic level, and a wide variety of accrediting organizations exist in the U.S. Not all entities are created equal, however, and students should seek out programs or institutions that have been accredited by one of the organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Pursuing accreditation is voluntary for a university, and it shows a commitment to meeting certain standards set forth by an organization, including those pertaining to the quality of education offered, student outcomes, administration, and the management of finances, among other factors. Here are the main organizations that accredit engineering schools and programs in SC:

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

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Programmatic accreditation

State Authorization for Online Engineering Programs

Prospective online students in South Carolina should also be aware that they may only enroll in programs that are eligible to operate in the state, which is referred to as a program’s “state authorization” status. For students residing in the same state as their online programs, it’s not an issue. Please note that many distance-based engineering schools offer this information on their websites (e.g., University of South Carolina), and for those which don’t, prospective students should reach out to program coordinators to ensure eligibility.

Admissions Requirements

The application process for online engineering programs is generally the same as their on-campus counterparts. Here is a brief outline of general application requirements for online engineering and computer science programs in South Carolina:

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Application and fee
High school diploma or GED
At least a 2.5-3.0 GPA, depending on the program
Letters of recommendation
SAT or ACT scores
A personal essay

Online Master’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Application and fee (NOTE: Some graduate degree programs require two applications: one to the graduate school and one to the relevant engineering department)
A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field (e.g., physics)
At least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, depending on the program
GRE scores (not always required)
A statement of purpose
Letters of recommendation

Online Graduate or Professional Certificate Requirements

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering
Resume or CV
Letters of recommendation
A personal essay
Test scores

Finally, some more competitive programs may have additional requirements, including candidate interviews or portfolio reviews.

South Carolina Online Engineering Professors to Know

Fortunately for distance-based students in engineering, there are many talented, renowned educators involved in these programs. Here are three exceptional professors who teach at engineering schools with online programs in South Carolina:

Dr. Brian Ameling – Limestone College

Dr. Brian Ameling is an assistant professor of computer science at Limestone College. Notably, he serves as the chair of both the computer science and the natural sciences departments. He is affiliated with the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group in Computer Science Education, and teaches a variety of classes in both the day and the online programs. His courses include microcomputer applications, computer literacy, telecommunications and network security, and visual programming, among others.

Dr. Duncan A. Buell – University of South Carolina

Dr. Duncan Buell is an NCR chair and professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina. His recent work has focused on electronic voting systems and digital humanities. He’s served on a team which audits election data in South Carolina to discover problems leading to uncounted votes or other issues affecting state-certified tallies. He’s currently teaching courses on cryptography and critical interactives, and has previously taught software engineering, as well as data structures and algorithms.

Dr. B. Rae Cho – Clemson University

Dr. B. Rae Cho is a professor of industrial engineering at Clemson University, where he also serves as the graduate coordinator. His research interests lie at the intersection between statistics and deterministic/stochastic operations research with a focus on the theoretical foundations and developments in quality engineering. His work has been published in a number of peer-reviewed publications, including the European Journal of Operational Research and the International Journal of Production Research, as well as a forthcoming co-authored article in the Journal of Statistical Theory. He’s taught courses on Six-Sigma quality, creative inquiry, deterministic operations research, quality engineering, and modeling systems under risk, 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...