While engineering is traditionally associated with hands-on skills and training—designing, planning, building—there’s a growing array of online programs to educate aspiring professionals. There are two significant trends driving the growth of online engineering degrees: the robust demand for engineers and the increasing availability of distance education programs.
First, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) projects that between 2023 and 2033, several subfields of engineering will swell as fast, or faster, than the average growth projected for all occupations in the country (4 percent). Roughly 195,000 openings in the architecture and engineering fields are anticipated annually in that decade—and engineering careers tend to pay well.
Second, the opportunities for online learning continue to flourish with the development of distance-based tools such as web simulations, software, e-books, streaming video, and widespread wifi connectivity. And the Covid-19 pandemic has clearly accelerated the move to online, effectively forcing institutions to adopt the distance-based model of instructional delivery in order to survive, at least in the short term.
So how do distance-based engineering programs work?
In short, there are two main formats of online learning: synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous learning occurs when students and professors log in from different locations at the same time. Fixed-time online courses use this type of live communication, coordinating lectures, meetings, assignments, exams, and other course requirements in real time. Asynchronous learning, by contrast, is more flexible. Open schedule online courses normally have weekly or monthly deadlines to watch video lectures and complete assignments or exams. Therefore, students don’t need to be online at a specific time, but rather finish coursework within a given timeframe. Finally, hybrid programs may involve both synchronous and asynchronous learning, in addition to on-campus or “brick-and-mortar” elements.
Please note that when considering a distance program, it’s important to verify that there aren’t enrollment restrictions based on location. States have different laws surrounding the delivery of distance education, and these can typically be found on program websites under the heading state authorization. For example, the University of Delaware’s web-based engineering programs can offer distance education courses to students enrolled in colleges and universities approved as State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) institutions. If the information isn’t listed on a school’s website, reach out to a program coordinator to ensure state-based eligibility for distance education programs.
Read on to explore the variety of engineering programs offered online (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s, doctorates, certificates); program accreditation; and some of the most influential professors in distance-based engineering education.
