Mechanical engineering is a broad discipline that applies the principles of engineering to the design and construction of machines and their parts. The modern world comes with a lot of moving parts. From the way that a wall clock ticks away the hours to the spinning of car wheels on their axles, it takes many precise pieces and movements to keep things running smoothly. While it takes many hands and machines to put together something so complex as a car, those hands know what to do because of a mechanical engineer.
Online Engineering Degree Programs
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Online Engineering Programs by State
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What Kinds of Engineering Degrees Are Offered Online?
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The application of design concepts, problem-solving, and machines to medicine. In particular, this field promotes the development of diagnostic, therapeutic, and medical monitoring tools (e.g., prostheses, MRIs, EEGs, micro-implants). |
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Involves the conversion of raw materials or chemicals into more useful (or economically valuable) forms. Some applications include nanotechnology, fuel cell development, and corrosion studies. |
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Deals with the development and upkeep of physical environments, especially as it relates to the construction, design, and maintenance of structures. Projects in this field include bridges, roads, canals, buildings, dams, and parks. |
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Comprises the control and design of computing devices and their functionalities. Three popular subfields include software, hardware, and network engineering. |
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Encompasses the applications of electronics, electricity, and electromagnetism. Telephones, broadcasting equipment, power grids, and other systems using transistors or integrated circuits are typical areas of expertise in this discipline. |
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Concerned with the intersection of engineering and business, utilizing the problem-solving capabilities of engineers coupled with the planning, administrative, and leadership competencies of effective management. |
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Combines knowledge of physics, materials, and power to the development, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems (e.g., aircraft, watercraft, transport systems, robotics, weapons). |
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Involves the improvement of complex engineering systems over their life cycles, especially through modeling or simulations. Systems can include industries (e.g., work-flow or optimization processes), spacecraft design, and microchip development. |
Online Engineering Program FAQ
These are some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding distance-based education in engineering. For additional information about program admissions requirements, common coursework, and types of online engineering degrees available, check out the sections below covering online bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and graduate certificate programs.
Applying to engineering school is an essential first step on the path to becoming an engineer, no matter what specialty the student plans to pursue. The application process for both undergraduate and graduate students can be nerve wracking, since the results can have such a big impact on the trajectory of one’s career. However, with a bit of planned research and preparation, it is possible to apply for and obtain admission at top engineering schools for the best possible chance at a successful career.
Civil engineers can work on a variety of different projects and in different capacities. It is an interesting career to pursue for those who are passionate about design, have a strong foundation in math and science, work well with others, and want to impact big projects in their community and even abroad.
Electrical engineering closely impacts our day-to-day life and is responsible for various technological innovations we enjoy today. At its core, electrical engineering involves the study and design of devices and equipment that uses electricity, electromagnetism, and electronics.
Whenever you go to flip a light switch in your house or even check the time on your smartphone, it took a series of electrical engineers to make that happen.
Experts in the field: 5 influential engineering
professors teaching online
OnlineEngineeringPrograms (OEP) regularly profiles outstanding professors in online engineering to give prospective students a flavor for the thought leadership, teaching effectiveness, and impact of research of some of the most extraordinary professionals in engineering today.
OEP (2021) used the following criteria for these five influential engineering professors:
- College or university affiliation: professor must be actively teaching at an accredited, top online program in engineering which has been recognized by an established authority (e.g., U.S. News & World Report, Fiske Guide)
- Publications: professor must have published extensively in peer-reviewed, moderate- to high-impact factor scientific journals
- Awards and research grants: professor must have a track-record of recognition in his or her field, evidenced by awards (e.g., "Best Paper Awards") and research funding from prominent institutions (e.g., NASA, NSF, Air Force)
- Experience: professor must have at least 10 years of experience teaching engineering as well as demonstrated leadership through professional societies, conference boards, and/or community organizations
meet the Experts :
Dr. Wayne Whiteman
Dr. Wayne Whiteman—a former professor from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a senior academic professional at the Georgia Institute of Technology—decided to make his expertise available to students worldwide. He teaches the popular introduction to engineering mechanics class, a massive open online course (MOOC) offered through Coursera. Dr. Whiteman is the recipient of several awards, including Georgia Tech’s Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning (CETL) Undergraduate Educator Award (2011); Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering Faculty Excellence Teaching Award (2004); Tau Beta Pi’s Eminent Engineer Award (2002), and others. Additionally, Dr. Whiteman served for 24 years in the US Army and retired as a Colonel from the Corps of Engineers.
Dr. Kathryn W. Jablokow
Dr. Kathryn W. Jablokow—an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State, teaches creativity and problem-solving I/II online, a cornerstone of interdisciplinary education in systems engineering. She earned her PhD from the Ohio State University and was awarded a NSF/NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Aachen, Germany. Dr. Jablokow is a member of several prominent societies, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE); the Occupational Research Centre in the United Kingdom; the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME); and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Furthermore, Dr. Jablokow has received multiple research grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and several teaching awards: the Penn State Great Valley Teaching Excellence Award (2012-13), the Arthur L. Glenn Award for Faculty Innovation, Penn State Great Valley (2010), the Penn State Engineering Society Outstanding Teaching Award (1994), and the W.M. Keck Foundation Engineering Teaching Excellence Award (1994).
Dr. Izhak Rubin
Dr. Izhak Rubin is the director of the prestigious online electrical engineering program at UCLA, U.S. News & World Report’s (2020) #2 online graduate program in engineering. Dr. Rubin has extensive experience in consulting, industry, and academia. He’s the president of the IRI Computer Communications Corporation, a multidisciplinary group of communications experts who develop software and provide business guidance. He’s held several prestigious positions, including serving as acting chief scientist of the Xerox Telecommunications Network (1979-80); program chairman of the NSF-UCLA workshop on Personal Communications (1984); and co-chair of IEEE’s workshop on Local and Metropolitan Area Networks (1993). He’s received several awards, such as the Lockheed-Martin UCLA Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award (2014) and IEEE MILCOM Conference’s “Best Unclassified Paper Award” (2006). Finally, Dr. Rubin is a Life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the highest honor bestowed by the professional organization.
Dr. David L. Darmofal
Dr. David L. Darmofal—a professor at the University of South Carlinia—made his expertise widely available through edX’s popular MOOC on aerodynamics. He’s published an astounding 80 peer-reviewed technical articles through scientific journals and conferences. He formerly served as a professor at MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and director of MIT’s Aerospace Computational Design Laboratory (ACDL). Dr. Darmofal was the recipient of many awards, including NSF’s CAREER Award (1997); MIT’s School of Engineering Bose Award for Junior Faculty (2002); MIT’s Earll M. Murman Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising (2011); and University of Michigan’s Aerospace Engineering Alumni Merit Award (2012). Finally, Dr. Darmofal is an associate fellow at several prominent organizations: the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the American Society of Electrical Engineers, and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM).
Dr. Christopher J. Durning
Dr. Christopher J. Durning of Columbia University teaches transport phenomena as part of the online master’s of chemical engineering program. He’s made impactful strides in technology to decontaminate water with the use of nanoparticles in a project funded by the Pall Corporation, an industry leader in water purification systems. His primary research interests include nano-structured materials; polymeric systems (transportation and diffusion, as well as surface and interfacial behavior); and the behavior of soft materials (e.g., self-assembly, association). He’s published several papers through prominent organizations and journals, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE 2009), Macromolecules (2000), and the Journal of Polymer Science (Part B) (1997, 1999).
A Closer Look:
Online Bachelor's Degree Programs
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE 2021) reports that there were 144,818 bachelor's degrees in engineering awarded in 2019. Nearly one-quarter of these degrees were in mechanical engineering (35,094 degrees), the most popular subspecialty, followed by computer science (19,963 degrees), and electrical (14,221 degrees).
Admissions Requirements - To gain admittance to an online bachelor's program in engineering, these are some typical admissions requirements:
- Official transcripts from high school (or college) with a competitive GPA
- Completion of specific coursework (e.g., trigonometry, calculus, physics, computer programming)
- SAT/ACT test scores (SAT Subject Tests in math or science may also be required)
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal/professional statement (two pages about student's personal and professional goals)
- Application fee
- TOEFL test scores (for applicants whose first language isn't English)
Types of Online Bachelor Degrees in Engineering - These are the most common types of bachelor's degrees in engineering awarded in the United States:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (BE or B.Eng): these degrees typically emphasize more technical or practical aspects of engineering (e.g., circuits, electronics) whereas the BSE (below) may be more theoretically focused
- Bachelor of science in engineering (BSE or BSc Eng)
- BS in electrical engineering (BSEE)
- BS in mechanical engineering (BSME)
Please note that subfields may also be designated by a postnomial (i.e., a parenthetical abbreviation). For example, a bachelor's degree in engineering with an emphasis in aerospace engineering may be designated as a BE(Aero), or for electrical engineering, BE(Elec).
Also, computer science (CS) is a field closely related to computer engineering (CEN). Lewis University notes that CS focuses predominantly on software, whereas CEN unites CS and electrical engineering with an emphasis on hardware.
Additionally, there is also the bachelor of technology (BTech) degree which differs from other engineering degrees. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)- the primary accreditation board for higher education in engineering-reports that while BTech programs focus on implementation and practical applications, other engineering programs (e.g., BSE, BSEE, BSME) hone in on design, planning, theory, and advanced mathematics. Also, the duration and career paths for these degrees may differ.
Top Schools Offering Online Bachelor's Programs in Engineering - There is a growing number of quality bachelor's degrees in engineering offered online. This featured selection has been chosen according to the following criteria:
- Program is accredited by ABET
- University boasts distinguished faculty in engineering, as evidenced by professor profiles below
- Institution or program has received additional recognition from an established source (e.g., Fiske Guide, U.S. News & World Report)
Here are three top online bachelor's programs in engineering:
Arizona State University : Arizona State University's (ASU) online bachelor of science in electrical engineering (BSE or BSEE) program prepares students for careers in energy production, healthcare technology, or sustainable development, to name a few fields. With exciting coursework in areas such as electromagnetic fields, microprocessors, and solid-state electronics, ASU's esteemed faculty uses web-based instruction and a variety of digital simulation tools to impart the valued skills of electrical engineering. Furthermore, ASU ranked #6 among U.S. News & World Report's (2020) "best online bachelor's programs." Finally, ASU is one of the largest public universities in the world with nearly 40,000 online students and accepts 80 percent of applicants.
Additional online bachelor's programs offered at ASU:
- BSE in engineering management
- BS in graphic information technology
- BS in information technology
- BS in software engineering
- BS in technological entrepreneurship & management
Featured engineering professor at ASU:
Dr. Jennifer Blain ChristenDr. Jennifer Blain Christen joined the prestigious ASU faculty in 2008 after receiving her MS in electrical engineering and her PhD from Johns Hopkins University. Her research interests include bio-compatible integration for CMOS electronics (i.e., low power integrated circuits), microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) devices, and microfluidics. From 2007 to 2010, she received the "Best Paper Award" from Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems-a cutting-edge journal co-sponsored by two branches of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEEE), as well as from IEEE's Circuits and Systems Society in 2010. Additionally, she has received honors from both the National Science Foundation (2001-2006) and General Electric (1998).
University of North Dakota : The University of North Dakota (UND) offers an online bachelor of science (BSE) in mechanical engineering. This 129 credit program comprises online coursework and on-campus labs. These in-person labs take place during the summer in Grand Forks, ND and typically last five to 14 days, depending on the number of class credits. UND assists all students in finding lodging during these brief stays. This convenient online program has boasted employees of companies such as 3M, Boeing, and Intel among its students, who pursued their bachelor's degrees while they continued working. U.S. News & World Report (2020) ranked UND among the top 150 public universities in the nation and #181 best undergraduate engineering programs.
Additional online bachelor's programs offered at UND:
- BSE in chemical engineering
- BSE in electrical engineering (i.e., BSEE)
- BSE in civil engineering
Featured engineering professors at UND:
Dr. Sougata RoyDr. Sougata Roy, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, holds an MTech degree in mechanical engineering from the India Institute of Technology - Madras with a specialization in manufacturing and precision engineering. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University in 2018 and joined the University of North Dakota in fall 2020. His current research interests are in novel coating development for machine tools and minimum quantity lubrication in high-speed manufacturing.
Dr. George Bibel
Dr. George Bibel is a professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota. Professor Bibel began his engineering career at Standard Oil Co and was eventually promoted to head of the pressure vessel, piping, and tankage group. Bibel also worked with NASA Lewis from 1988 to 1997 as a university researcher or Summer Faculty Fellow. Professor Bibel is author of two books: "Beyond the Black Box: The Forensics of Airplane Crashes" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008), and "Train Wreck: The Forensics of Rail Disasters" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012); and is working with a certified Boeing/Airbus pilot on a second book about airplane crashes. Beyond the Black Box was developed into a seminar presented at Boeing. Bibel has introduced an innovated course on engineering disasters and is frequently interviewed on cable news and other national media (New York Times, Popular Science, NPR All Things Considered and Marketplace) about airplane crashes and train wrecks. Professor Bibel has also written "Listen Up and Fly Right (New York Times, 2008); Fasten Your Seat Belt, Yes, YOU (International Herald Tribune, 2008); Why Can’t Modern Technology Prevent Train Wrecks? (Huffingtion Post, 2012) and Train Wreck (Huffington Post, 2014). Professor Bibel received his BS and PhD from Case Western Reserve University and his MS from the University of Michigan.
Regis University: Regis University's ABET-accredited online bachelor of science (BS) in computer science imparts the fundamentals of computer engineering-particularly software development-with a combination of web-based coursework and intensive projects. In classes such as data structures, algorithms & analysis, and discrete mathematics, students gain proficiency in multiple computer languages, paradigms, and platforms, putting their newfound skills to practice by creating viable web designs, apps, software, and other business-ready tools.
Additional online bachelor's programs at Regis:
- BS in health information management
- BS in computer information systems
- BS in information technology
Featured engineering professors at Regis:
Dr. Richard L. BlumenthalDr. Richard L. Blumenthal-a professor and program coordinator for the College of Computer & Information Sciences-earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his MS from Rutgers University. Before joining Regis in 2002, Dr. Blumenthal garnered significant professional experience. He was the principal software engineer for Creekpath Systems and the senior software engineer for Athene Software. He's a senior member of the Association of Computer Machinery(ACM) and has been published in the Journal of Information Technology Impact and the International Journal of Artificial Intelligence Education, among others.
Professor Pamela Smallwood
Professor Pamela Smallwood earned her MS in computer science from Arizona State University before joining Regis University in 2000. She has worked for Park College, the University of Dayton Research Institute, and the U.S. Air Force, as well as with the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC). She's currently a reviewer and co-editor of the Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges. Finally, Professor Smallwood has received two teaching accolades at Regis University: a 2004 Special Recognition Award and a 2000 Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Finally, there are some online bachelor's degrees that are integrally related to engineering, such as EKU's program below, which provides an interdisciplinary approach with elements from civil and environmental engineering.