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Aerospace engineering covers the design and maintenance of both aircraft and spacecraft and involves concepts of temperature, pressure, and the dynamics of flight.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University has an online master of science in aerospace engineering (MSAE) program that can be completed within two years. Students may choose to concentrate in one of six areas: aerodynamics and applied aerodynamics; aerospace propulsion; computational fluid dynamics; dynamics and design of spacecraft and space systems; flight dynamics and control; or multifunctional materials and smart structures.
Courses are varied between many research areas and include topics such as fracture mechanics; compressible fluid flow; airfoil theory; linear control and design for MIMO systems; heat transfer theory and application; principles of structural vibration; and acoustic radiation. The program consists of 30 credits.
Although architectural work often involves working with architects, architectural engineers are strictly referred to as engineers. Architecture is an engineering discipline that deals with the technological aspects and multi-disciplinary approach to planning, designing, operation, and construction of buildings, such as analysis and integrated design of environmental systems.
Academy of Art University’s School of Architecture offers an online NAAB-accredited master of architecture (M.Arch) program that prepares graduates to provide meaningful contributions to the environment through the practice of urban design and architecture. Two track options are available for this degree: M.Arch Track I comprising 63 units, and M.Arch Track II which consists of 87 units. Based on a transcript evaluation and portfolio review, degree track placement is determined on an individual basis.
The curriculum includes courses such as structures; sustainable design; digitally generated morphology; digitally generated fabrication; graduate design technology: environmental controls; construction documents and building codes; architectural theory; and architectural tectonics.
Automotive engineering designs, tests, and produces automobiles and automobile systems through a combination of mechanical, electrical, software, and safety engineering.
The University of Michigan Ann Arbor’s College of Engineering Interactive Systems + Design has a master of engineering (MEng) program in global automotive and manufacturing engineering that may be completed online.
The curriculum includes courses such as energy generation and storage using modern materials; residual stress and distortion in modern manufacturing; composite materials; automotive body structures; advanced design for manufacturability; integrated vehicle systems design; smart manufacturing systems; global manufacturing; and model-based systems & design. As a 30-credit program, it can be completed in one to two years.
The college also offers an online master of engineering program in automotive engineering that comprises 30 credits and includes courses in powertrain; vehicle structure & materials; automotive powertrain and electrification systems design; vehicle dynamics & controls; autonomous & connected vehicle design; and vehicle electrical & software.
Biomedical engineering uses an engineering ethos to design innovative medical technologies like prostheses, implants, pharmaceutical drugs, diagnostic tools, and more.
The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering offers a master of science (MS) program in applied biomedical engineering that can be completed either online or in a hybrid fashion. Students in this program choose from five focus areas: biomechanics, imaging, medical devices, neuroengineering, and translational tissue engineering.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as molecular biology; biological solid & fluid mechanics; orthopedic biomechanics; principles of medical imaging; principles of medical instrumentation and devices; frontiers in neuroengineering; cell and tissue engineering; topics in systems neuroscience; and biological solid & fluid mechanics, among others.
Chemical engineering involves the production, transportation, distribution, and usage of chemicals, often those related to materials and energy.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University offers a master of science program in chemical engineering (MSChE) that is ranked as one of the best in the nation. This program is specifically designed for students who have undergraduate degrees in an engineering discipline and wish to pursue graduate degrees in chemical engineering. Applicants who possess degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, physics, and other branches of science and engineering may also qualify for admission with the completion of required prerequisite coursework.
Courses include topics such as polymer science and technology; advances in pollution prevention; polymer rheology and processing; transport phenomena; colloid science and nanoengineering; and green chemical engineering. The 30-credit program can be completed in three years.
Civil engineering involves the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings, bridges, roads, and other elements of an interconnected civil society.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
The New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark College of Engineering offers an online master of science program in civil engineering (MSCE) preparing leaders in this field.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as construction management; project planning and control; construction cost estimating; open channel flow; hydrology; introduction to urban transportation planning; traffic control; management science; organizational behavior; and legal aspects in environmental engineering.
Environmental engineering applies engineering concepts to the study of how the environment is affected by humans, and vice-versa, with applications in pollution reduction and public health.
The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering has an online master of science (MS) program in environmental engineering that focuses on how today’s scientists can better treat waste and pollution in the air, water, and soil.
Courses cover topics such as the principles of water and wastewater treatment; radioactive waste management; industrial processes and pollution prevention; environmental monitoring and sampling; and measurement and pseudo-measurement in the environmental arena. The 30-credit program can be completed in two years.
Structural engineering is a sub-field of civil engineering. This sub-discipline focuses on the durability, strength, and stability of airplanes, buildings, bridges, and several other structures.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering offers an online master of engineering degree with a concentration in structural engineering that can be completed in 19 months. Core courses include topics such as the advanced design of steel structures; bridge engineering; prestressed concrete behavior and design; structural dynamics and earthquake engineering; advanced mechanics for structural engineering; advanced reinforced concrete; advanced structural analysis; and design of structural steel connections.
Electives cover the following areas: advanced project management; construction liability and contracts; techniques of project planning and control; green building design; building information modeling; and advanced construction and engineering economics.
Applicants to the program must hold an ABET-accredited engineering undergraduate degree from any U.S. college or university, or in a closely related science major. GRE test scores are not required for admission.
Water systems engineering, also referred to as hydraulic engineering, deals with the movements of fluids like water and sewage, and has applications in creating and managing dams, levees, and other water systems.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has an online master of science in civil engineering where students can specialize in water resources engineering and science. Coursework includes subjects such as water quality engineering; urban hydrology and hydraulics; water quality processes; environmental systems; surface water hydrology; environmental fluid mechanics; and groundwater. The 36-credit program can be completed in two years.
Computer engineering involves the design, development, and testing of both software and hardware, including microprocessors, circuit boards, operating systems, and other components.
Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science offers a master of science program in computer engineering (MSCE) that can be completed in 15 months or more. The program’s core curriculum includes courses such as object-oriented design; advanced data structure and algorithms; advanced computer architecture; and introduction to system-on-chip design.
Electives cover areas such as object-oriented programming; software engineering; fundamentals of data and knowledge mining; machine learning; principles of operating systems; structured programming and formal methods; and computer security. The program consists of 30 credits.
Computer science includes the theory, development, and design of algorithms that store, process, and represent information.
The Stanford School of Engineering has an online master of science (MS) program in computer science that is intended to be a terminal degree. Students may choose from one of nine approved specializations: artificial intelligence; computational biology; computer and network security; human-computer interaction; information management and analytics; real-world computing; software theory; systems; or theoretical computer science. The 45-credit program may be completed in three years.
The curriculum includes courses such as mathematical foundations of computing; probabilistic systems analysis; design and analysis of algorithms; computer organization and systems; operating systems principles; and computer graphics: rendering, geometry, and image manipulation, among others.
Cybersecurity is the proactive protection of data and networks from outside attack, theft, and corruption.
NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering has an online master of science in cybersecurity program that’s linked to some of the best online labs and government programs out there. Core coursework covers both computer science and security, covering topics such as network security; applied cryptography; application security; and information, security, and privacy.
Electives go over a diverse cross-section of areas, including introduction to operating systems; computer networking; design and analysis of algorithms; principles of database systems; machine learning; foundations of computer science; digital forensics; information systems security engineering and management; and penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. Students may also choose to specialize in cyber operations or cyber defense, for which the curriculum culminates in an acknowledgment from the NSA. The 30-credit program takes two years to complete.
Data science involves the processing, management, and interpretation of massive quantities of data, and sits at the intersection of statistics, computer science, and machine learning.
The Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering has an online master of science program in data science (MSDS) that balances theory and applications. Core courses cover the following areas: data science; data visualization; statistical models and regression; and computational statistics.
Electives go into subjects such as big data processing using Hadoop; queuing theory with applications to data science; stochastic optimization and control; and applied game theory. The 10-course program may be completed in two to three years.
Software engineering involves the design, development, and maintenance of software applications.
The Washington State University Global Campus offers an online master of science in software engineering that’s specifically designed for workplace advancement.
Coursework includes topics such as software requirements; introduction to database systems; big data; leadership, supervision, and management; software design and architecture; software maintenance; project management; software quality; and software testing. The 31-credit program can be completed in 18 months when taken full-time.
User experience (UX) designers focus on the interaction between products or services and people.
The master of science program in user experience (UX) at Arizona State University is a collaboration between three programs: graphic information technology, technical writing and communication, and human systems engineering.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as cross-media design solutions; foundations of human systems engineering; fundamentals of technical communication; methods and tools in human systems engineering; usability and user experience; user experience; content management and topic-based authoring; global issues in technical communication; human factors in medical systems; human factors in transportation; and visualizing data and information.
Graduates will be able to take up roles such as human factors engineers, usability engineers, content designers, user experience designers, user experience developers, and user experience researchers.
Involving electronics, electromagnetism, and electricity, electrical engineering houses subfields such as telecommunications, microwave engineering, signal processing, and control systems.
The Russ College of Engineering and Technology at Ohio University offers a master of science program in electrical engineering (MSEE) that can be completed in as little as two years. Students choose from one of six concentrations: autonomous unmanned vehicles; communications and digital signal processing; computer engineering; electrical engineering; electronic navigation systems; and micro nano devices and systems. Each concentration comes with its own tailored curriculum of six to seven classes and three electives. The program consists of 36 credits.
Courses include communication skills for engineers; computational tools for engineers; design of digital circuits; microwave theory and devices; embedded systems; integrated navigation systems; satellite-based navigation systems; vehicle control; communication engineering; design of digital circuits; and information theory, among others.
Electrical and computer engineering (ECE) involves the interplay between computers and machines and has applications in power generation, robotics, motors, lasers, and medical devices.
The University of Arizona has an online master of science (MS) program in electrical and computer engineering perfect for working engineers who want to take on a more design-oriented role.
Students may choose to specialize in one of the following areas: high-performance computing; digital signal processing, communications, and control; computer networks; software engineering and artificial intelligence; detection and estimation; holography and diffractive optics; simulation modeling and heterogeneous systems design; or wireless communications and networks. The 30-credit program takes two years to complete.
Nanoengineering deals with designing, producing, and using materials that fall on the nanoscale (one-billionth of a meter), with major applications in computing, medicine, and manufacturing.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State has an online master of nanoengineering (MNAE) that gives students who already have an engineering background a fundamental understanding of nanoscale materials, devices, and systems.
Core classes cover topics such as conventional and emerging nanomanufacturing techniques; mechanical properties of nanostructured materials; nanoscale simulations and modeling; wearable biosensors; nanobiotechnology; and colloid science and nanoengineering. The 30-credit program can be completed in two years.
Power systems engineering involves the creation, transport, and use of electric power.
The Northeastern University College of Engineering has a master of science (MS) program in energy systems for those pursuing an industrial or public planning career. Required courses include economic decision-making; fundamentals of energy system integration; mathematical methods for mechanical engineers; and the foundations of accounting and finance.
Students then select classes from the following list of electives: electroanalytical chemistry; materials chemistry of renewable energy; electric drives; power systems analysis; power electronics; engineering project management; solar thermal engineering; power plant design and analysis; electrochemical energy storage; and energy storage systems. The 32-credit program may be completed within two years.
Engineering management applies business and leadership skills like organization, administration, and problem-solving to the field of engineering.
ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering offers an online master of engineering (MEng) program in engineering management that can be completed in 18 months. The program helps graduates broaden their knowledge of engineering and build the knowledge and skills necessary for advancing in their career in a management or leadership position within a technical organization.
Courses include topics such as information systems engineering; simulating stochastic systems; applied deterministic operations research; strategic technology management; engineering administration; and financial engineering. Electives cover areas such as software, supply chains, reliability, and entrepreneurship. The program consists of 30 credits.
A complex field of engineering, construction management requires a thorough understanding of a wide variety of topics encompassing the industry’s legal, business, and technical aspects.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University has a master of science program in management with a concentration in construction management that can be completed in 15 months. Students in this program gain the project management skills and real-world expertise demanded by employers.
Courses may include topics such as cultivating organizational culture; construction budgeting, estimating, and bidding; construction law and contracts; construction quality management and productivity; and construction materials and methods. The program consists of 36 credits.
Engineering technology is the practical application of engineering and science to a range of real-world problems.
Purdue University’s Polytechnic Institute offers an online master of science program in engineering technology that helps students gain in-depth technical knowledge, direct experiences, and essential skills in the discipline. Graduates will have the ability to solve industry and business challenges using existing technologies and sciences.
Made up of 30 credits, the program includes courses such as technology from a global perspective; collaborative leadership and agile strategy; facilities engineering technology; applied engineering statistics for industry; energy sustainability and management; manufacturing systems design for sustainability; and change management for enterprise sustainability.
Geographic information systems are a type of technology that is useful for modern civil engineers. Engineers can use GIS for collecting and evaluating geographic data.
Johns Hopkins University offers an online master of science program in geographic information systems providing students with a strong foundation in programming and application development, geospatial data science, big data technologies, project management, and predictive analytics. Students in this program have three focus area options: advanced geospatial technology; GIS programming and application development; and geospatial data science and predictive analytics.
This 30-credit program is composed of one required core course, three customizable core courses, and six elective courses. The curriculum includes courses such as capstone for geographic information systems; web GIS; geographic information systems; geospatial statistics; spatial analytics; programming in GIS; remote sensing: systems and applications; GIS and spatial decision support systems; and cartographic design and visualization.
Industrial engineering is focused on optimizing production in manufacturing and other fields.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University has an online master of industrial engineering (MIE) degree that is regarded as one of the best in the nation. Designed for students with an undergraduate engineering degree or the physical, behavioral, or mathematical sciences, this 30-credit program does not require a thesis, final oral exam, or on-campus residency.
Core classes cover topics such as manufacturing process engineering; introduction to operations research; and stochastic models in industrial engineering. Students also need to complete breadth requirements by selecting one course from four of the five breadth requirement groups (economic & decision analysis; human factors & ergonomics; manufacturing systems; supply chain and logistics; and systems analytics and optimization) plus one course from the computer science, mathematics, and statistics group. The 30-credit program may be completed in two years.
Often referred to as IT, Information Technology is the application of technology to solve organizational and business problems. This engineering field uses computers, networks, storage, and other technical infrastructure for dealing with and manipulating information or data.
Liberty University offers an online master of science program in information technology preparing students to tackle several issues that impact organizations, businesses, and end-users everywhere. Students in this program will have the option to further deepen their grasp of the IT field through specializations in network design and security or software design and management.
Made up of 36 credits, the core curriculum includes courses such as ethics and legal issues; software development; IT infrastructure; and systems analysis, modeling, and design. The network design and security concentration includes courses such as applied network security; network architecture and design; and telecommunications and network security. The concentration in software design and management includes coursework in software development management; software design; and secure software engineering.
Graduates of this program can pursue positions such as application designers, network security managers, security analysts or auditors, database administrators or analysts, and software programmers.
Materials engineering involves the discovery, design, and manipulation of materials, in particular solids (metals, minerals) and synthetics (plastics).
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University has a master of materials science and engineering (MMSE) degree that can be completed online.
Courses include ceramic processing; the thermodynamics of materials; phase transformations and kinetics; processing of metallic materials; material forensics and degradation; defects in solids; and polymer technology and engineering. As a 30-credit program, students can graduate in two years.
A branch of applied mathematics, engineering mathematics concerns mathematical methods and techniques that are typically used in engineering and industry. Applied mathematics is the application of mathematical methods by different fields such as physics, engineering, medicine, biology, finance, business, industry, and computer science. Applied mathematics is therefore a combination of mathematical science and specialized knowledge.
Offered by the Department of Applied Mathematics, the online master of science in applied & computational mathematics degree offered by the University of Washington provides an outstanding education and allows students to earn a highly marketable degree. Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 3.2 GPA.
A minimum of 36 credits is required to graduate, however, students normally complete this program with 42 credits. Courses include vector calculus & complex variables; introduction to dynamical systems & chaos; methods for partial differential equations; scientific computing; applied linear algebra & introductory numerical analysis; computational methods for data analysis; and high-performance scientific computing.
Mechanical engineering designs and operates machines through the use of materials science, mechanics, electricity, and thermodynamics.
The University of Washington College of Engineering offers a master of science in mechanical engineering degree that can be taken either with a thesis option or as a purely coursework-based curriculum. Students may concentrate in one of several areas: biomechanics; controls, mechatronics, and robotics; dynamics and vibrations; energy; fluid mechanics and microfluidics; or mechanics, materials, and engineering.
Core courses cover numerical analysis and engineering analysis, while electives come from one of the concentration areas or an interdisciplinary field such as other engineering disciplines, mathematical and computational sciences, physical sciences, or approved biological sciences. The program consists of 42 credits and may be completed in as few as five quarters if taken full-time.
Nuclear engineering involves the fission and fusion of atomic nuclei, with major applications in energy creation, radiation analysis, and medical devices.
Consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation, Penn State World Campus’ master of engineering program in nuclear engineering can be completed entirely online.
This non-thesis professional master’s degree consists of 27 coursework credits plus three research/paper writing credits. The curriculum includes courses such as nuclear and radiochemistry; introduction to statistical thermodynamics; nuclear materials; radiological safety; radioactive waste control; design principles of reactor systems; power plant simulation; reactor engineering; and numerical solutions applied to heat transfer and fluid mechanics problems.
Drawing from computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering, robotics engineering designs and develops the various component systems in robots.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s online master of science in robotics engineering is the first of its kind in the nation. Foundation classes cover robot dynamics; robot control; and the foundations of robotics. Students may also add a specialization in autonomous vehicles.
Core classes include subjects such as project management; managing technological innovation; entrepreneurship and innovation; technology commercialization; and the heart of leadership: power, reflection, and interpersonal skills. The 30-credit program can be completed in approximately two years.
Closely tied to industrial engineering, safety engineering uses engineering processes to reduce risks in manufacturing and design.
Texas A&M University’s Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering offers a master of science program in safety engineering administered by the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center.
Core classes cover the following subjects: process safety engineering; quantitative risk analysis; fire protection engineering; safety management systems; and fundamentals of safety. Electives include system safety engineering, industrial hygiene, and interdisciplinary classes. The non-thesis option of the 32-credit program can be completed in two years.
Quality engineering is an engineering discipline that creates and implements strategies for quality assurance in product development and production as well as software development.
Arizona State University offers an online master of engineering program in quality, reliability, and statistical engineering. Students in this program will learn about modern engineering and statistical techniques, as well as how they’re deployed in several business and industrial settings. Students will have the unique opportunity to pair their degree with ASU’s Lean Six Sigma black belt graduate certificate without needing to earn additional credits.
This 30-credit program includes courses such as advanced quality control; design engineering experiments; regression analysis; reliability engineering; quality management; advanced simulating stochastic systems; applied deterministic operations research models; applied stochastic operations research models; production systems; and introduction to financial engineering.
Related to engineering management, systems engineering addresses complex systems’ logistics, reliability, coordination, and optimization.
George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering has a master of science in systems engineering that can be completed entirely online. Core classes include systems engineering principles; system definition and cost modeling; system design and integration; system management and evaluation; and system methodology and modeling.
Students then complete three courses in one of four areas of concentration: architecture-based systems integration (ABSI); systems engineering of software-intensive systems (SESI); or systems management (SMG). The 30-credit program can be completed in two years.
Lean Six Sigma is a blend of two manufacturing concepts focused on minimizing product defects and the wastage of resources. A number of universities offer certification programs in Lean Six Sigma, which can generally be completed in six to 12 weeks.
Upon completing a dual MBA and engineering degree program, students will hold master’s degrees in two of the most coveted fields. They may be eligible to take up leadership roles such as vice president of engineering, chief technical officer, and chief operating officer.
Operations management is an important cog in any business wheel. This role ensures that all products and services are produced and delivered on time; there is minimum wastage of resources; and quality is maintained across all units.
A master’s degree in data science trains students to expertly analyze data, as well as in other important disciplines such as machine learning, programming, database management, and data visualization. This degree is ideal for aspiring data scientists, data analysts, and pricing analysts.
Electrical engineering is a field where professionals research, develop, and design various electrical components and systems. An online master’s degree can be valuable to students who wish to take up advanced positions in their career.