Online Engineering Degree Programs in Arizona

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Engineering is not only one of the top-paying career fields in Arizona, but also one of the fastest growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2016) reported that engineering and architecture professionals make up nearly 1.8 percent of the state workforce, occupying a total of 47,570 positions.

There’s evidence that the number of engineers across many subfields will continue to grow in the future, both nationwide and in Arizona. By illustration, the BLS (October 2016) predicted that the following specializations would be among the top-growing in the nation between 2014 and 2024: civil engineering (305,000 new positions added nationally, 2014-24); mechanical (292,100 new positions), industrial (243,200 new positions), and electrical (180,200 new positions). In percentage terms, the nation’s top-growing engineering subfields included biomedical (23.1 percent increase in positions, 2014-24), environmental (12.4 percent), and civil (8.4 percent). And within AZ, these projected percentages were even more robust. In fact, Projections Central (2017) found that the following specializations were expected to explode in Arizona during that same decade: biomedical engineers (40.2 percent increase in AZ positions, 2014-24), civil (29.4 percent), environmental (25 percent), mechanical (16.3 percent), and chemical (14.1 percent). And all of these national and state-based figures were significantly higher than the average expected growth across all occupations during those ten years (6.5 years). In short, opportunities for engineers look bright into the future.

Engineers in AZ also enjoy other benefits, including the support from local engineering organizations and societies and a relatively high salary compared to the rest of the workforce. In terms of support, engineering professionals in Arizona can join any of the following societies to network, find job opportunities, pursue additional education, and even obtain legal advocacy:

In terms of compensation, engineers earn on average significantly more than many other occupations. Here are some of the top-paying engineering specializations in AZ (BLS May 2016):

Chemical engineers – $113,650 (average annual salary)
Electrical engineers – $104,680
Computer hardware engineers – $103,260
Aerospace engineers – $99,590
Electronics engineers – $98,410

In sum, Arizona’s expected job growth, array of professional associations, and relatively high salaries in engineering make this an especially attractive career field. Prior to becoming an engineer, however, it’s necessary to attain the appropriate education and training. While some prospective engineers seek out traditional, on-campus degree programs, others choose online engineering programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or certificate level. These may allow students and working professionals a greater degree of flexibility while completing their studies.

This article explores the wealth of online engineering schools in AZ, as well as some outstanding professors, expected coursework, and accreditation information.

Featured Online Engineering Programs
Arizona State University	Electrical Engineering (BSE)	Visit Site
Arizona State University	Mechanical Engineering (BSE)	Visit Site
ECPI University	Electronics Engineering Technology (Bachelor's)	Visit Site
ECPI University	Mechanical Engineering Technology (Bachelor's)	Visit Site
University of Tennessee, Knoxville	Online MS - Computer Science (No GRE Required)	Visit Site
Grand Canyon University	BS - Information Technology	Visit Site
Grand Canyon University	MS - Software Engineering	Visit Site
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)	Online MSE - Engineering Management	Visit Site
Southern New Hampshire University	Online MBA - Engineering Management	Visit Site
University of West Alabama	Computer Engineering Technology (BS)	Visit Site
University of West Alabama	Engineering Technology (BS) - On-Campus	Visit Site
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Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in AZ

To qualify for credentialing or employment as an engineer in Arizona, candidates typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Here are two standout online bachelor’s degrees from AZ-based institutions.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Electrical Engineering – Arizona State University

At Arizona State University in Tempe, students can pursue an online B.S. in engineering degree with a focus on electrical engineering. This 120-credit program costs $633 per credit-hour for a total of $75,960, not including associated fees. Students take courses on circuits, modern differential equations, electromagnetics, and random signal analysis, among others. This program has been ranked as one of best online undergraduate engineering degrees in the nation, and the faculty includes Nobel Laureates, National Academy of Engineering members, and other respected educators in the field.

Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering – Arizona State University

Students at Arizona State University who prefer a computer-related field may pursue a distance-based B.S. degree in software engineering. This 120-credit program also costs a total of $75,960, not including fees. This program has received ABET accreditation (see “Accreditation” below), and includes courses on programming languages, software testing and quality, and the design and analysis of data structures and algorithms, among others.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in AZ

While a master’s degree in engineering isn’t always a prerequisite for employment or professional credentialing, it can provide for a greater degree of specialization, which may lead to positions with greater pay and responsibilities.

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering – University of Arizona

At the University of Arizona in Tucson, students can earn an online M.S. degree in industrial engineering. This program includes between 30 and 33 credit-hours, nine of which are in core areas including engineering statistics, and a survey of optimization. Tuition for this program is between $34,470 and $37,917, depending on the program pathways that the student pursues (2017-18).

Master of Science in Engineering in Software Engineering – Arizona State University

Current or aspiring computer engineers can pursue an online M.S. in engineering with a focus on software engineering from Arizona State University. This distance-based degree program includes 30 credits. At a cost of $904 per credit-hour, total tuition is set at $27,120, although this may not include any additional fees. Students take courses on information assurance and security; software engineering principles and concepts; software verification and validation; and software project, process, and quality management, among others. It’s important to note that qualifying applicants must have both a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or a related field, as well as an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Other Online Engineering Programs in AZ

In addition to online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, there are also distance-based associate degrees and graduate certificates available from schools in Arizona.

Associate of Applied Science in Computer Programming – Mesa Community College

Mesa Community College offers an online A.A.S. in computer programming, which requires between 61 and 63 credit-hours in subjects such as database management, computer programming, Javascripting, and project management, among other core and elective courses. Tuition varies based on the residence status of the student; Maricopa County residents, for example, pay $86 per credit-hour, not including additional fees.

Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering – University of Arizona

Current degree-holders who don’t want to pursue a full master’s degree may earn an online graduate certificate in systems engineering from the University of Arizona. This program requires 12 credit-hours in four specialized systems engineering topics. Total tuition for this program is set at $13,788.

What to Consider in an Online Engineering Program

Although prospective engineers may be lured by the promise of a competitive salary and solid job prospects upon graduation, there are other factors to take into consideration before applying to an online engineering program in AZ:

Is the program entirely online? If not, how often is campus attendance required?
How much does the program cost? Does this include all related costs and fees? Will tuition increase over the course of studies?
Can practical experience credits be completed in the student’s home community, or will the student need to travel to various locations?
Does the program assist with job placement after graduation? What other student services exist?
For undergraduate degrees, do these prepare students to enter into a graduate program? Or will students need to complete additional bridging courses?

Furthermore, prospective students are encouraged to ensure that their programs are both accredited and retain proper “state authorization” status.

Accreditation

Accreditation implies that a school or program has voluntarily met the standards set forth by one of the accrediting agencies throughout the U.S. While criteria vary, accreditation can show that a school is committed to providing high-quality education, student services, professional management of its finances, and other benefits. Of course, it’s important to mention that not all accreditation carries the same weight; instead, aspiring students should look for programs that have received accreditation through an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, applicants should also recognize that schools can be approved on a programmatic, regional, or national level by some of the following agencies:

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

Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Programmatic accreditation

State Authorization

Along with accreditation, prospective students are also advised to search for programs with proper “state authorization” status as well. To elaborate, students in Arizona are only eligible to enroll in programs that have been authorized to operate in the state. This is not an issue when a student and a distance-based institution are in the same state, but rather when a student chooses to enroll in an out-of-state online program. Many schools display this information boldly on their websites to aid in the research process (e.g., University of Arizona). For those that don’t, students are encouraged to contact admissions officials to ensure eligibility.

Admissions Requirements

While admissions requirements for online engineering programs in Arizona vary, they generally reflect the same eligibility criteria as their on-campus counterparts. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the admissions requirements for online engineering programs in the state broken down by degree level:

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Admissions

Completed application and fee
Official high school transcripts or GED with proof of specific prerequisite classes in math and science
Competitive GPA (e.g., >2.5)
Letters of recommendation from teachers
ACT or SAT scores
A personal essay or statement of purpose

Online Master’s Degree in Engineering Admissions

Completed application and fee (NOTE: Some engineering schools require separate applications to the graduate school and the Department of Engineering)
Official transcripts from a bachelor’s degree program in engineering with proof of prerequisite coursework
Competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0)
Standardized test scores
A personal essay
Two or more letters of recommendation

Online Graduate Certificate Admissions

Completed application and fee
A bachelor’s degree in engineering
CV or resume
Two or more letters of recommendation
A statement of purpose

Online Engineering Professors in Arizona

Here are three talented, accomplished educators who lead engineering classes at universities where students can pursue an online degree:

Dr. James Collofello – Arizona State University

Dr. James Collofello is a professor within the School of Computing, Informatics & Decision Systems Engineering at Arizona State University, where he has been employed since 1979. He currently serves as the associate dean of academic and student affairs for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. His research interests include software engineering, software project management, and software quality assurance. Notably, he was the 2011 recipient of the Daniel Jankowski Legacy Award.

Dr. Pavlo Krokhmal – University of Arizona

Dr. Pavlo Krokhmal is a professor within the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona. His research interests include stochastic programming, decision making under uncertainty, optimal trading strategies, pricing of derivatives, and renewable energy, among many others. He has numerous authorship credits to his name, including articles published in the INFORMS Journal on Computing, the Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, and the Annals of Operations Research. He has also received numerous awards, including the 2015 NRC Senior Research Associateship Award, as well as the 2008 Young Investigator Award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Dr. David Allee – Arizona State University

Dr. David Allee is a professor within the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University, where his research expertise lies in flexible electronics; large area sensing arrays; VLF electric and magnetic fields; fundamental and external electrical noise; and nuclear amplifiers, among other areas. He has co-authored over 125 scientific publications and U.S. patents, and his work has been published in the IEEE Sensors Journal and the IEEE Electron Device Letters. He also serves as a guest editor for special issues of the Journal of Display Technology and Sensors, and he received the 2008 Best Teacher Award from the College of Engineering at Arizona State University.

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...