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A bachelor’s degree is typically required to become an engineer. Although no schools in Delaware currently offer an online bachelor’s degree in engineering, there are two nearby institutions which admit Delaware residents:
Bachelor of Science in Modeling and Simulation Engineering – Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University of Norfolk, Virginia offers a distance-based bachelor of science in modeling and simulation engineering. This online program is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to design, test, analyze, and interpret systems and data with real-world applications. Students must complete 127 credit-hours to graduate. Tuition is set at $369 per credit-hour for out-of-state students, bringing the total cost to $46,863, not including additional fees.
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering – Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University in New York offers an online bachelor of science in electrical engineering, which includes courses taught by faculty members at Stony Brook University, the University of Buffalo, and Binghamton University. The curriculum for this 120-credit-hour program includes courses on random signals, electronics, object oriented programming, technical communications, and engineering design, among others. Tuition is set at $898 per credit-hour for out-of-state residents, along with an $108 fee per course.
Online master’s programs in Delaware can help engineers further their knowledge and develop a greater level of specialization in their chosen field:
Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering – University of Delaware
The University of Delaware in Newark offers an online master of engineering in mechanical engineering, which can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. This 30-credit-hour program includes courses on solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, dynamics, heat transfer, orthopedic biomechanics, and engineering mathematics, along with other elective classes. Tuition for this program is $1,770 per credit-hour, excluding additional fees.
Master of Science in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering – Virginia Commonwealth University
The Virginia Commonwealth University of Richmond offers an online master of science in mechanical and nuclear engineering, which can be completed entirely online. This 30-credit-hour degree program includes courses on mechanical and nuclear engineering analysis and continuum mechanics; topics in nuclear engineering; and directed research, among others. According to the school’s tuition calculator, the program costs $1,950 per credit-hour for part-time students, although prospective applicants should reach out to the school directly for a customized assessment.
In addition to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, here are two outstanding online certificate programs in engineering which can enhance one’s specialized knowledge, salary, or career prospects:
Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering, Analysis, and Design – New Jersey Institute of Technology
The New Jersey Institute of Technology of Newark, offers an online graduate certificate in software engineering, analysis, and design. This 12-credit-hour program covers courses on systems analysis and design, software design and production methodology, enterprise database management, and data management system design, among others, and is provided 100 percent online. Furthermore, all credits obtained in this program can be applied towards a future master’s degree. Graduate tuition for out-of-state students is set at $1,716 per credit-hour (including fees), bringing the total cost of this program to $20,592.
Graduate Certificate in Reliability Engineering – University of Maryland
The University of Maryland of College Park offers an online graduate certificate in reliability engineering and a master’s degree in the same field. The programs can be completed entirely online, and include four-credit courses on topics such as the fundamentals of failure mechanisms and reliability analysis, among others. Tuition is set at $1,153 per credit-hour, excluding additional fees.
Anyone interested in pursuing an online engineering degree in Delaware or a surrounding state is encouraged to perform thorough research prior to applying. Prospective applicants are advised to ask the following questions:
Also, all aspiring online students should be aware of two other program aspects: accreditation and state authorization status.
To secure accreditation, engineering degree programs must meet certain quality standards surrounding the education delivered, the management of finances, student outcomes, and other measures. Accreditation is important because many financial aid agencies only offer loans to students enrolled in accredited programs; furthermore, graduating from an accredited program is necessary to qualify for PE licensure and in some cases, employment.
Prospective applicants should note, however, that not all accreditation holds the same weight. They should search for programs that have received accreditation through an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Some of the various CHEA-recognized accrediting agencies include:
National accreditation
Regional accreditation
Programmatic accreditation
State authorization means that a school is eligible to operate in a certain state. In other words, an online school based in one state may not always be able to provide education to residents of other places. This information is often readily available on program websites (e.g., University of Delaware). Students should contact admissions offices with any questions about eligibility not answered on state authorization pages.
The admissions requirements for most online engineering programs are similar to their on-campus degree programs at the same level of study. For example, the online master of engineering in mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware requires that qualifying students have:
Other common application requirements include the submission of additional test scores; proof of prerequisite coursework; a personal statement or letter of intent; a resume; and other materials.
The University of Delaware is the only school in the state to offer an online engineering degree, and it boasts a faculty of talented educators and researchers. Here are three exceptional engineering professors in Delaware:
Dr. Dennis Assanis – University of Delaware
Dr. Dennis Assanis is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, where he also serves as the president of the university. He has received a host of awards, including the 2016 Paideia Award from the Hellenic University Club of Philadelphia and 2013 recognition as a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science. Notably, he was a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He has been an editor of the International Journal of Automotive Technology since 2008 and on the editorial board of numerous other publications.
Dr. Michael H. Santare – University of Delaware
At the University of Delaware, Dr. Michael H. Santare works as a professor of mechanical engineering, where his research interests include applied mechanics, orthopedic biomechanics, and composite materials. He co-holds a patent in the United States for a stemless hip prosthesis, and he has author credits in numerous high-impact publications, including the Journal of Power Sources and the Journal of Polymer Science: Part B: Polymer Physics, among others. According to his biography, the “unifying theme to his research is the mechanics of complex material systems in which microstructure is a key element.”
Dr. Ajay K. Prasad – University of Delaware
Dr. Ajay K. Prasad is an engineering alumni distinguished professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, where he also serves as the department chair. His research lies in the area of clean energy, including fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, wind and ocean current energy, and vehicle-to-grid technology. Dr. Prasad has been a reviewer for numerous influential publications, including the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, the Journal of Engineering Mechanics, and the Journal of Fluids Engineering, among others.
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...