Online Engineering Degrees in Georgia

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Engineers in Georgia (GA) work in a thriving industry—one that acts as a strong support for the state economy as a whole. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS May 2016), there were 62,780 architecture and engineering professionals in Georgia, amounting to nearly one-and-a-half percent of all jobs statewide. And the opportunities for those with an engineering degree in the state are only expected to grow into the future; in fact, the BLS (October 2016) predicted significant growth in many fields of engineering across the U.S. between 2014 and 2024, some more than others. A few of the fastest growing engineering specializations nationally included biomedical engineering (23.1 percent growth in positions 2014-24); environmental (12.4 percent); marine (8.9 percent); and civil (8.4 percent). In GA, the expected growth across these subfields is even higher than national projections. As proof of point, during that same decade, Projections Central (2017) anticipated the following percentage increases in openings around Georgia: biomedical (26.2 percent growth in positions 2014-24), civil (13.9 percent), materials (13.6 percent), computer hardware (12.6 percent), and aerospace (11.5). Notably, all of these figures are significantly more robust than the average growth expected across all occupations nationally between 2014 and 2024 (6.5 percent).

Along with the promise of growing job openings in the future, engineers in the state also enjoy the support of engineering organizations and societies. Here is a handful of groups that offer education, advocacy, scholarly research, networking opportunities, and many other benefits to engineers in the state:

Finally, engineering professionals in Georgia can also expect to earn a fairly generous salary during their career. While the BLS (May 2016) found that the average annual salary for all architectural and engineering professionals in the state was $78,820, some subfields can expect to earn much more. For example, GA aerospace engineers earned a mean annual salary of $110,960; while chemical engineers earned an annual average wage of $94,280. These figures are more than double the statewide average salary of all occupations ($46,540). In sum, engineering in GA can prove a lucrative field of work, ripe with opportunities into coming years.

Ultimately, these reasons compel many people in Georgia to pursue a career in engineering. Before beginning work as an engineer, however, it’s generally necessary to complete an educational program. And while many aspiring engineers enroll in traditional, on-campus programs, others are now obtaining certificates, diplomas, and degrees online.

Of course, online engineering programs are a relatively new development and some prospective students may be wary to enroll. In reality, however, there are many high-quality, accredited online engineering programs in Georgia that may provide an excellent option for anyone interested in the freedom and flexibility of a distance education. These educational pathways may be ideal especially for working professionals who want to keep their employment; those living in more rural regions of the state; or those with familial or other types of commitments preventing them from attending an on-campus degree program.

This guide offers an overview of online engineering schools based in Georgia, including expected coursework in different degree programs, and accreditation information.

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Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in GA

To become an engineer in Georgia, a person must typically have at least a bachelor’s degree. This is the minimum academic requirement for various certifications and not surprisingly, employers generally prefer candidates with formal education. Here are two online bachelor’s programs in engineering from institutions in GA:

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology – Kennesaw State University

At Kennesaw State University, aspiring engineers may pursue an online B.S. in industrial engineering technology. Students take courses on physics and chemistry, logistics, supply chain management, product and process costing, engineering economy, and operations management for engineers, among many others. Furthermore, the lectures have been pre-recorded so that online students can access information at any point in time, although a live component is delivered once per week through web conferencing software. The cost per credit-hour for online undergraduate programs at KSU is $260.87; therefore, tuition for this 127-credit program is $33,130.49. Additional fees may apply.

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Georgia Southern University

Students at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro may pursue an online B.S. in information technology. The program is offered completely online, and campus attendance is generally not required throughout the duration of the program, although some courses require one or more “proctored experiences,” which are labs or examinations conducted under supervision at an approved testing facility. Students take courses on architecture and operating systems, discrete mathematics, database design and development, systems acquisition, and human-computer interaction, among others, in order to complete the required 120 credits. Tuition for this program is $350 per credit-hour.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in GA

While some engineers choose to gain professional experience after finishing a bachelor’s degree, others obtain a master’s degree for the opportunities to develop more specialized knowledge, as well as the ability to seek higher paying jobs. Here are two accredited online master’s degrees based in Georgia:

Master of Software Engineering – Mercer University

At Mercer University in Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah, online students may pursue either a master of science (M.S.) in software engineering or software systems. These programs are designed to help students learn to develop high-quality, lower level designs using Refactoring; create or improve higher-level designs using Design Patterns; apply agile software development processes; and program proficiently in Java, C++ or C#, among many other objectives. Tuition for graduate engineering degrees is set at $882 per credit-hour, although additional fees may apply for online courses.

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering – Georgia Institute of Technology

Students at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta may pursue an M.S. in aerospace engineering entirely online. Courses include aerodynamics, aircraft design, computational fluid dynamics, wind engineering, acoustics, rocket propulsion, data and visual analytics, and power system engineering, among others. The curriculum comprises 33 hours of coursework, and tuition is set at $3,611 for each three-credit hour course (fall 2017).

Other Online Engineering Programs in GA

Beyond bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, a number of other distance-based program pathways exist, from associate degrees to graduate certificates.

Associate of Science in Computer Science or Engineering – Georgia State University Perimeter College

Georgia State University Perimeter College of Atlanta offers students the opportunity to pursue an online A.S. degree with a focus on computer science or engineering. Students take courses on the principles of computer science, data structures, theoretical foundations of computer science, and principles of physics, among others, completing a total of 60 credit-hours. Tuition is set at a relatively affordable $135 per credit-hour, although this does not include additional fees.

Graduate Certificate in Engineering and Manufacturing Management – Georgia Southern University

At Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, students may complete 12 credit-hours to obtain a graduate certificate in engineering and manufacturing management. This program includes courses on world-class manufacturing and technical management, as well as various electives, including leadership and motivation, global management, and production planning and facilities design, among others. The University System of Georgia provides a table of tuition rates for associated institutions (including GSU); since costs vary, prospective students are encouraged to contact the program administrators directly with questions about tuition.

Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider

Many aspiring engineers are attracted to the promises of a relatively high salary and ample job opportunities into the future, but there are many important considerations when applying to an online program. For example, students may wish to examine whether or not the program can be completed on a part-time basis; how long it takes to complete; whether additional fees exist that are not listed on the school’s webpage; if any campus attendance is required during the program; and if the school assists graduates with job placement after graduation, among other factors.

Additionally, prospective students should familiarize themselves with their program’s accreditation and state authorization statuses.

Accreditation

Aspiring engineers should ensure that their online program has received accreditation. While graduating from an accredited program is not mandatory to work in this field, it has its advantages; for example, future employers may only hire graduates from an accredited program; also, it may be a requirement to qualify for a graduate degree program or professional certification.

Programs and schools voluntarily pursue accreditation as a symbol of dedication to quality; in order to receive this status they must meet certain strict standards regarding the level of education offered, management of funds, student outcomes, and a number of others.

Prospective students should note that not all accreditation entities are the same; they are advised to look for programs that have received accreditation through an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which can be offered at a national, regional, or programmatic level. For online engineering schools in GA, here are a few of the established entities which approve programs and institutions:

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

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Programmatic accreditation

State Authorization Status

Online engineering students in Georgia must also determine whether their programs of interest have proper state authorization status, as well. This is generally only applicable to students residing in one state and attending an online program in another. In other words, students living in one state may only attend out-of-state programs that have the approval to operate. Many schools display this information on their website (e.g., University of Georgia). For those which don’t, students are advised to contact program coordinators to ensure eligibility.

Admissions Requirements for Online Engineering Programs in GA

Generally, online engineering programs have similar admissions procedures to their on-campus counterparts. Here’s an overview of the common admissions requirements for distance-based engineering students applying at the bachelor’s, master’s, and graduate certificate levels:

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Completed application and fee
A high school diploma or GED with strong grades in prerequisite courses (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology, calculus, algebra, geometry)
A competitive GPA of (at least 2.5 or 3.0)
Letters of recommendation
A statement of purpose or other personal essay
ACT or SAT scores.

Online Master’s Degree in Engineering Requirements

Completed application(s) and fee (NOTE: Some programs require separate applications to the graduate school and Department of Engineering)
A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a closely related field
An undergraduate GPA above 3.0 for more selective institutions
GRE test scores
A statement of purpose or other type of personal essay
Letters of recommendation from professors, employers, advisors, or other qualifying professionals
A resume or CV

Online Graduate or Professional Certificate Requirements

Completed application and fee
A bachelor’s degree in engineering
A resume or CV
Letters of recommendation
A personal essay

Online Engineering Professors to Know in Georgia

For prospective students who are considering enrolling in an online engineering program, there is a number of talented, renowned professors who lead courses at institutions with distance-based programs. Here are three exceptional professors at Georgia schools with standout online engineering degree programs.

Dr. Gregory Wiles – Kennesaw State University

Dr. Gregory Wiles is an assistant professor in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering at the Kennesaw State University Marietta campus, where he also serves as the interim chair. He leads courses on introduction to statistics, the role of industrial engineering technology in industrial systems, and logistics and supply chain management, among others. Notably, he has professional experience with Union Carbide, Lockheed-Martin, and the Oracle Corporation. Additionally, he has authored and co-authored a number of publications, including articles in the Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice.

Dr. Paul MacNeil – Mercer University

Dr. Paul MacNeil is an associate professor of software engineering at Mercer University, where he also serves as a graduate chair. He has led courses on various topics, including cyber security, software testing and security, Openstack, data science, refactoring, Java and C++, and lean and agile development. His teaching and research interests include software engineering and applied computational intelligence, areas in which he has led various tutorials, panel discussions, and refereed proceedings.