Online Engineering Degree Programs in Iowa

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The Hawkeye State may prove one of the best locations across the country to begin a career in engineering. In fact, several engineering subfields were expected to grow substantially between 2014 and 2024, with Projections Central offering the following estimates: biomedical engineering (24.6 percent increase in positions in Iowa, 2014-24), civil engineering (13.3 percent increase), environmental engineering (10.7 percent increase), computer hardware engineering (10.3 percent increase), and mechanical engineering (8.2 percent increase). To put this in perspective, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (October 2016) predicted that engineering occupations would swell by an average of just four percent nationwide.

Furthermore, the engineering industry is already strong in Iowa, and professionals in this career path earn competitive salaries. By illustration, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2016) reported that there were 18,810 engineering and architectural professionals working in Iowa, earning an average annual salary of $69,440. Additionally, engineers in certain subfields made much more than this; for example, Iowa-based computer hardware engineers earned an average wage of $105,520 per year, while aerospace engineers could expect to bring home $110,600 on average. These figures were much higher than the average salary of all positions statewide, which was $43,540.

Of course, a growing industry and competitive salary prospects are only two of significant benefits available to engineers in Iowa. These skilled workers also enjoy support from myriad professional organizations and societies, including:

Engineers in Iowa are not required to join one of these organizations, but membership often comes with benefits such as networking opportunities, professional advocacy, and continuing education, as well.

Overall, the promise of a competitive salary, a thriving employment sector, and the abundance of professional organizations are compelling reasons for many aspiring engineers in Iowa to begin pursuing this career, which generally requires the completion of a degree or certificate program. And in addition to the campus-based programs, there’s a number of online engineering programs in Iowa, which can offer a greater degree of flexibility for students with other commitments or who live in rural regions of the state.

Aspiring engineers in Iowa can consider the following guide, which includes information on the various online degrees available, exemplary professors, admissions requirements, and what to expect during the application process.

Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in Iowa

Obtaining a bachelor’s degree is often the first step towards becoming an engineer in Iowa. Currently, there’s only one institution in the state with distance-based bachelor’s programs in engineering: Upper Iowa University.

Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering – Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University located in Fayette offers a bachelor of science in software engineering, which can be completed entirely online. This program includes courses on visualization and graphics, IT infrastructure, foundations of information systems, computer architecture, operating systems, and advanced programming, among others. Tuition for online programs is set at $1,323 per three-credit-hour class.

Bachelor of Science in Information Systems – Upper Iowa University

Upper Iowa University also offers an online bachelor of science degree in information systems; while this is not a true engineering degree, it can provide a valuable and high-quality education for those looking to pursue a career in software or computer hardware engineering. Classes include those on database and information management, human-computer interaction, IT infrastructure, foundations of information systems, systems analysis and design, and enterprise architecture, among others. Like the program above, tuition is set at $1,323 per three-credit-hour course.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in Iowa

A master’s degree can prove valuable for engineers looking to specialize in a specific field. In light of this, anyone interested in pursuing a graduate engineering degree in Iowa may wish to consider the following options:

Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering – Iowa State University

Iowa State University in Ames offers a distance-based master of engineering degree in computer engineering. This 30-credit-hour program includes various areas of research such as advanced electronics and materials; communication, controls, and signals; computing and networking systems; energy systems; secure and reliable computing; and software systems. Tuition is set at between $560 and $572 per credit-hour for the 2017-18 school year.

Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering – Iowa State University

Iowa State University also offers other online engineering degree programs, including a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. This program comprises 30 credit-hours, and students can choose to pursue a master of science, which includes a thesis, or a master of engineering, which includes more coursework. Classes include the advanced mechanics of materials, experimental mechanics, numerical mesh generation, finite element analysis, compressible fluid flow, and orbital mechanics, among many others. Tuition for this program is also set at between $560 and $572 per credit-hour for the 2017-18 school year.

Other Online Engineering Programs in Iowa

In addition to master’s programs, some schools offer online certificates that allow for some specialization without the commitment of a full degree. The following outlines two online engineering graduate certificates, both of which are offered by Iowa State University:

Graduate Certificate in Power Systems Engineering – Iowa State University

A graduate certificate in power systems engineering is one of the certificate programs offered by Iowa State University. In this program, students must complete 12 credit-hours by taking classes on steady state analysis, power systems dynamics, special topics in electric power, and advanced topics in electrical power. This program can also act as a bridge into a master’s degree program, as well, if the student is interested in continuing on with their studies. Tuition for this program is also between $560 and $572 per credit-hour for the 2017-18 school year.

Graduate Certificate in Embedded Systems – Iowa State University

Iowa State University also offers an online graduate certificate in embedded systems, which covers areas such as embedded hardware, embedded software, real-time systems, real-time operating systems, design methodology, and hardware-software co-design. Students are able to finish this program in as few as nine months by taking two courses per semester, and have the option to continue on and pursue a master’s degree, as well. Tuition is $560 to $572 per credit-hour for the 2017-18 school year.

Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider

Aspiring students are encouraged to research their programs of choice thoroughly before they submit an application. To be sure, applicants should ask a number of questions, including the following:

Can I complete the program on either a part-time or full-time basis?
Am I required to visit the campus during the program? If so, how often?
Are the classes led synchronously or asynchronously?
What is the total cost of the program, including fees?
Will the school assist with job placement in my home community upon graduation?

Furthermore, anyone interested in an online engineering degree program in Iowa should also search for those that are accredited and that retain appropriate state authorization status.

Accreditation

Accreditation is ultimately synonymous with quality. To be sure, in order to receive accreditation, a program must meet specific standards related to the quality of education delivered, the management of finances, student outcomes, and more. That’s not to say that it’s necessary to graduate from an accredited program in order to work as an engineer; however, many employers may favor applicants who have a degree from an accredited program.

It is also important to note that not all accreditation carries the same weight, and that accreditation can be awarded at a programmatic, national, or regional level. The following includes a list of some agencies that offer accreditation to programs in Iowa:

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

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

When researching potential programs and their accrediting bodies, prospective students should search for those that have been accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

State Authorization

State authorization status is another important factor to consider for online engineering students in Iowa. Specifically, Iowa students may only study in programs that are eligible to operate in the state, a concept known as “state authorization.” Fortunately, this likely won’t be an issue for students attending an online program in their own state of residence. For out-of-state students seeking to determine eligibility, program websites typically include a state authorization page (e.g., Upper Iowa University).

Admissions Requirements

Overall, many online engineering degree programs will have similar, if not identical, admissions requirements for students in on-campus and online programs at the same level, making the application process fairly uniform across the board. As an example, here are the admissions prerequisites for the master of engineering in aerospace engineering degree program at Iowa State University:

Completed application and fee
Letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose
GRE scores
Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 for unrestricted admission

Other common admissions materials include a resume showing years of experience; proof of prerequisite coursework; a candidate interview; and other materials.

Online Engineering Professors in Iowa

A number of highly talented professors currently lead courses at schools offering online degrees. Three of these educators are briefly outlined below:

Dr. Ashraf Bastawros – Iowa State University

Dr Ashraf Bastawros is the Wilson Engineering Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University, where he also serves as a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering by courtesy. He’s also an associate at the Ames Laboratory. His areas of interest include the mechanics of soft and flexible materials and structures under combined external fields, and the mechanics of interfaces and layered structures, among others. His written work has appeared in an array of professional publications, including Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, the Journal of Materials Research, and the International Journal of Solids and Structures.

Dr. Valery I. Levitas – Iowa State University

Dr. Valery I. Levitas is the Vance Coffman Faculty Chair Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University, as well as a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering by courtesy. He’s also a faculty scientist at Ames Laboratory. His research has been published in numerous journals, including the Journal of Mechanics and Physics of Solids, the Journal of Applied Physics, and Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, among many others. He has organized multiple international multidisciplinary symposia on phase transformations and mechanochemistry, and has received a number of awards, including the 2017 Khan International Medal Award for outstanding contributions to the field of plasticity; the 2016 ISU Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research; and the 2010 Da Vinci Diamond.

Dr. David C. Jiles – Iowa State University

Dr. David C. Jiles is Palmer Endowed Department Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Iowa State University—the first person to hold this position—as well as the Anson Marston Distinguished Professor. He has authored more than 700 scientific papers and published three books. He also holds 21 patents. Dr. Jiles served as the editor-in-chief of IEEE Transactions on Magnetics from 2005 to 2011, and was elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014. His areas of research include nonlinear and hysteretic behavior of magnetic materials; magnetoelasticity, magnetostriction, and magnetomechanical effects; the development of novel magnetic materials; and the applications of magnetic measurements to nondestructive evaluation.