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Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology Management – Wichita State University
Wichita State University offers a hybrid bachelor of science in engineering technology management, which blends both online and on-campus coursework and is designed for students who have already earned their associate degree in engineering technology. This program generally takes between 1.5 and two years to complete, and helps students prepare for positions as project engineers, network engineers, or manufacturing engineers, among others. Online undergraduate tuition is $320.41 per credit-hour, excluding additional fees.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Fort Hays State University
Although it is not a true engineering degree, the online bachelor of science in computer science offered by Fort Hays State University can be a gateway for aspiring software or computer hardware engineers. This 120-credit-hour program includes courses on computer literacy, computer operating systems, programming languages, software engineering, and interactive systems design, along with other core and elective courses. Tuition is $213.33 per credit-hour, bringing the cost of this program to $25,599.60.
Completing a master’s degree can help a person develop additional specialization in a subfield of engineering.
Master of Science in Civil Engineering – Kansas State University
Kansas State University of Manhattan, KS offers a master of science in civil engineering, which is delivered entirely online through the school’s Global Campus program. Students must complete 30 credit-hours in order to graduate, and can pick among various research focus areas, including transportation, environmental, structural, geotechnical, and water resources. Tuition is $25,140 for the entire program, excluding additional fees.
Master of Science in Innovation Engineering – Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University offers a master of science in innovation engineering, which provides advanced instruction in scientific, technical, supervisory and managerial areas for those working in management and technical positions in industry and business. Students must complete between 30 and 33 credit-hours to graduate, and may choose to write a thesis or simply perform coursework, instead. Graduate tuition for students taking more than nine credit-hours is $3,972 per semester, excluding additional fees.
Along with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, there are other program pathways. Anyone looking to supplement an undergraduate or graduate degree in engineering or another field may consider the following options:
Graduate Certificate in Transportation Engineering – Kansas State University
Kansas State University offers a graduate certificate in transportation engineering, which consists of 12 credit-hours and is delivered entirely online. This program has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and includes classes on pavement design, traffic engineering, land development for civil engineers and planners, and one more elective course. Tuition is $838 per credit-hour, bringing the total cost of the program to $10,056.
Certificate in Web Development – Fort Hays State University
Aspiring web developers may be interested in pursuing a certificate in web development offered by Fort Hays State University. Students in this program must complete 15 credit-hours in introduction to web development, interactive systems design, advanced web development, web scripting languages, and intro to web-enabled databases: MySQL. Tuition for graduate students for the 2017-18 school year was set at $280.73 per credit-hour, bringing the total cost of the program to $4,210.95.
Prospective engineering students are encouraged to learn as much as possible about their programs of choice before submitting an application. For example, does the program allow students to study part-time? Does the school assist with job placement after graduation? Are students able to complete practical experience credits in their own communities? Will students be required to visit the campus for classes, or can the entirety of the program be completed online?
These are only a handful of the questions that students should ask prior to enrolling in a program. Furthermore, prospective students should inquire about various programs’ accreditation and state authorization statuses, as well, as these can have significant effects on a graduate’s future.
Although graduating from an accredited program is not required to work as an engineer, it can prove beneficial. Accreditation from a recognized entity is synonymous with quality; in order to receive accreditation, a school must meet a variety of standards related to the quality of education offered, the management of finances, student outcomes, and other measures of excellence. There are many agencies that offer accreditation in the United States on programmatic, regional, and national levels. Prospective students are advised to look for programs that have been accredited by agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); a handful of these are listed below:
National accreditation
Regional accreditation
Programmatic accreditation
State authorization status is another important consideration for anyone interested in completing an online engineering degree in Kansas. Specifically, students are only eligible to study at programs that have been authorized to operate in Kansas. Fortunately, this rarely presents a problem for applicants, and many schools present this information directly on their website (e.g., Kansas State University). For those which don’t, students are encouraged to contact program coordinators to ensure eligibility.
Online engineering programs—at least when separated by level of study—will have similar admissions prerequisites to their on-campus counterparts with only slight differences, depending on the institution. For example, the online master of science in civil engineering degree program at Kansas State University calls for the following from applicants:
Other common application materials include additional test scores, letters of recommendation, a resume showing relevant experience, candidate interviews, and specific course prerequisites.
Classes in online engineering programs are generally led by the same professors as those who teach on campus, ensuring that students in online programs have access to a high-quality education delivered by talented educators. Here are two influential professors who lead classes at schools that offer online engineering programs:
Dr. Mustaque Hossain – Kansas State University
Dr. Mustaque Hossain is a professor of civil engineering at Kansas State University, where he also serves as the interim department head. His research is in the area of highway materials and pavement engineering, and he was the principal or co-principal investigator for 71 sponsored research projects worth well over $6.8 million. Dr. Hossain is currently the chair of the Highway Construction Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and he serves on various technical committees of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies.
Dr. Deepak Gupta – Wichita State University
Dr. Deepak Gupta is an associate professor at Wichita State University, where he also serves as the director of engineering technology. His research areas are in energy efficiency and sustainability, industrial productivity, manufacturing system optimization, and supply chain management. Dr. Gupta is also a Quality Matters Certified Peer Reviewer and director of the Industrial Assessment Center at Wichita State University, and he previously served as director of the Industrial Assessment Center at Southeast Missouri State University, where he also led the development of the Sustainable Energy Systems Management Program.
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...