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Although there are currently no online bachelor’s degrees in engineering based in Maine, there are programs in nearby states offered online.
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering – Penn State University
Penn State University located in State College offers an online bachelor of science in software engineering. The program requires 126 credit-hours at $555 per credit, plus additional fees. Notably, the degree is accredited by ABET—the predominant accreditation organization for engineering programs. Courses include discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, chemistry, communications and operations, computer sciences, and engineering design, among others.
Bachelor of Computer Science in Software Engineering – Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University of Manchester offers an online bachelor of computer science in software engineering. The cost is $320 per credit plus additional fees. There is a special rate for U.S. service members and their spouses. The program is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, among other accreditation associations. Courses include requirements in the general education program as well as those specific to the engineering degree such as computer programming, physics, computer platform technologies, the software development lifecycle, and computational graphics and visualization, among others. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 888-327-SNHU.
Professional Science Master’s (P.S.M.) in Engineering and Business – University of Maine
The University of Maine located in Orono has two online P.S.M. degrees available in engineering: aerospace and land surveying. The program requirements are accessible 100 percent online with no in-person attendance required; however, students must complete six credit hours of applied field experience as part of their program. The 30 credits include 15 in engineering courses and nine in business (e.g., management, data analysis, and accounting). Engineering courses for each degree include:
Tuition for in-state students costs $429 per credit plus fees. Please note that qualifying students must have at least a B.S. in engineering or engineering technology. For more information on the University of Maine’s online graduate programs, contact [email protected] or call 207-581-5858.
Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Engineering
The University of Maine in Orono has an online graduate certificate in aerospace engineering. The program requires the completion of 12 credit hours and includes the following classes: aeronautics, astronautics, flight dynamics and control of aircraft, and spacecraft orbit and attitude dynamics and control. These classes also can be applied toward the P.S.M. in engineering and business mentioned in the previous section. The cost per credit is $429 for in-state residents. Please note that qualifying students must have at least an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
There are several factors to weigh when considering pursuing an online engineering degree. These include the quality of the education offered, the total cost of the program, the institution’s reputability, the time required to complete the degree, admissions rates, and other variables.
Since online learning requires substantially more independence than traditional, on-campus degree programs, students considering a distance-based engineering program should ask:
In addition to the above questions, aspiring students should determine their program’s accreditation and state authorization statuses before making a decision.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Accreditation is the recognition that an institution maintains standards requisite for its graduates to gain admission to other reputable institutions of higher learning or to achieve credentials for professional practice.” In order to receive accreditation, a school must meet a number of criteria outlined by the accrediting agency. Accreditation is an indicator of academic quality. As a student, it is important to know that having completed an accredited degree may be required to qualify for certain graduate programs, certifications, or employment opportunities.
Not all accrediting organizations are the same, however, as some carry more weight than others. Aspiring students should seek out programs which have been accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). In addition, aspiring students should understand that accreditation is available through different organizations on a programmatic, national, and regional level. Here is a list of prominent organizations that accredit online engineering programs in Maine:
National accreditation
Regional accreditation
Programmatic accreditation
Students in Maine are only eligible to enroll in online engineering programs that have been authorized to operate in the state. Also, some online engineering programs in other states may not provide admissions to non-resident students. This information is usually available on program websites (e.g., University of Maine). All online students should carefully examine state policies before applying to any programs. Be sure to contact program coordinators to ensure out-of-state eligibility.
Admission requirements differ from school to school and program to program. Be sure to contact program administrators to find out the exact requirements and application deadlines for that program. Here are some typical admissions requirements for online engineering programs:
Online engineering programs in Maine are staffed by highly skilled and educated faculty who have taught both online and in-person. Here are bios for two of the exceptional faculty members from the University of Maine, an institution with online engineering programs.
Dr. Raymond J. Hintz – University of Maine
Dr. Ray Hintz is a professor of surveying engineering technology at the University of Maine. Notably, he is a professional land surveyor in Maine focusing on data collection and has authored several surveying software programs used by various departments of transportation and their consultants. He currently teaches three to four classes per semester and is a member of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing; the Maine Society of Land Surveyors; and the Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers. He holds a PhD in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
Dr. Knud Hermansen – University of Maine
Dr. Knud Hermansen is a professor of surveying engineering technology at the University of Maine. He was taught surveying in the United States Marines. After active duty in the Marines, he went into the Army reserves, eventually retiring as a major in the Corp of Engineers. He worked for several consulting firms. He earned an associate degree, B.S. degree in civil engineering, M.S. degree in surveying and photogrammetry, a Ph.D. in civil engineering, and a law degree. He is a licensed surveyor, professional engineer and attorney at law. He performs a wide range of consulting services that include land development, boundary retracement, boundary litigation, title litigation, and alternate dispute resolution.
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...