Aspiring engineers in Tennessee not only enjoy a relatively bright career outlook with promising job growth and salary prospects, but they also enjoy other benefits. For one, Tennessee residents living in Nashville are close to Vanderbilt University, which retains some of the most well-known engineering programs in the country.
In addition to traditional undergraduate and graduate programs, Vanderbilt also provides other educational and networking opportunities in the field. Furthermore, job opportunities in the state abound; by illustration, Indeed (September 2021)—one of the most popular job post websites—yields over 2,300 engineering openings in Tennessee.
In that same vein, openings for engineers look promising across several subfields of the discipline around the U.S. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 2021) reported that between 2020 and 2030, the following specializations would add positions nationally:
Civil engineering (25,300 new positions)
Mechanical engineering (20,900 new jobs)
Industrial engineering (40,000 new jobs)
Electrical engineering (20,400 new jobs)
Computer and hardware engineering (1,000 new jobs)
Of course, when expressed in percentage terms, the fastest growing specializations changed. According to the same analysis, some of the top-growing engineering fields in percentage terms were:
Industrial engineers (13.7 percent increase in openings across the U.S., 2020-2030),
Chemical engineers (9.3 percent)
Materials engineers (8.4 percent increase)
It’s worth noting that all of these percentages are higher than the average growth expected across all U.S. occupations during that same decade (8 percent).
For working engineers or for those just entering the industry, there’s another lure: the competitive compensation in engineering. To elaborate, while the average annual salary for all jobs in Tennessee was $47,530 (BLS May 2020), the average compensation for all engineers was $78,580. Of course, the average annual wage for some types of engineers was actually much higher; for example, chemical engineers earned $106,360 per year on average, and materials engineers made $105,110.
So how does a person enter this high-growth and well-paying career field in Tennessee? Not surprisingly, engineering occupations require technical skills and knowledge, and a majority of these professionals have at least a bachelor’s degree prior to seeking employment. While on-campus engineering programs are more traditional, aspiring engineers in Tennessee may consider distance-based programs, as well. Online engineering programs may be relatively new, yet they are hosted by renowned institutions and can provide a high-quality, more flexible education.
This guide explores the online engineering programs in Tennessee, including information about typical coursework, costs, and three exceptional professors.
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Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in Tennessee
As mentioned above, to enter most fields of engineering in Tennessee, job candidates typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Here are two distance-based bachelor’s degrees related to the field. Please note that a majority of online programs and the greatest variety of subfields exist at the graduate degree level.
At Austin Peay State University of Clarksville, aspiring software engineers are able to pursue an online BS degree in computer information systems with a concentration in networking, general information systems, or web and database systems.
This program is offered entirely online and requires 120 credits of courses such as introduction to programming and programming languages, mobile software development, algorithm design and analysis, and computer graphics, among other core classes and electives. The school offers an estimated cost calculator to determine tuition and fees, which may vary by residency and other factors.
Location: Clarksville, TN
Duration: Four years
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Aspiring computer engineers looking for a flexible degree program may be interested in pursuing an online BS in professional studies at Middle Tennessee State University of Murfreesboro, which allows for a concentration in information technology.
This 120-credit program includes core classes on organizational systems, networks, database management, statistical methods, and files and operating systems, among others, as well as a number of general education and elective courses. This specific program has been approved for the Academic Common Market, meaning that some out-of-state students will still receive in-state tuition.
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Duration: Four years
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition: $1,178 per credit
Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in Tennessee
While a master’s degree may not be required to work in most subfields of engineering, it can enhance one’s earning prospects, opportunities to work in leadership, and specialized knowledge.
At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, current bachelor’s degree-holders have the opportunity to enhance their education by pursuing an MS degree in engineering management online.
This 33-credit program covers courses in concepts in engineering management, reliability engineering, product development, and advanced quality control, among others, split up between elective and core classes. This program can be completed entirely online, although students can choose to take up to 20 percent of their courses face-to-face. There is also an optional concentration in construction management.
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Duration: Two years
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
For engineers who want to pursue management roles, Tennessee Tech University offers an online masters of science in engineering management. Geared towards early career professionals, this degree prepares graduates to manage technology-oriented projects, people, and organizations. Through a series of targeted courses, students will learn the necessary business and engineering skills to add value to their organization. This degree is offered entirely online, so students will never have to set foot on campus.
Location: Great Bend, KS
Duration: Two-and-a-half years
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition: $12,222 per year
Other Online Engineering Programs in Tennessee
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees aren’t the only options available for those interested in pursuing a distance-based education in the field of engineering. Here are two graduate certificates from TN-based institutions, which can also be completed online.
The University of Memphis offers current or aspiring engineers can enhance their education and leadership prospects by pursuing an online graduate certificate in applied lean leadership.
This program helps students develop a better understanding of lean principles and practices and is designed for students who are interested in or currently working full-time in a production industry. Students take more than 160 hours of classroom instruction during the course of this program.
Location: Memphis, TN
Duration: 160 hours
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
At the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, students can pursue an online graduate certificate in reliability and maintainability engineering. This program consists of four graduate engineering courses, two required courses, and two elective courses, which are intended to introduce the student to the fundamentals of maintenance engineering and reliability engineering, as well as to provide exposure to other fields of engineering, as well. This program generally takes nine months to complete.
Location: Knoxville, TN
Duration: Nine months
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition: $775 per credit
Online Engineering Programs – What to Consider
Prior to enrolling in a distance-based engineering school, prospective students are encouraged to perform thorough research on the programs in which they are interested. Here are a few of the most important considerations:
How long does the program last? Can it be completed on a part-time basis?
What is the total cost of the program, including fees and other associated costs?
Do students need to visit the campus throughout the duration of the program?
Will students be required to travel for practical experience credits? Or can they perform these in their own home communities?
What are the student outcomes (e.g., employment rates) of program graduates?
What kind of distance-based student support services does the program offer?
In addition to these queries, aspiring engineering students should ensure that their school holds appropriate accreditation and state authorization status.
Accreditation
To achieve accreditation, a program must meet various requirements in regards to the education offered, the management of funds, the availability of student services, and other factors. This voluntary process is a proxy for program quality, but not all accreditation bodies are created equal.
When searching for a program, prospective students are encouraged to seek out schools with accreditation from an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education’s Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, prospective students should note that accreditation can be offered on a national, regional, or programmatic level. Here are some established accreditation entities for engineering programs in Tennessee:
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
Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE)
State Authorization
In addition to accreditation, prospective students in Tennessee must ensure that they only apply to programs that are authorized to operate in the state. Of course, in many cases, this will not lead to any issues, particularly if they live in the same state as their program. Most schools with online programs display this information on their websites (e.g., TNeCampus), and for those which don’t, students should contact program administrators to ensure eligibility.
Admissions Requirements for Online Engineering Programs
While the admissions requirements for all online programs are not identical, the application process will be fairly similar across institutions for both on-campus and distance-based options. Here’s a brief overview of common applications requirements for online engineering programs of varying degree levels:
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering Requirements
Completed application and fee
Official transcripts with proof of prerequisite coursework (e.g., physics, chemistry, geometry, calculus, algebra, etc.), along with at least a 2.5 or 3.0 GPA
Letters of recommendation
Standardized test scores (e.g., SAT or ACT)
A personal essay or statement of purpose
Online Master’s Degree in Engineering Requirements
Completed application(s) and fee (NOTE: Some schools require separate applications to the graduate school and engineering department)
Official transcripts from an accredited bachelor’s degree program in engineering or a related field
Proof of prerequisite coursework (varies by specialty), along with at least a 3.0 GPA
Standardized test scores (e.g., GRE)
Two or more letters of recommendation
Personal essay or statement of purpose
Online Graduate or Professional Certificate Requirements
Completed application and fee
An engineering bachelor’s degree (or a related concentration)
Resume or CV
Letters of recommendation
A personal essay
Online Engineering Professors in Tennessee
In general, many online engineering and computer science-related degrees are staffed by highly qualified and talented professors who are renowned in their field. Here are three standout engineering professors who lead courses at Tennessee universities offering online degrees:
Dr. Andy Czuchry is an emeritus professor within the Department of Engineering Technology, Surveying, and Digital Media at East Tennessee State University. He held the AFG Industries Chair of Excellence in Business and Technology since joining the university in 1992 and had a dual appointment as a tenured professor in both the Department of Management and Marketing and the Department of Technology. His areas of focus are entrepreneurship, project management, technical innovation, quality management, and continuous improvement.
Dr. John Kobza is a professor within the Department of industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he also serves as the department head. He has taught courses on engineering data analysis, stochastic modeling, production planning and control, and total quality systems, among others.
Dr. Kobza’s research focuses on modeling, analyzing, and designing systems involving uncertainty and risk, as well as applying tools to improve the performance of organizations, such as healthcare systems. Prior to joining the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, he served in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Texas Tech, both as a senior associate dean and as an interim department chair.
Dr. Kahlid Tantawi is an assistant professor of mechatronics and primarily teaches electrical circuits, mechanical systems, electric machinery, and power electronics courses.
Dr. Tantawi is a prolific researcher and author with over 30 journal and conference publications to his name. He sits on the Tennessee Textbook Advisory Panel and reviews textbooks, scientific proposals, and scientific papers. In fact, he is a reviewer for the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, a publisher of open-access scientific journals. He earned his doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
