Online Engineering Schools in Tennessee

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Aspiring engineers in Tennessee (TN) 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 (July 2017)—one of the most popular job post websites—yields over 4,000 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 (October 2016) reported that between 2014 and 2024, the following specializations would add the most positions nationally: civil engineering (305,000 new positions, 2014-2024); mechanical engineering (292,100 new jobs); industrial engineering (243,200 new jobs); electrical engineering (180,200 new jobs); and computer and hardware engineering (80,100 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 biomedical engineers (23.1 percent increase in openings across the U.S., 2014-2024); marine engineers and naval architects (8.9 percent), and civil 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 (6.5 percent).

And the prospects are even brighter for residents of Tennessee. By illustration, Projections Central (2017) anticipated greater-than-average increases in openings in biomedical engineering (29.5 percent increase in TN positions, 2014-24); environmental engineering (20.8 percent increase); aerospace engineering (20.4 percent increase); computer hardware engineering (19.9 percent increase); civil engineering (18.9 percent increase); and industrial engineering (16.6 percent increase). All of these Tennessee-based engineering fields were expected to grow more than twice as fast as the national average.

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 was Tennessee was $42,350 (BLS May 2016), the average compensation for all engineers was $73,010. Of course, the average annual wage for some types of engineers was actually much higher; for example, chemical engineers earned $97,570 per year on average, and civil engineers made $95,110.

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.

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. John Kobza – University of Tennessee at Knoxville

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. His 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. Neslihan Alp – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Dr. Neslihan Alp is a professor and associate dean in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she also works as the head of the Engineering Management and Technology Department. She is currently a member of the American Society for Engineering Management; the American Society of Engineering Education; and the Society of Women Engineers, among a number of other renowned professional organizations. Notably, she acts as a strong advocate for female and minority students in the STEM field. Her research specialties include engineering management and industrial engineering, and she has an impressive array of patents and publications to her name.

Dr. Andy Czuchry – East Tennessee State University

Dr. Andy Czuchry is a professor within the Department of Engineering Technology, Surveying, and Digital Media at East Tennessee State University. He has held the AFG Industries Chair of Excellence in Business and Technology since joining the university in 1992, and he also holds 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.

Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Engineering in TN

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.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems – Austin Peay State University

At Austin Peay State University of Clarksville, aspiring software engineers are able to pursue an online B.S. degree in computer information systems with a concentration in systems development, internet and web technology, or database administration. This program is offered entirely online, and requires 120 credit-hours 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.

Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies – Middle Tennessee State University

Aspiring computer engineers looking for a flexible degree program may be interested in pursuing an online B.S. 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. Tuition is set at $285 per credit-hour, as well as an additional $114 fee for online courses.

Online Master’s Degrees in Engineering in TN

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.

Master of Science in Engineering Management – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, current bachelor’s degree-holders have the opportunity to enhance their education by pursuing an M.S. degree in engineering management online. This 33 credit-hour 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. One semester in an online graduate program costs approximately $6,222. Additional fees may apply.

Master of Science in Technology – East Tennessee State University

Current engineers who wish to further develop their knowledge may wish to consider pursuing an M.S. in technology at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. This program allows students to focus on engineering technology specifically, and requires the completion of between 30 and 36 credit-hours on subjects such as investigation in technology, methods of research, the essentials of management, and strategic management of technology and innovation, as well as a number of elective classes. Tuition for this program is set at $555 per credit-hour.

Other Online Engineering Programs in TN

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.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Lean Leadership – University of Memphis

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, which costs $603 per credit-hour, not including any additional fees.

Graduate Certificate in Reliability and Maintainability Engineering – University of Tennessee at Knoxville

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, and costs a total of $12,834 for in-state students.

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

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 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 Programs for TENNESSEE Students

Vanderbilt University

Online M.Eng. - Engineering Management

Online MS - Computer Science

Arizona State University

Online BSE - Engineering Management

Online BS - Software Engineering

Online BSE - Electrical Engineering

Nuclear Power Generation (Graduate Certificate)

Construction Management (MS)

Engineering: Engineering Management (MEng)

Engineering: Systems Engineering (MEng)

University of Central Florida

Online MS - Industrial Engineering, Healthcare Systems

Johns Hopkins University

MS - Applied Biomedical Engineering

Online MS - Computer Science

MS - Systems Engineering

Online MS - Electrical & Computer Engineering

Online MS - Cybersecurity

Online MEM - Engineering Management

Master of Environmental Engineering

Ohio University

Online MSEE - Electrical Engineering

Online MEM - Engineering Management

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