distance education MS in engineering 1

[possumk]

Has anyone obtained a Master's in an engineering discipline (not EMan or similar) via a distance education program? If so, what are your thoughts? Was it worth it?

I'm considering doing this mostly for personal reasons rather than for professional advancement (long story why I want to torture myself with school), but I don't want to waste time doing something that has no value. I previously completed an evening MBA program, and I didn't feel like that was worth my time or money because it was so general.

Are distance education programs too generic to be worth anything? In my research, I've seen several MSME programs where you take a couple thermal classes, a couple fluids, some mechanics, some materials. I would not think that is worth much since you don't really end up with a specialty area. The program I'm considering DOES have options to specialize in one area, but without the research component, is this meaningful to anyone else once you complete the program? Although it's not on my radar right now, I'd hate to go through a masters program that didn't have enough substance to lead into a PhD or DE in the future, if something in my life changed to make that an option.

Thanks for your input.

 

[davidbeach]

Check out

http://www.outreach.uidaho.edu/eo/.

I'm 3 years into a Masters that will take me 5 years, one class per term. U of I certainly has a very good power program through their Engineering Outreach. I don't know about the mechanical engineering offerings.

 

[Lion06]

davidbeach-
There's a star for that information. That looks like a good program with reasonable tuition. How have you liked the program so far? Do you find that it has helped you career-wise? Is it challenging? Do you find the professor's are tougher on grades since they don't get to see you face to face and interact with you in a traditional setting? Do you get as much out of it as you feel you would with a traditional class?
I took several humanities via distance classes during undergrad and found my grades to be in the B+/A- range instead of the A that I got with on-campus classes. I can't be sure if this was a result of decreased effort, or any other specific factor, but I also didn't feel like I got quite as much out of the class. It is always more difficult to discuss a technical question with someone when you can't draw a sketch and show them exactly what you mean.

 

[cedent]

I take distance courses through NCSU (engineeringonline.ncsu.edu) with success. Most of the time the courses are taught the same semester on campus and I watch streaming video. I took one course where it was recorded from a previous semester and it went fine as well.

They have several disciplines available, and they have been easy to work with. Take a look at the courses offered. You should be able to find a link to prospective future offerings from the department you are interested in.

 

[jpankask]

Do a thread search, you will find a lot of information about distance learning MS programs.

I completed a MSME through distance learning at Kansas State University (

http://www.dce.ksu.edu).

I did this part time while working and it was a very rewarding and enriching experience. In some cases, I was able to apply stuff I was learning the very next day to projects I was working on. It did take me about 5 years to complete but was the exact same degree that the on-campus people were earning. Most classes were videotaped on campus and then I received the video/DVD in the mail. I took the same tests and did the same homework as everyone else. I think there was only a few required classes, the rest are chosen by you and your advisor to tailor your needs/desires. The meaningfulness of the program with or without research (I'm assuming you mean thesis) will depend on the employer. It is doubtful that the thesis you choose will be meaningful to most employers anyway. You will still be required to have at least one in-depth research paper. Your research skills after your master's will be much greater than after your bachelor's degree and most employers should recognize that. That skill alone has made me glad I went for the MS. Everything I've learned came together much better because of the MS work I did.

If you've done much research on distance learning programs, you have/will find that there are many programs out there. You need to check out not only the requirements of each program but also the course offerings. Some programs may offer you leeway on your elective/specialization classes but will not offer the classes you actually want to take. For me, the choice came down to U of Idaho, Georgia Tech and Kansas State. I chose Kansas State because that is where I got my undergrad so I knew most of the professors and they had the classes I wanted.

 

[MachinaMan]

Did anyone do this in a Canadian school?
Would an American MS or ME be acceptable for Canadian companies?

 

[JStephen]

I got my MSME right after my bachelor's degree. At the time, the college offered 3 options: 24 hrs + thesis, 30 hrs + report, 36 hrs without either. The problem I had was that there didn't seem to be any pressing direction to go with the report or thesis. Now that I've been working for a number of years, i can think of all kinds of problems and issues that would be worth investigating. But I haven't regretted how it worked out- I just wasn't psychic.

 

[possumk]

Thanks for the info & the recommendations for the programs. It's good to hear from people in the programs.

jpankask - KSU was on my radar, but as a die-hard Jayhawk, I don't know if I could bring myself to do it.

 

[jpankask]

possumk, it's never too late to turn away from the dark side! Seriously, though, at the time KU didn't offer anything that would fit what I wanted. I don't know what they have now but the distance program at KSU really is excellent. You really have to compare each specific program to your goals because there is a wide range available, especially in mechanical engineering. Good luck with your decision.

 

[davidbeach]

I've found the U of I program to be quite good, but don't really have much to compare it to on the other hand. All of the classes I have taken were recorded live that term though they also offer classes recorded previous terms. I get a weekly shipment of DVDs, one per class session. Downside of the DVDs is that it doesn't matter how high you raise your hand or how much you shout, the prof never answers your question during the lecture (later by email works just fine though). Upside to the DVDs is that you have pause and rewind (and fast forward) buttons that never were available taking a class in person.

Same classes, same homework (due two weeks later than on campus), same exams as the students taking the class live. Labs are a bit different, with data from on campus labs provided to the outreach students, or the lab experiment simulated in software.

There is a process for having a proctor for exams, but what has been more common is that the instructor emails exams to students (on and off campus) and sets a time limit by when the exam must be returned. 64 hours (4pm Fri - 8am Mon) has been common, longer not unheard of. Plan to work several hours per day during the available time.

It is the outreach program at U of I that makes it possible for them to have a good power program as the outreach students can make up 80% or more of the class. If they had to rely on just the on campus students there just wouldn't be enough interest in the classes to make them happen, but 40 students in a graduate level class can make things happen.

So far, I am quite satisfied with the grades.

I really can't say if work on the Masters has helped career wise or not; I'm not done yet but I have made the career change that I hoping the degree would help me make. That I'm working on it probably helped, but it is hard to say for sure.

 

[KENAT]

If you were in Britain you'd have the option of the open university. In fact you can take the courses outside of UK but may have trouble with accreditation and some have a 'residential' portion.

http://www.open.ac.uk/

 

[mendinho]

Well, I study a second degree in an Open University and I feel satisfied. However, it depends a lot on the field of engineering. Distance learning is great for business, mathematics, computing and such, but I find difficult to study f.ex. geothecnics or chemistry - specially from a practical point of view - without face-to-face lectures.

As fas as I know, the UK Open University is well reputed but I have no idea about the situation of distance learning degrees in the USA or Canada. Are they the worthwhile? What is the general opinion in the job market?

 

[plasgears]

One of my prior bosses took his MBA by mail. His secretary typed up his work and should have gotten academic credit. It didn't help his professional standing.

He networked with members of his church, and they got most of the contractor work. It was difficult to work a competitive bid scheme with the boss's cronies checking the work of competitors and reporting back to the boss.

Long story short, he was given the axe after being caught working a ghost company scheme in which he profited as a hidden partner of a contractor.