Grad School Choices

[JakeAdkins]

My current company will pay for me to get my masters degree, but it can't interfere with my work.

I am in Houston, so that leaves me with night classes at U of Houston or Rice

or

Something on line.

I want to get a Masters in Mechanical Engineering, probably in Mechanics or Machine Design. I know there are things like University of Phoenix, but I don't know if a degree for there would be worth anything.

Any advice on some reputable schools that offer Engineering MS degrees on line?

Anyone had any experience with this?

 

[vc66]

Search these forums. This has been brought up many a time.

V

 

[zdas04]

You might want to do a search on this site, we've talked about this a bunch of times. Bottom line is: [ul][li]Distance Learning is rapidly moving into the mainstream, [/li]
[li]every major university has some number of programs (MSME is available from hundreds of schools), and [/li]
[li]several eng-tips.com members have gotten undergraduate and graduate degrees from Distance Learning programs and haven't seen any noticable downgrading of the value of those problems by potential employeers.[/li][/ul]

For MS programs this seems very viable, PhD programs are still a bit scarce and the coverage typically doesn't include ME programs.

David

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Just make sure it is acreditted - ABET I think

 

[jpankask]

To add to MiketheEngineer, make sure the program you decide on offers an ABET accredited undergraduate program. Most schools choose to accredit their undergraduate programs rather than their graduate programs. ABET will not accredit both. However, they are usually taught by the same professors. Once you find a program, go the ABET website and search for that school to find out if they have an accredited program.

As stated, this has been discussed many times before so most of your questions have probably already been answered already. If you have a very specific question go ahead and ask it, though.

 

[cedarbluffranch]

You have a lot of options.

I'm a graduate student at the University of Washington. They offer on-line MS in Mecanical Engineering and another MS in Aersopace Engineering.

Another popular choice is the University of Southern California.

There are others out there as well. Go down to a local libarry and find a book called the Pedersons (sp) Guide to Distance Education. It's a listing of all distance education programs and classes all over the US. It will list every on-line engineering program you can do.

Good luck! It's well worth taking advantage of that kind of program.

 

[zdas04]

Peterson's Guide is pretty good for about 6-9 months. After that it is so far out of date that it is worse than worthless. Best idea is to buy the newest version a couple of months before you make your final decision (i.e., have to write a check).

David

 

[davidbeach]

Check out the Engineering Outreach program at the University of Idaho.

 

[ctopher]

Stay away from schools like University of Phoenix.
The other schools suggested here are the best bet.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion