How do employers view online master's programs? 9

[Lion06]

Can anyone in a hiring role (or management position) give any insight as to how an online structural (or any other discipline for that matter) engineering degree is looked upon? I am considering U of Idaho because it will allow me to "attend" class on my own schedule, but don't want to spend the time if it is looked down on by colleagues and managers.

 

[GregLocock]

Yay for product development, but.... I wonder how much you'd get from an academic telling you about it?

If the syllabus includes the following then run away

TRIZ
Six Sigma

If it includes the following then maybe it'll help

Correlating objective and subjective ratings
incorporating customer wants and needs into the design
Handling incompatible requirements
Systems engineering
Target setting

My honest opinion is that in the automotive business a bachelors degree is enough of a technical baseline, and you'll learn faster and deeper if you specialise on the job rather than at uni.

As to the business side of things, there is no question that a good understanding of company financials and so on helps.

OTOH if you are keen and they are paying, why not? Beats watching TV.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[tcguy]

Greg, thank you for your insight. Here is the curriculum requirement:
Required Courses (Core Courses):
- Advanced Mechanical Design
- Technology Development and Implementation

Technical Electives: (2 from the following list)
- Engineering Economy
- Modern Enterprise Systems
- Design of Experiments
- Quality Mgmt for Engineers
- Systems Engineering Theory and Practice
- Economic Analysis of Engineering Projects
- Advanced Concepts in Computer Simulation
- Strategic Mgmt of Technology
- Project Mgmt
- Mgmt of Engineering Teams

General Electives: Select 3 courses from the Mechanical Engineering dept.

This curriculum isn't a 6-sigma based thing. Much more comprehensive. From the Tech Electives list I would be inclined to take Design of Experiments (DOE)and some sort of business engineering combined course from that list.

 

[GregLocock]

Looks pretty reasonable. I personally would skip DoE, you can learn enough to be dangerous in a 2 day course some other time.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.