Online Courses

[bluecoconut]

I have more than enough free time than would be sane to tell my boss at my current internship.
I came accross this site:

http://www.pdhonline.org/

For Engineering Continuing education online.

1. How is online education viewed as opposed to in class education?
2/ How is personal education viewed as opposed to taking courses for credit?
3. Is a business education any good for a Mech Eng?

 

[ctopher]

There are a lot of various online courses and various schools, and the list is growing. I feel in class education is better, but not everyone can do it.
Here is a good online school:

http://den.usc.edu/prospectives/howdenworks.htm

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Apr 30, 2008)

 

[HgTX]

"Continuing education" standards are a lot lower than "real" classes; all you need to prove is that you spent a certain amount of time on the subject matter, not that you understood it. If you want to get anything other than continuing ed credit for licensure, do an online course that involves having to pass a test or get some kind of grade if you want anyone to take it at all seriously.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[MiketheEngineer]

PDHOnline is great for getting your PDH's. If you are an intern - you probalby don't need them - yet. I even wrote a course for them. You can acutally take most courses for free if you don't need to take the test and get the "diploma"

Don't forget - for some states (New York) you must have "live" courses which PDH does by using "gotomeeting" and phone connections.

Sure "live" classes might be better - but then you have to drive or fly, buy lunch, etc.

I can take PDH courses at night, weekends or any time. Best of ALL - I can go at my speed. The courses in which I have some expertise go faster and I don't have sit and listen to some boring instructor.

 

[bluecoconut]

Thanks!

 

[draftsman2008]

I am also looking for a online coarse so that I can get my bachelors degree in mechanical engineering. Does any one know of such a site that I can accomplish this? Neither site has what I am looking for that I seen, but maybe I didn't look deep enough.
Any thoughts?
Any advice?

Brian-CSWA
Dell Optiplex 745
Intel Core 2 6300 @ 1.86 GHz 2 gig Ram
Solidworks 2007 SP 5 & 2008 SP 3.1
AutoCAD Mechanical 2005

 

[ctopher]

I don't know of any online for for BSME, only MS. It would be difficult to do labs and some lectures online.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Apr 30, 2008)

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Not sure about BS degree. Maybe a google search would help.

As said - you might have to "go in" to get the lab courses. I think my old Alama Matre has some BS courses - Try University of Missouri.

 

[draftsman2008]

Where I am at I don't really have the option of doing in-class work. I have looked at the University of Missouri because that is where I am from. The closest one that I have found, and they don't offer online courses for engineering, is in Rolla and I live near Joplin.

Brian-CSWA
Dell Optiplex 745
Intel Core 2 6300 @ 1.86 GHz 2 gig Ram
Solidworks 2007 SP 5 & 2008 SP 3.1
AutoCAD Mechanical 2005

 

[frv]

draftsman2008-

Completely unrelated post.

Is there any particular reason you post your computer specs as your signature?

 

[kevindurette]

"Is there any particular reason you post your computer specs as your signature?"

A lot of people on Anandtech used to do that. Some still do. I don't know either.

 

[ctopher]

If he were to ask a question in another Eng-Tips forum computer related, it is easier for us to answer knowing up front his specs.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 06/08
ctopher's home (updated Apr 30, 2008)

 

[frv]

Makes sense

 

[debodine]

draftsman2008: About ten years ago (so this info is way out of date) I researched the same thing. The only ABET accredited college I could find that offered an online MSEE or MSME was North Dakota State University...and the tuition was $500+ per credit hour. And you still had to go on campus for a period of time during the summer to attend the labs. It was too rich for my pocket so I never signed up.

As I said this info is out of date. I don't know if this program still exists, and I don't know if other ABET accredited schools have created any similar programs.

I guess the bottom line is that ABET accredited schools for an online engineering degree were as rare as hen's teeth ten years ago, and I don't know that they are more plentiful now.

 

[debodine]

In the last post I made a terrible typo...I typed MSEE and MSME when I MEANT to type BSEE and BSME.

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[draftsman2008]

I found a few last night, but I am still looking at the details. Thanks anyway.

Brian-CSWA
Dell Optiplex 745
Intel Core 2 6300 @ 1.86 GHz 2 gig Ram
Solidworks 2007 SP 5 & 2008 SP 3.1
AutoCAD Mechanical 2005

 

[GonzaloEE]

Good thread!

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