are non-ABET degrees worthless
are non-ABET degrees worthless
(OP)
I have 16+ years of experience as an engineering technician (CMT-concrete, asphalt, soil, soils lab, rebar and PT insp.). I have just about every certification that an advanced tech can get. I have passed the NICET Level IV tests in three areas (CMT-concrete, asphalt, soil), and have several other NICET Level III certifications. My latest project is obtaining the ICC Special Inspector certifications. My plan is to have these wrapped up within the next couple of months. When this is accomplished I’ll need another learning project. To that end I have performed an exhaustive search on the internet and could find no ABET engineering degrees (BS) that could be earned strictly on a distance learning basis. ABET requires that BS engineering degree programs follow a strict semester schedule and on-line degrees are self-study and study-at-your-own-pace deals that do not follow a even a semblance of a semester schedule. For this and other reasons (lack of real at home science labs and serious advanced math) I do not believe any school offers a BS in engineering on a distance learning basis.
I did find a “school” that offers several degrees in “engineering”. The list of programs is located at the following address:
http://www.kw.edu/areas.asp?active=areas
I was hoping that some of you would take a look at these programs and tell me what you think. I mean if you saw that diploma hanging on my office wall would just laugh the second you were out of the room, or would think at least this guy made an effort, or would you think, huh, that guy is an engineer. I mean this would not get me an EIT or PE (no design work) but I am not interested in that anyway. So what do you guys think?
I did find a “school” that offers several degrees in “engineering”. The list of programs is located at the following address:
http://www.kw.edu/areas.asp?active=areas
I was hoping that some of you would take a look at these programs and tell me what you think. I mean if you saw that diploma hanging on my office wall would just laugh the second you were out of the room, or would think at least this guy made an effort, or would you think, huh, that guy is an engineer. I mean this would not get me an EIT or PE (no design work) but I am not interested in that anyway. So what do you guys think?
SCET - Techmaximus





RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
A few suggestions, though:
1. Ask the school to provide you with any information regarding quality reviews or surveys of the school. Some schools TRY to get ABET accredited or other types of accolades and they may be able to share this with you.
2. Ask the school to provide names of former students to serve as references. This may be tough due to privacy laws but you can ask. They may end up giving you their "star" students who might just give you fluff and feathers.
3. Get a handle on their teachers/professors. These folks have credentials (or lack credentials) and this goes a long way toward finding out what they really know. The individuals doing the teaching or setting up the classwork should have relevent and high quality backgrounds. Are any of them licensed engineers?
There are all sorts of new colleges advertising on TV and other media - many with multiple locations. I have always questioned their quality with respect to any kind of engineering type topics.
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
Another option may be to see if classes taken from an accredited institution can later be credited toward a degree.
TTFN
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
It is
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d041096t.pdf
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
Education is like anything else, you take it where you can find it and you get out what you put in. The certifications
you carry coupled with your work experience are enough to show that you're not a lightweight. I've come across more than a few people with degrees from "name" institutions that should never be allowed to work unsupervised and have found the reverse to be true as well. Anyone that would make a judgement based solely on one piece of paper hanging on your wall doesn't merit any serious consideration. The only person whose respect you need is the one you see in the mirror.
Regards,
RLS
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
HVAC68
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
Anyway, I did as you have done...searched long and hard for an ABET accredited distance learning program for a BS in engineering (BSEE for me), and I found one and only one school. North Dakota State University. They still have lab requirements that mean you have to travel to the school, but they pack them into a few weeks during one summer.
However, the tuition was >$550 PER CREDIT HOUR and there is no way I could put that kind of money into it. There is a good engineering school right here in my town with a BSEE program, but it is a standard day time curriculum only, and I have no options to work any other shift but days.
The info above on NDSU is at least a year old, so don't rely on my numbers above, check it out for yourself.
I rejected the non-ABET schools because all of the engineering managers and HR recruiters I spoke to at my company (I was seeking their advice) made it clear that they recognize the non-ABET schools instantly and discount them.
The closest match I have found is an online program for a BSET (not BSEE) at Univerity of North Carolina - Charlotte, which I hope to start in about two years when I finish my current efforts to earn a BS in Management from Guilford College. And even the UNC-C program requires some summer lab attendance, but they are an hour away and NDSU is several states away.
Good hunting to you!
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
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RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
Trade schools typically have expertise without the depth of scholarship that characterizes universities. This separates the accredited schools from the non-accredited. You need the basic accredited schooling to enter the professional side of engineering.
Failing that, you will be a technician with great experience and trade school diplomas, something very desirable in industry, expecially when the company wants to save in the cost of professional salaries. This is prevalent in small companies and the larger companies of many years ago.
When I was at GE many years ago they had a tech who was brilliant with great potential, so they sent him to MIT. He came back to GE and became a leading engineer in R&D. I wonder if they still do that in industry.
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
Most Engineering Technology programs will not qualify you for licensing either.
I have much respect for good technicians. They credit the engineering profession.
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
John
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
My company is now in the process of formalizing this "discount". That is, if a position requires an engineering degree and 5 years experience, we will accept as equal a non-ABET degree plus 8 years experience.
RE: are non-ABET degrees worthless
As long as the schools are ABET accredited, Engineering Technology graduates can be licensed.