CWRU online course home page.

Many engineers are opting to start their masters in an attempt to stay ahead in the post-2008 economy. With a master’s degree, students are able to gain a level of specialization or management overview that can make them invaluable in industry. However, finding the time and money to get on campus everyday can be difficult, especially if interferes with work.

Fortunately, the technology behind online education has made leaps and bounds to the point where schools and industry treat both degrees interchangeably. As a result, many schools like Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) are creating more and more online masters programs to fit the demand.

The Economics of an Online Master’s Degree

Sample from a CWRU online civil engineering course.

In 2014, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that engineering graduates receive, on average, the highest starting salary at about $65,000 per year. However, specialists like petroleum engineering graduates were able to start at about $86,000.

Even though specialization is lucrative in the long run, taking off work to broaden your engineering expertise can be a short term financial challenge.

“Now, with degrees 100 percent online, students can keep their lives on track wherever they are and learn crucial skills that can significantly advance their careers,” said David Zeng, online civil engineering program director at CWRU.

This is one of the biggest driving factors to online learning, available anywhere and anytime. Therefore, there is no need to take off work. As long as you have an Internet connection, you will be able to access the asynchronous online education platform.

“Engineers who want to command an even higher salary or break further into a competitive field like biomedical engineering will benefit from earning an advanced degree,” said Dominique M. Durand, online biomedical engineering program director at CWRU. “When they aren’t able to relocate for the degree they desire, enrolling in an online program while being able to stay at work and earn a quality degree simultaneously is ideal.”

Save Money with an Interdisciplinary Engineering Education

Various CWRU course content examples.

Students looking into dual degrees might be able to save money taking an online interdisciplinary masters degrees.

Many engineering workplaces are moving towards interdisciplinary projects. As such, it isn’t unheard of for a mechanical engineer to be rubbing elbows with electrical engineers in meetings.

“Rapidly changing organizational structures also require engineering professionals who can take on broad responsibilities while lending well-grounded technical expertise to effective work teams,” said Ken Loparo, masters of engineering program director.

Interdisciplinary degrees are customizable programs that allow students to split their focus and learn what they need for their specific job. For instance, the master of engineering program at CWRU features core courses that focus on management skills and the ability to take cross disciplinary elective courses from other online engineering master’s degrees.

Online Education’s Parity with On-Campus Education

Handwritten CWRU professor notes displayed neatly online.

The curriculums of most online and on-campus programs are identical. What tends to change is the delivery and, at times, testing methods. Students will not see the words “online” or “distance education” show up on transcripts or diplomas.

Masters Discovery
Tool

“With the same in-depth, rigorous content delivered in a convenient online format, students who participate in the online programs receive the same robust education and training as traditional on-campus master’s students,” explained Zeng.

Often the same faculty members will teach the course. As for CWRU, “All of our online courses are presented by the same world-renowned lecturers who teach our students here in Cleveland,” explained Jaikrishnan Kadambi online mechanical engineering program director.

In fact for some programs, like CWRU’s biomedical engineering masters, the online and on-campus versions are so tightly connected that students can attend either format or work together on projects.

“Our online courses and degrees are not watered down,” assures Loparo. “Students should expect to spend 12 to 15 hours a week for 14 weeks on these courses. You will participate in forward-thinking and challenging coursework delivered in an engaging, immersive online environment with 24/7 technical support.”

Is Online Education like Studying Alone?

Example content from the online CWRU biomedical engineering program.

Many online education naysayers argue that the impersonal nature of the Internet limits interaction and therefore education. This may have been the case at one time, but it isn’t anymore.

For instance, consider the CWRU partnership with online education enambler Colloquy. The online education management system provided by Colloquy doesn’t just deliver the knowledge to the student on a silver platter. You can read a textbook for that.

Current online education platforms bring hands-on elements and interactivity to lectures. When CWRU students learn online, they will have access to interactive diagrams, equations, engineering software, hardware kits and physical labs that can be remotely controlled. “We have been experiencing and are in the process of developing simulations that accurately simulate the laboratory,” said Durand.

Many schools are adding in some form of synchronous learning to combat the impersonal stigma of online education. Typically, this includes students regularly meeting with the instructor in person or using online digital meeting technology.

“We emphasize a student-centric, experiential learning environment that prepares capable professionals, effective teammates and life-long learners,” said Sree Sreenath, online systems & control engineering program director at CWRU.

Other schools however, opt for small classes that are completely asynchronous and online. The small class allows for a bigger focus on building relationships between faculty and students. This is the tactic used by CWRU’s online civil engineering masters.

Is Online Education for You?

Sample of CWRU’s systems & control engineering online masters.

Online education is not for everyone. Asynchronous online programs designed to fit the busy schedule of professionals, provide a level of freedom which can be awkward for some.

Students who prefer a more ridged structure to their education might risk falling behind with online courses.

Those who are prone to procrastinating be warned: online education isn’t for you.

“We strongly recommend that our students learn key time management strategies,” suggested Sreenath. “You should work hard to not fall behind. Keep track of your project deadlines at work, home and school, so that you can inform the professor of your obligations in advance. Communication is key to developing alternative ways to fulfill the course requirements.”

Another drawback for some students is that distance learning will often not include research or a thesis. Though there are exception to this rule, online master’s degrees tend to focus on course work and at most a capstone project. Therefore, if you are more research inclined then an online masters is not your best option.

Online Engineering Masters is a Growing Market

Sample of CWRU’s mechanical engineering online masters.

As previously mentioned, online engineering masters programs are a growing market. Many of these programs are in their infancy, as they are at CWRU. Therefore, these programs will typically have some kinks to work out when adapting their programs online.

Masters Discovery
Tool

However, many of these on-campus programs moving online are decades or even over a century old; this core content is tried and tested. Isn’t it better to have access to that high-end content online even if a kink were to pop up?

“Our program is new and we are working very hard to deliver a quality program that prepares the graduate with the same excellence as our onsite program,” said Sreenath. “The student will benefit from the expertise of our faculty who are known for their commitment to excellence in both research and education.”

To learn more about CWRU’s online masters programs, follow the links below:

This article was made in partnership with Case Western Reserve University. All opinions are my own – Shawn Wasserman