Online Distance Learning Degrees
Is there any respectable universities that offer a BSE Chemical Engineering degree online “distance learning”?
I am an adult who works shift work (12.5 hr days). I already have an AAS degree and would like to complete a BSE degree but have to work around my employer and the shift schedule…makes it impossible to go to a regular university and since I work 7am to 7:30pm, it is almost impossible to find classes in the evening that work for me. I can’t afford to quit my current job and my employer is inflexible.
I’m a faculty member of an engineering school in a “respectable university”, but the following is strictly IMHO.
As you may suspect, “respectable universities” don’t offer distance learning. It’s not some elitist thing, there just isn’t any reason to do so, not when there are already 5-10 students applying for every one they admit, so why waste the effort to create a distance learning program. This is esp. true for engineering which has such strict accreditation requirements.
I empathize with your situation. Without the BSE, your job advancement is limited, but you can’t afford to quit either. At least you’re trying to improve your lot, for that I applaud your initiative. Having talked to many students in your situation, your only choices are:
1) Forget “respectful” – a decent state school with a fair to good program may be what you need, as you’ll get a decent education, have more class flexibility (as they deal with folks in your situation versus fancy nice schools where all students are fulltime) – all for less $$$. The BSE is not like some PhD, it’s just a mark of your qualification. It’s more about the job placement that they offer than how highly ranked the school is.
2) Look for an alternative job that offers you the flexibility to complete your degree. A good employer would support your plans to complete the degree, as that makes you a better and more productive employee long term. If they aren’t supportive, that’s a dead end job anyway as they aren’t ever going to go to bat for you wrt raises/promotions.
3) Bite the bullet, save like mad, get a loan, take 2 yrs off and get the degree. It’ll pay off long term, as long as you are careful and have a good exit strategy, such that you graduate right into a much better job. This means picking a school with good industry contacts, being proactive in seeking internships, and yes, shameless self-promotion. You may qualify for educational loans or even outright grants too. Not easy to get at the BSE level, but it’s worth asking.
4) Do nothing, which means being stuck where you are with at best inflationary raises, limited job security, and even less job satisfaction – esp. since you sound like the intelligent, ambitious kind who aren’t happy just showing up and punching in/out.
Good luck.
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