I suppose that in today’s environment this is become more feasible, and maybe I’m just too “old school”.
But when I was hiring, this would have been a non-starter. Engineering isn’t a sit-at-your-desk-and-do-calculations profession. Working in groups, working on large project teams, interacting with others, etc., is a crucial skill. Many of these skills are honed by working with those 5 friends of yours on that &**&^^ of a Thermo assignment. Or coordinating external parties, suppliers, professors, etc., on your Senior Design Project (as my D is today). Or reaching out to someone new in your elective/required GenEd Psychology class that’s way outside your comfort zone.
My D explains the time she’s spent in the wind tunnel doing Fluids labs, using the 3D printer with her team on deign class prototypes, etc., and I’m jealous of how engineering labs have changed since my days. Hands on labs are extremely valuable and you just don’t get that online.
I guess I agree with the part of the article “But getting your degree online can be challenging in many ways, too, especially when studying a discipline like engineering that relies heavily on experiential learning. “The thing about engineering, and what separates it, is that you need to have that hands-on experience for the majority of the degrees,” says Robert Keynton, dean of the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.”
It does reference this option for working professionals, getting a degree part-time. I can see this an an option for someone who’s a technical, lab worker, etc., looking for a formal degree/book learning for the hands-on work they’re already doing. I just can’t imagine how long that would take - 8 years?
