Distance Learning Civil Engineering
With a healthy employment outlook for the next 10 years, it is no wonder that distance learning civil engineering is offered by numerous Universities, Polytechnic Institutes, and Colleges, across the country. Civil Engineering is the oldest form of engineering. And Civil Engineering has never ceased to be the largest engineering endeaver as well. Even to this day, with 237,000 civil engineers on duty, it is America’s largest engineering branch that accounts for 16.4% of all engineering jobs in the country.
What it Involves
Distance learning civil engineering involves taking either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Master of Science (M.S.), in Civil Engineering through the online or distance mode. M.S. in specializations like Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Hydraulic Engineering, are also available through distance learning civil engineering.
Though 2-year Associate Degrees are also available, it is only as a bridge to a B.S. Degree, since a Bachelor’s is the minimum entry-level requirement for the industry. However, an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology is acceptable for the career of Civil Engineering Technician.
In the USA, Professional Engineer (PE) license from State Licensing Boards is needed by Civil Engineers if they want to play a role in infrastructure work affecting the public, and the training for the two PE exams, ‘Fundamentals of Engineering’ and ‘Principles and Practice’, are also available through distance learning civil engineering.
Compared with the B.S. degree, there is both more demand as well as options for the M.S. Degree through distance learning civil engineering. The main reason for this is the industry’s increasing demand for specialized civil engineers like Structural or Environmental Engineers. It is also driven by a recent recommendation of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to the US State Licensing Boards that the minimum educational qualification for Professional Engineer (PE) license be upgraded from the current Bachelor’s to a Masters level.
