Online Engineering Courses

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

Ron Eaglin

In a rapidly-changing field like engineering, getting the right education can be critical to staying relevant in the job market. There’s much more to online engineering education than just college degrees; there are also plenty of other online learning options for prospective engineers or those simply interested in gaining a deeper understanding of engineering theories and applications. On this page, you’ll learn about engineering open online courses, apps, podcasts and more, and get expert advice on how to succeed in online engineering studies.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

With the vast number of engineering courses available online, it’s important to choose the right one before diving in. Use the search tool below to browse through 100 online engineering courses from across the web. Course listings provide information on price, institution, length, and starting date.

One of the great features of online engineering courses, particularly of the open online variety, is that they are designed to serve a number of different purposes, depending on the goal of the individual student. There are three basic outcomes offered through online engineering courses: those that award credit upon completion, ones that award a certificate of completion or others that simply enhance one’s knowledge of the subject. Many courses offer all three learning-style options. Here’s a breakdown:

Online engineering classes, including open online courses, are in high-supply. Below is a sample of some of the best open online engineering courses available:

Basic Electrical Engineering – Secrets Revealed

This course consists of 15 lectures designed to teach students secrets “not being taught in schools” to enhance their understanding of the basics of electrical engineering. Topics covered include: three-pin plug internal construction and safety; the power triangle mystery – KVAr explanations; insulation resistance; animated circuit breaker working and construction; and more.

Circuits and Electronics 1: Basic Circuit Analysis

The first of three courses in circuits and electronics. Topics covered include: resistive elements and networks; independent and dependent sources; linearity; superposition; Thevenin & Norton methods; digital abstraction; combinational gates; and MOSFET switches and small signal analysis.

Elements of Structures

Introduction to the principles of structural analysis and strength of materials in applications to three essential types of load-bearing elements: bars in axial loading; axisymmetric shafts in torsion; and symmetric beams in bending. Students study the fundamental concepts of continuum mechanics, including internal resultants, displacement fields and strain.

Energy Within Environmental Constraints

The course examines the current energy system and how its environmental performance can be improved. It focuses on a working understanding of energy technologies, environmental impacts of the energy system (air pollution, climate change, land use) and emphasizes quantitative comparisons and tradeoffs.

Engineering Mechanics for 1st Year Engineering Students

This 16-section course is designed to prepare first-year engineering students. Topics include: centroid of areas, the moment of inertia, concurrent forces, non-concurrent forces, friction, forces in space, kinematics of particles, projectile motion, relative velocity, kinematics of rigid bodies, kinetics of particles, work-energy principles, and impact and collision.

Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering

The course introduces fundamental aeronautics using the history of aviation as a story line. It employs examples taken from the beginning of aviation (the Montgolfier brothers, Wright brothers) through to the current Airbus A380 and into the future. Three major topics are covered: aeronautics, aerodynamics and flight mechanics.

Introduction to Electrical Engineering

An introduction to the fundamentals of electrical engineering. Topics include: math and science preparation for studying electrical engineering; numbers in electrical engineering; current and current direction; voltage; basic electrical quantities – current, voltage and power; defining the standard electrical units and conventional current.

Robotics Specialization

Robotics Specialization introduces how robots sense and reason; plan three-dimensional movements in a dynamic environment and adapt to environmental uncertainties. Courses conclude with capstone projects in which students learn how to program robots to perform a variety of tasks.

Systems Engineering

The course offers a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of systems engineering. Topics covered include: modern engineering; systems methodologies, systems concepts, ways of thinking, and systems modeling and diagramming. Of particular interest for students interested in the use of diagrams, risk assessment and problem solving.

Quantum Mechanics for Scientists and Engineers

A course specifically designed for technical professionals from a range of science and engineering backgrounds. Topics covered include: Schroedinger’s wave equation; mathematics of quantum mechanical waves; movement in quantum mechanics – wave packets, group velocity and particle current; atomic orbitals and much more.

There are still some people out there that regard distance learning as second-rate to traditional face-to-face courses. Their numbers are dwindling, however, as more highly-reputable colleges and universities enter the online education market. Consumers, too, are discovering that online courses and classes have some distinct advantages over their on-campus counterparts. Three of the biggest:

1.Cost of an engineering degree

Let’s face it: college is prohibitively expensive for a lot of students. That goes for individual courses and full degree programs. While it would be incorrect to say online engineering degree programs are cheap, they are typically less expensive than those earned on campus once one accounts for additional costs like housing. And when it comes to open online engineering courses, costs drop significantly. Sometimes to zero.

2.Hone in on specific engineering topics

Online coursework lends itself well to engineering students who wish to concentrate on a specific topic or issue. On-campus students are limited to the course subjects offered by their particular institutions. Even if courses include the topic of interest, on-site students must concern themselves with other topics of less interest.

3.Flexible format

On first glance, one might think that there would be distinct disadvantages to studying engineering online. How is lab work handled, for example? Online engineering courses that require lab work overcome the problem by providing access to local lab facilities or through mail-in lab kits completed at home. That gives online students a chance work through lectures and lab assignments at their own pace.

Podcasts are another great source of engineering knowledge and insight. There are literally hundreds of them accessible online in virtually any engineering-related topic. Engineering podcast listeners can not only learn something but find themselves thoroughly entertained as they go. Here are some sample podcasts for engineering professionals and students

The Engineering Career Coach
Anthony FasanoRecent Episode to Try:TECC 120: A 10 Step Plan for Obtaining Your Professional Engineering License

A very popular podcast series providing engineering career support and advice. Topics include job search, goal setting, communications skills, locating a mentor, networking, public speaking, organizational skills, productivity, leadership and more.

The Engineering Commons Project
Jeff Shelton, Carmen Parisi and othersRecent Episode to Try:Engineering Sensibilities

Podcast covering all issues and topics concerning engineering. A fine choice for those who want to follow current engineering-related issues. There are over 110 episodes available.

Engineering Insights
Various
Recent Episode to Try:#22 – Tips from a Technical Recruiter – Sandy Huynh

Podcast series aimed at providing “practical insights and inspiration for young engineers around the world.” The hosts interview engineers from all sectors of the profession for insights into creative design, time-management, teamwork, project management, business acumen and more.

Talking Machines
Katherine Gorman and Ryan Adams
Recent Episode to Try:AI Safety and The Legacy of Bletchley Park

Podcast series dedicated to the subject of machine learning. Here you’ll find interviews with experts, industry news and answers to listener questions. Currently over 35 episodes from which to choose.

What is the most challenging aspect of taking an online engineering course compared to a traditional in-class course?

Ron Eaglin 

Self-discipline.Do online courses present logistical challenges0?

Ron Eaglin 

Online actually solves a lot of logistical problems because you no longer have the problem of a student physically making it to a classroom. But, with sufficient self-discipline, a well-designed and organized online class is not going to be any more challenging logistically than one actually held in a classroom. If the class is not well-designed and organized, there’s the sense of being completely and utterly lost. From the [instructor’s] point of view, that’s the biggest challenge.How do you test an engineering student’s course performance?

Ron Eaglin 

In engineering, it’s way more than just knowing the answer to some question. You have to test the depth of knowledge. And for that, you typically do things that are more project-based. In other words, you have this knowledge that needs to be learned but you really can’t measure from a test or a lecture. So, you really have to come up with something else to do that.Do you have any advice for students considering online engineering courses?

Ron Eaglin 

Well, the first thing to decide is if engineering if for you. Then the issue becomes: let’s see if you can handle online [learning]. Here’s a way to look at it. If you are sitting and eating dinner with your family, and you’re done, do you stand up and start taking the dishes over or do you let somebody else do it? It’s as simple as that. The people who know that something’s got to be done and they do it do well online.