Ask Slashdot: How Is Online Engineering Coursework Viewed By Employers?

New submitter KA.7210 writes "I am an employed mechanical engineer, having worked with the same company since graduation from college 5 years ago. I am looking to increase my credentials by taking more engineering courses, potentially towards a certificate or a full master's degree. Going to school full time is not an option, and there is only one engineering school near me that offers a program that resembles what I wish to study, and also has the courses at night. Therefore, I have begun to look at online options, and it appears there are many legitimate, recognizable schools offering advanced courses in my area of interest. My question to Slashdot readers out there is: how do employers view degrees/advanced credentials obtained online, when compared to the more typical in-person education? Does anyone have specific experience with this situation? The eventual degree itself will have no indication that it was obtained online, but simple inference will show that it was not likely I maintained my employment on the east coast while attending school in-person on the west coast. I wish to invest my time wisely, and hope that some readers out there have experience with this issue!"

Comments

Re:Then **you're** naive!

[The Snowman]

I honestly really hate the fuck out of the USA sometimes. So much injustice for employees.

That's what we get for our bastardized free market economy. Us little people don't have much of a voice in running the corporations, so the people at the top who hold all the cards get to make all the decisions. Being selfish, those decisions benefit the rich, while us working class are being squeezed tight.

The other day I was driving around my suburb and realized that it is visibly going to hell. People who used to have good jobs are moving out because they don't have jobs anymore. The ghetto element is moving in. People who still have good jobs are moving out because of ghetto creep. Malls are closing due to reduced business and increased crime. Businesses move out because of worker safety.

If businesses respected their employees more, none of this would be happening. Wages would be up. People would be employed. The middle class wouldn't be squeezed -- in fact it would be growing as the lower class moves up. This country is destined for some ugly times if this doesn't change: the recent recession is nothing compared to what I believe will happen next.