DeVry University Degree?

I personally would go for a institution that you actually physically attend. You will have access to the Electronics lab, Fellow students, and a real life instructor. I never did well just learning theory and whatnot, In fact 90% of my learnin was done the hands on way in the Lab. I'm not versed in DeVry's ways, but I'd guess It's hard to have group lab sessions, programming the school's robot, or playing with the PLC's from your desktop.

I have to concur. Engineering is a very hands-on, practical and group learning experience injected with real world experience and plenty of student questions and feedback, especially the Degree in Engineering. It does not translate well to internet or correspondence learning as other studies do (like accounting, business studies, etc).

As a side note I did a Certificate in Engineering and then after three years in the field went back and did the Degree in Engineering. Best thing I ever did.

I don't think they offer a BS in Electrical Engineering but rather in EET. Does that make a difference to you?

Yes Devry offers a BS in Electrical Engineering online.

This topic has come up before and the consesus was that online engineering degrees aren't taken seriously by most employers.

Devry does have both classroom and online classes. So if you were to do both, especially taking the lab classes on campus you should be fine.

Well, no they don't. See their offerings here.

Ok, I was wrong. They offer a Masters in Electrical Engineering.

I've worked with a couple DeVry trained folks. Usually they went for specific holes in their knowledge, but I have no knowledge of their online classes.

Is this online theory and labwork on the kitchen table? Might work, we've done some pretty effective work on the kitchen table.

Usually those schools have a disclaimer that if you later decide to enroll in an accredited college, most if not all of your credits won't be transferable. Even many community colleges that work with accredited colleges to teach courses that are accepted can only do so with a few subjects. Check first if you think you might ever decide to enroll in that type of college.

Then there is the "class" factor. The Vice President of Engineering is across the table from you and he asks where did you get your degree.

• Online from DeVry
• At XYZ College/University, night classes or full time

Which sounds better?

Actually, Devry is fully accredited in every state, something no state university can claim. Also, Devry is a private university with both traditional classrooms and online options that are ranked above most state schools. Of course you pay a fair premium for the private university (about $520 per credit hr) which is almost 40% more than state schools in PA and about 70% more than community colleges.

I got my EE in '86 at S.E. Mo State, BS in Proj. Mgt from Devry in '06, MBA from Keller '08 and have applied for phd program at Penn State next year. I have had an easier time transferring credits/classes from Devry than I ever did from SEMo.

I hope some of the recruiters looking at CR4 give their opinion on this. When it comes to interviewing at a company that only knows you thru your response to their job add what kind of degrees matter?

I suggest that it depends on you and who you are doing this for. I f you learn better in a structured environment, then on-line may not be appropriate for you. If you are counting on a certificate to impress an employer, you should determine whether your employer is likely to be impressed with your Devry credentials. If a degree from an accredited university is will eventually be required, then many of your Devry credits will likely not be transferable. I enjoy learning, but not repeating.

I don't think a degree from DeVry would impress any of the engineering team around where I work. They would all probably consider it less than a degree and I am sure have no problems letting you know it. One thing I can tell you for sure that some companies reward the 5 year college student with more pay than they would a 30 year experience non degreed person. I learned the hard way that improving ones education does not always mean better pay. A couple of years back I checked into how getting a degree would actually benefit me and found that I would probably have to find a new company to start over with to get very much compensation for my efforts in way of increased pay. My bosses had the attitude that considering the job (project engineer)I am doing and with my experience in the field they were confident that I was capable to do my job without a degree so more pay would probably not be offered if I got one I have always tried learn and enjoyed learning new things but who really wants to spend money and time trying impress a boss or a company if they are not willing to reward you with a higher salary? I am not trying to tell you not to get a degree but rather suggesting that you check it out very well with your company's managers to see if there would be any benefits before deciding to go back to school. IMO if you do decide to go for the degree then you would be better off getting it from an actual college instead of DeVry or another internet based school even if you might learn better/faster from the internet school.

In the big companies that I have worked at, an EET would be hired as a technician, not an engineer. Perhaps this has changed over the years, but that is the way it was 10-15 years ago.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. Some folks are drawn to engineering because they enjoy the hands-on aspect and really love working at the bench all day. These folks can be frustrated at the amount of desk work that engineers find part of the job.

So, if that is what interests you, DeVry may be a good choice.

But you will not have the earning potential that an engineer has, and there will be some that don't consider you a "real" engineer. A good technician can be much more valuable than an OK engineer, but this is seldom recognized in salary or status.

What pipewelder has pointed out will apply as well. If you start as a technician but later decide to get an EE, you will most likely have to change jobs to get the respect that you deserve. I have seen several folks that have gone this route. After getting their EE, they feel that they should be promoted to engineer. However, in the eyes of the company, they have always been a technician and always will be.

There are exceptions to every rule. In smaller companies I think there is a greater recognition of talent and less adoration of degrees.

Tad

Compounding this is the fact that in today's climate many engineers are doing "technician" work -- "not that there's anything wrong with that" as they said in a famous Seinfeld episode.

I would recommed that you pass on Devry for these reasons. On Line degrees are not taken seriously and most companies are going to not offer a BSEET an engineering position. Devry is not cheap, if you are going to do this I would recommend that you actually attend classes at a school that offers a true EE degree. I am a Devry Alumni and hold a BSEET, I do have a Application Engineering position but the road was extremely difficult and as I SAID MOST COMPANIES DO NOT CONSIDER ME A QUALIFIED EE CANDIDATE.

I am reminded of a friend of mine... whom a co-worker asked "Why don't you go back to school and get a BSEE. His reply was "I already have a BSEET and enjoy what I am doing now.

De Vry?... No opinion, but back in the 1960's, they were considered a pretty good tech school.

I am going to add ITT Tech.

1. In some recent ads, they admit that most of their credits are non-transferable.

2. My daughters boyfriend recently graduated from ITT. He went to their job placement center and was informed that they had none. They had companies which he could go to work for, for nothing, but could gain some experience. Which might result in a job.

3.A friend of mine who taught in Junior Colleges in California took a job with ITT. He was not allowed to "teach". He was given the class regimen which he was allowed to "teach" and that was that. He is ethically no longer there.

Bill

Just as an add on... If I could fit you in my company, degree or no degree, I would have you in a minute. I believe more in a persons capabilities rather than how much wallpaper he can hang on his walls.

I have worked with doctorates who didn't have the sense to pour piss out of their boots, yet the smartest man I have ever worked with had a fifth grade education. He couldn't spell worth a damn, but boy did I learn from him.

Bill

Hi Bill,

Devry is still considered a good tech school, but that is just it Devry is not considered an engineering school and you are correct the credits are hard to transfer most traditional engineering schools will not accept them. I do believe I received a quality education from Devry I just wish the school was preceived differently

The bottom line is that you almost surely cannot get an ABET accredited BS engineering degree online at an accelerated pace. Check again in twenty years, but not yet.