Online Civil Engineering Diploma & Certificate Programs

Specialized training can benefit civil engineer's career with regard to job prospects. Graduate certificates in civil engineering can provide training in areas like environmental engineering, wastewater management & many other specialty areas.

Online Civil Engineering Diplomas & Certificate Programs

There are few, if any, diploma programs in civil engineering. A diploma is generally awarded in less time than an associate degree. The diploma programs that do exist online have to do with engineering support subjects like computer-aided design; therefore, most fall into the category of civil engineering technology.

There are, however, numerous graduate certificate programs in specialized areas of civil engineering. Graduate certificates provide continuing education & specialization education that can enhance job prospects & improve careers.

Program Information & Requirements

Graduate certificate programs in civil engineering can vary in length, depending on the specialization. Online programs are typically designed for working professionals. Some may be part of larger master's degree programs.

Online students work at their own pace with timeline restrictions. Most programs follow a university calendar, & students are tested through assignments & exams. Applicants must hold bachelor's degrees in a related field and, in some instances, have previous experience in the field.

List of Common Graduate Certificate Programs in Civil Engineering

A wide variety of graduate certificates in civil engineering are available. A civil engineer might work in wastewater systems or in the design & construction of buildings, for instance. Specialized certificates are designed to impart knowledge of a singular aspect of the civil engineering field.

Noise Control

The amount of allowable noise produced by any system can be subject to governmental regulation. Students in this class study how to measure noise levels & how to control or reduce those levels.

Engineering & Water Resources

This certificate provides students with knowledge of water resource engineering. As part of the certificate program, students examine topics in hazardous waste, air quality & groundwater.

Resources for Biorenewable Technology

Students in this program learn about bio fuels & the crop resources required to produce them. It includes information about fuel, chemistry, energy & materials.

Environmental Engineering

A civil engineer has to stay up-to-date on changing environmental factors. This certificate might include information about safe water supplies, waste disposal & air quality.

Construction Management

Many civil engineers are called to manage construction projects as they advance in their careers. This certificate provides them with knowledge in management techniques, cost estimating & resource planning.

Career Information for Graduates

Civil engineers can be licensed as professional engineers. This designation requires continuing education on a regular basis; graduate civil engineering certificates can meet these continuing education requirements. In addition, this kind of certificate can demonstrate a specialized level of engineering competency that can improve & an engineer's employment prospects or help a company earn a government contract.

Civil engineers earned an average annual salary of $81,180 in 2009 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Employment opportunities may be tied to economic conditions & weather factors.

Continuing Education Information

Graduate certificates are one form of continuing education. Civil engineers who work in fields like environmental engineering must stay current on federal, state & local regulations. Continuing education courses can meet that need. As mentioned above, a civil engineer who has acquired the Professional Engineer status is required to have continuing education classes to maintain that status.

Online Biomedical Engineering Degrees by Program Level

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly expanding field of study with tremendous career prospects. Bachelor's degrees are typically offered in biomedical informatics or technology, while a graduate degree is required for careers at the core of the discipline. Those who already hold an undergraduate engineering degree, are working professionally as engineers & are interested in their discipline's medical applications are good candidates to earn an online master's degree in biomedical engineering.

Overview of a Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering

An online master's degree program in biomedical engineering combines concepts from biology, engineering & medicine to prepare science-oriented scholars to create better medical devices & treatments. Courses touch on data collection, statistical analysis, mathematical modeling & the practical challenges of studying, designing & manipulating artificial & natural materials. Students also learn to navigate the regulatory environment surrounding biomedical engineering. Applicants to a master's degree program need an accredited bachelor's degree in either one of the hard sciences, math or engineering. They must have previously achieved at least a 3.0 GPA, & satisfactory GRE scores are required prior to graduate school enrollment.

Program Information & Requirements

Hybrid programs with on-campus classroom components are also available, but in many cases, courses in a master's degree program for biomedical engineering may be completed entirely online. All lectures, readings, assignments & other materials are distributed through the school's website & may be accessed at a student's convenience. Classes may be taken in any order, but must be completed by set deadlines. Communication with instructors & fellow students is handled via discussion forums, online chat & e-mail. A master's degree is typically earned in 2-3 years.

Students need a personal computer with basic productivity software to participate in an online program. Although a dial-up connection is adequate, most schools recommend a DSL or cable connection for high-speed access to the Internet.

List of Common Biomedical Engineering Courses

An online master's degree program generally consists of a group of required core courses & elective courses. Elective courses may supply more in-depth coverage of a particular topic in biomedical engineering, or broader coverage of useful topics related to bioengineering.

Biosensors Course

This class examines the design of biosensor devices & explores their performance characteristics. Coursework emphasizes applications in insecurity, food safety & environmental remediation.

Biomaterials Course

Students learn concepts in biomaterial design & synthesis as they consider practical uses for engineered materials in the body. Main themes include materials science & the integration of engineering & biology.

Tissue Engineering Course

This course examines existing & experimental methods of engineering mammalian tissue, with the intent of restoring damaged organs & improving their function. Featured topics are cell transplantation, in-vivo regeneration & drug delivery.

Biomedical Regulation Course

Lessons explain the FDA approval processes for biomedical devices. Subject areas include 501K regulations, PMA requirements & standards for Class I, Class II & Class III devices.

Online AutoCAD Degree Program Overviews with Certification Infomation

AutoCAD software is used by architects, engineers & other design professionals. Online degree programs in computer-aided design or drafting (CAD) are rare compared to on-campus programs. However, web tutorials & online AutoCAD certification for professional development purposes are readily available.

Overview of Online AutoCAD Certification Programs

While online courses in AutoCAD 2D & 3D modeling are available, they are often offered as part of broader training in mechanical engineering, interior design, or architecture degree programs. AutoCAD certification may be completed online from a number of accredited universities & educational providers.

Certification Information & Requirements

Employers may require AutoCAD certification as a prerequisite for new hires as well as for continued professional development. Access to the latest version of AutoCAD is required as is basic proficiency with computer software & a high-speed Internet connection. A digitizing tablet may be necessary for some projects. Digital drawings may be submitted electronically for evaluation. Certification training may take a single semester or up to six months.

Courses Offered

Courses lead students through the software's features starting with the simplest tools & building up to more sophisticated applications for various fields of design.

Introduction to AutoCAD Course

The AutoCAD interface is introduced in addition to basic commands for creating & modifying 2D designs. Practice exercises will cover everything from drafting to printing.

Intermediate AutoCAD Course

Instruction is given on how to render more advanced 3D designs with AutoCAD. Use of blocks, layers & hatching are explained.

Mastering AutoCAD Course

Advanced topics covered in this class include managing layers & customizing the interface. AutoCAD experts will learn how to add annotations, external references & hyperlinks.

Career Information

AutoCAD is used by design professionals in the architecture, construction, engineering & manufacturing industries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the mean annual salary for architectural & civil drafters was $47,710 in 2009 (www.bls.gov).

Continuing Education

Once training is completed, a certification exam must be taken in person at an official AutoCAD certification center. Certification is valid only for a specific version of the software. Therefore, recertification exams must be taken each year that a new version is released in order to remain current.

Online Architectural CAD Training Information

Computers are often used to create two- & three-dimensional objects for work-related tasks, which is known as computer-aided design (CAD). CAD is applicable in entertainment, automotive, engineering & architecture industries. AutoCAD is a popular software program that many educational institutions teach in online training courses.

Online CAD Training Programs

Many colleges & universities offer Web-based certificate programs that teach Autodesk's AutoCAD software. Many partner with Gatlin Education Services (GES) to provide online training through a 9-month sequence of classes covering:

• Basic sketching
• Layered drawing
• Industry tools
• Precision
• 2-D & 3-D drawings
• Plotting lines

Online programs may also result in an associate's degree. These options incorporate general education classes & additional electives, but otherwise have similar course content to certificate programs. They may also have a more specialized industry focus, allowing students to choose architectural, mechanical or engineering courses. They typically last about two years, but may end in as few as 17 months.

Enrollment Requirements

Individuals interested in online architectural CAD training should check for specifications prior to enrollment. Prospective students may need certain at-home operating systems or other computer browsers, software or hardware to complete the curriculum. Other necessities may include textbooks & drafting tools. Some programs provide a 1-year student license to access the AutoCAD software needed for the course.

AutoCAD Certification

AutoCAD software programs are separated by industry & tailored to consumers' individual needs. Categories include products intended for either general architecture or specifically designing buildings, factories, plants or objects. There is also software for structural analysis & infrastructure planning.

Autodesk offers a variety of certifications for professionals including AutoCAD 2010, AutoCAD Architecture & AutoCAD Civil 3D. In order to become an overall AutoCAD Certified Professional, individuals must pass both Certified Associate & Certified Professional examinations.

The Certified Associate exam consists of questions about the features & tools of the AutoCAD program. Users should typically have at least 100 hours of hands-on experience prior to taking the online test. The Certified Professional exam tests a user's ability to perform certain tasks. At least 400 hours of hands-on experience is traditionally necessary to prepare candidates for the exam.

Online Aerospace Engineering Classes & Courses

Numerous aerospace engineering courses are available online; however, these classes are exclusively for graduate students who already possess bachelor's degrees in related engineering fields. These classes are part of programs that lead to master's or doctorate degrees in aerospace engineering.

Overview of Online Aerospace Engineering Courses

Online courses offer students a convenient option for studying at home, at the office or in the field. Interested students can pursue graduate degrees or participate in individual classes to enrich their understanding of a particular aerospace subject. Degrees offered include the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree, which is typically a non-thesis program, or the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (MSAE) degree, which does require a thesis. Online Ph.D. programs in the field are also available. Because aerospace engineers research, design & oversee the production of complex machines, such as commercial & military airplanes, spacecraft & missile systems, they often find employment with governmental agencies, such as NASA, or defense contractors.

Requirements for Online Courses

Online aerospace engineering students need access to at least a 56kbs Internet connection to adequately receive audio files, or a high-speed cable or DSL connection to view video files. Some online programs will employe Tegrity, a lecture-capturing website that allows students to replay lectures at anytime & is supported on all platforms except Linux. Campania Relay, an alternative to Tegrity, is suitable for Linux users but may not be used at certain schools. In order to view lectures, students will likely need computer software plug-ins, such as Video LAN (VCL) or Adobe's Flash Player.

List of Selected Online Aerospace Engineering Courses

Aerospace Mechanics Course

This course discusses the fundamental laws of mass, momentum & energy & how these laws relate to the deformation & strain placed on aircrafts. Students learn about linear & nonlinear aircraft & spacecraft control issues. Principles of equilibrium, geometric compatibility & composite material behaviors are also covered.

Aerospace Mathematics Course

Students in this course explore mathematical models for designing & optimizing the aerodynamic & structural stiffness of aircraft wings. These mathematic models & variations are used to reduce instability & create steady flight. Online participants also study static aero elasticity & structural instability, the principal causes for loss of wing lift.

Aerospace Environments Course

The various environments that spacecrafts pass through & the dangers associated with each are central to this course. Topics include the consequences of working in unfiltered sunlight & solar wind, the hazards of orbital debris, & the shielding dangers of re-entry through the upper atmosphere.

Air & Space Craft Design Course

This introductory course explores the design & cost aspects of reusable high-speed aircraft & space vehicles. Online students will be expected to design a craft & write a cost analysis proposal to accompany the design. Candidates study historical designs & design proofing methods to help them realize their projects.

Space Habitat Course

This class emphasizes the factors affecting living organisms in weak gravity environments & examines spacecraft design for human occupancy. Students learn the objectives & challenges associated with human space exploration & the physiological conditions that must be considered when designing life support systems for space travel.

Space Flight Course

Vehicular test systems & flight simulations are central to this introductory space flight course. Topics include celestial mechanics, transfer & rendezvous, space navigation, trajectory design & orbital determination. Students also learn about established flight test practices & the experiences of well-known designers & test pilots.