Choosing to pursue distance education in engineering is a big step that will require an investment of time and money, but before you can take that step, you will need to qualify and apply for the program. This means you must finish high school if you have not already done so, and while in high school, you should be sure to put a significant amount of effort into math and science courses. Once you have graduated, you will need to research distance education in engineering programs and find the one that suits you best; each one will have a different focus, cost, and requirements for application as well as graduation.
Before applying for a distance education in engineering program, be sure to research the application requirements. All programs will require you to submit high school transcripts, as well as college transcripts if applicable, and other requirements will vary by institution. Be prepared to write an essay about your educational and career goals, and also be ready to submit to an in-person or online interview in some cases. Remember that many institutions charge an application fee for distance education in engineering, so be sure to find out how much that charge will be before applying. You will want to apply to more than one program, so be sure you can afford all the charges.
Once you have been accepted, you will need to think about paying for your distance education in engineering, and you will also need to find out if you will be able to take all coursework in a distance learning capacity, or if some courses will require you to go to an on-site classroom location for some coursework. This may have an effect on your final choice of program, so be sure to research ahead of time. Some types of engineering will require hands-on experience, so it is likely you will have to travel at some point in your education.
Become familiar with the online classroom format available to you through the distance education in engineering program you choose. Classes can be taught several ways, from online message boards to live video streaming, and they can be taught synchronously or asynchronously. This means you will either have to attend class at a set time with other students, or synchronously; or, you will be able to work on online classwork at your own pace any time of day, also known as asynchronous classes.