Earning an online computer engineering degree allows the degree earner to pursue a career in computer technology. Computer engineering careers include creating software and hardware programs. In addition to those who use the degree to create hardware and software, careers also include implementing and maintaining software programs and hardware. Three primary types of online computer engineering degrees include an associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree.
An online associate’s degree program in computer engineering tends to be the quickest way to earn an education in this field. These programs tend to range from 18 months to two years. Students enrolled in these online programs tend to study subject areas that include mathematics, science, computer science and some elective courses.
An associate’s degree is one of the online computer engineering degrees that allow the graduate to get their foot in the door. Generally, the degree permits the holder to obtain entry level positions in the technology and computer fields. For mid-level to high-level positions in a company, employers tend to require more advanced degrees, such as a bachelor’s or a master’s degree.
The associate’s degree is the first stepping stone in earning an advanced degree, however. After earning an associate’s degree, the graduate can go on to earn a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree is typically another 18 month to two year program. Students enrolled one of these programs offering online computer engineering degrees learns about computers, technology, software and hardware on a more advanced level than that of the associate’s degree. Because of the additional education, obtaining this degree permits graduates to obtain higher level and higher paying positions in a company.
The most advanced types of online computer engineering degrees is the master’s degree. This is a degree that holders of bachelor’s degrees can go on to earn in an online study program. In addition to students learning more advanced information in computers and technology, the learning curriculum typically focuses on computers and technology from an application perspective.
In other words, the previous two types of degrees allow the student to learn the fundamentals. The more advanced degree nature of a master’s degree focuses more on how students can apply all of what they know and what they learn in a real world business setting. These online courses tend to do this by assigning individual and group projects as well as the student writing a thesis paper, as opposed to taking tests and completing homework assignments.
