Reply #14: Except for lab time

[exboyfil]

you can obtain the equivalent of a B.S. in Engineering from all the courses that are on the web currently. The problem is that you need to be credentialed (ie get the degree). They won't let you sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination without a degree. Same can be said for the Bar Exam. While an exam does not test everyting, it can get pretty close in Engineering (effectively except for labs all engineering is is a series of examinations) - with the appropriate prep work a smart person could pass any of these tests without attending a day of classes. I would think the same thing wuld apply to the Bar Exam. Obviously, medicine is very different and I would feel uncomfortable when someone learning online that particular skill.

In the future companies may decide to get their engineers from other sources. I would think our company (a tractor manufacturer) would love someone who farmed while going to school online (even to the point of only taking proctored tests demonstrating engineering knowledge). Many undergraduate engineers never even get their hands dirty in the lab understanding how things are put together and how they work. For engineers it is best to combine the theory with practical applications. I felt my undergraduate labs were insufficient for this reason. I think colleges have made improvements since then. I was recently at my old school discussing job possibilties with M.S. grads, and I was impressed with what they were involved in.