[Guardsman]

For those of you that may have done this, what's the best way to approach this? I want to do an Electrical Engineering program, but it will be while I am working full time, my job will be 1+ hours each way from home, and I'm in the Air National Guard.

The only schools around me that have BSEE programs are Berkeley, which is about 80 miles away, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is about 250 miles away. I'd prefer Cal Poly, because they have a blended BS+MS program, where you can work toward your BS and MS at the same time.

However, the distance is going to be the biggest problem, as the vast majority of the courses are in-residence only.

I will be able to test out of a bunch of the lower-level electronics/electrical courses, as I have been an electronics tech for eleven years, so that should somewhat shorten my total time required.

So, what am I looking at here to do this?

Second question on this subject, is what am I looking at in terms of all the math calsses I will need to take? I know that I will need statistics and calc, but what will I need to take to get there, i.e., algebra, geometry, trig, etc.?

I found out that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo's continuing Ed has online math, from basic to Algebra 2, so I'm going to do those to get my textbook math skills up to where I can test into higher-level math courses.

Thanks again guys.

John

[robz71lm7]

Thanks for the input guys.......good things to think about....

I will continue to look into options for going to school, possibly working part time, etc.

However, I am wondering, is there a way that I could study, etc., on my own, i.e., take separate classes, etc., in such a way that, it wouldn't be an "Electrical Engineering" degree, but would show an employer that, combined with my experience, I have an equivalent level of knowledge?

Thanks again guys.

John

Unfortunately, you're going to need the degree to hold many positions-you may be qualified and have tons of experience, but you have to have the degree. My father, recently retired after 35 years, worked at GE for a number of years and eventually went from the position of maintenance apprentice to the job with the title and pay of an engineer. He had no degree, today that's not really going to work. At the powerplant I've been co-oping at any position in maintence (be it mechanical or electrical) requires an engineering degree. You won't get beyond maint. leader without one.

It's frustrating for me too. I've already done the same projects and jobs as the engineers at our powerplant, I just haven't finished my education yet.