subject: Guide To Choosing Engineering Schools [print this page] If you are interested in becoming an engineer, one of the basic requirements is to take an engineering degree. There are several things you can do to find the right engineering degree school for yourself.
First of all, you will need to decide on the type of program you want to complete. One would be engineering technology, while the other, engineering. The difference is that in engineering technology, there will be more practical and hands-on programs; meanwhile, engineering is more of a theoretical program. With engineering technology, it will take about two years to complete, while engineering will take about four years to complete. If you are interested in working towards an associate degree of science or applied sciences, engineering technology might be more suitable. Nevertheless, in order to decide on this, you could think about the type of job you are interested in working as in the future.
After that, you can look for engineering degree schools that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). This accreditation indicates that program adheres to the acceptable standards of engineering programs. To find out if a school is accredited by ABET, you can visit the ABET homepage, or you could look out for the ABET logo on a schools website.
Apart from that, when looking for engineering degree schools, you could pay the schools a visit if possible. It is important for one to be able to study in an environment they are comfortable with, as well as receive the type of teaching style that suits them so that they can understand the difficult syllabus well. Some schools may be more competitive than others as well, so you will need to see if that is the kind of atmosphere you would like to get into. Do check out their learning resources like library and laboratories, too, if they are up-to-date and complete. You could check out student or school forums to gain insight on these matters if you cannot visit the school itself. Choosing the right engineering school for you will definitely aid you throughout your studies.
