UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON launches industry-relevant online programs in engineering
The University of Houston Cul
len College of Engineering has launched flexible, online master’s programs in civil, mechanical, subsea and industrial power systems engineering. Tailored for working professionals, the innovative digital programs include live videos of lectures, interactive web-based discussions and opportunities for one-onone learning experiences.
All four of the online programs in engineering can be completed in as little as two to three years, but there is no time limit for students to complete an online degree. The UH Engineering degrees earned online are exactly the same degrees earned by students who choose to attend classes on campus.
Students enrolled in UH Engineering’s online programs take the same classes as on-campus students, but in a digital environment, said JR Rao, director of online programs and extension services at the UH Cullen College of Engineering.
“The online and face-to-face classes have the exact same rigor, expectations and admissions processes,” Rao said. “In fact, the online and in-person courses are taught by the same professors in many cases.”
Many of the in-person classes are filmed and posted online for all students to view. Instructors post the materials, lectures, tests and assignments online for students to access at any time. Typically, all courses are available for download and viewing two hours after the live lecture has been captured.
The initial online course offerings were hand-picked to counteract critical shortages in engineering workforce talent in the city of Houston and across the nation, said Joseph W. Tedesco, Elizabeth D. Rockwell Dean of the UH Cullen College of Engineering.
“It is critical that the Houston region and the U.S. has the engineering talent required to address the grand challenges in energy, infrastructure and the environment facing our society,” said Tedesco. “UH Engineering’s online master’s programs are a flexible and cost-effective option for working engineers to help fill those workforce gaps by acquiring specialized skills and earning advanced degrees.”
Plans to launch additional online graduate programs in petroleum and industrial engineering are currently under way, Tedesco said.
UH Engineering also offers two fully online certificate programs in subsea engineering, with more online certificate programs in development.
The University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, located in the energy capital of the world, is one of the nation’s premiere destinations for engineering research and education. Ranked among the Top 100 best engineering colleges in the country by U.S. News and World
Report, the Cullen College is home to some of the world’s most prominent engineering researchers, centers, laboratories and cutting-edge research collaborations.