Explore How Online Course Programs Facilitate Computer Science And Engineering Degrees

Students working toward science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees online or on campus might have promising employment opportunities ahead, Bureau of Labor information suggests. By obtaining a campus or online degree in specific engineering disciplines might lead to developing healthcare-related products and systems. A technology degree could help graduates land work designing and developing network systems.

United States officials and leading organizations and agencies, such as NASA, have emphasized the importance of the United States remaining a leader in technology and innovation. They've been encouraging students to consider science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees as a means of accomplishing that. In August 2007, Congress passed a law known as the “America Competes Act” to expand STEM programs and establish new programs under the Department of Energy, Department of Education and the National Science Foundation.

Students interested in pursuing STEM-related degrees online or on campus have a wide variety of subject areas from which to choose. Information from the Bureau of Labor shows that employment between 2008 and 2018 is expected to grow faster than average as well for many STEM fields. The following information from the Bureau of Labor covers a few of these fields:

Geoscientists and hydrologists: The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to some extent illustrates the type of work these professionals do. Earning a science degree online or on campus in these disciplines can lead to professions that involve searching for resources that the world naturally supplies, such as ground water and petroleum. Geoscientists and hydrologists might otherwise work with environmentalists and other scientists to clean up contaminated waters and soils or to preserve eroding beaches and shorelines. Opportunities in the fields are excellent for those with master's degrees. Anticipated employment growth: About 18 percent, with the need for energy, environmental protection and responsible land and water management serving as a catalyst.

Network Architects, Network Engineers, Web Administrators and Web Developers: The anticipated growth for these occupations combined is 53 percent, with 286,000 new jobs created. Responsibilities for network architects and engineers include establishing, testing and evaluating local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), intranet and Internet systems. Web developers, on the other hand, create applications for the web, while web administrators are those who maintain websites.

Computer Software Engineers: If designing and developing computer games and business applications sounds appealing to you, you might consider work as a computer software engineer. Employment growth in this field is anticipated to be 32 percent, with 295,000 new jobs created. This growth is expected in part as a result for a growing demand for developing Internet, intranet and web applications and new products that are being created due to rapidly evolving technologies.

Biomedical Engineers: Without biomedical engineers, there might not be Pacemakers, automatic insulin injectors or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) systems. Graduates who earn biomedical engineering degrees online or on campus might find work researching, developing and evaluating products and systems such as these. The number of biomedical engineering degrees has been growing as interest in the field grows, and many biomedical engineering positions require a graduate degree. Anticipated employment growth: 72 percent, largely because of a demand for more sophisticated medical equipment and products as well as cost-related concerns, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing and related industries.

There are many interesting and important careers that students who earn STEM degrees on campus or through distance learning course programs might expect to enter. In instances where graduate studies are required, those who have obtained campus or online degrees in STEM-related subject areas might want to enter the workforce while continuing their studies. The flexibility of online college, university and technical school offerings might help to put those goals within easier reach allow students to achieve their STEM degree sooner than expected.