Degree-hacking for engineers?

[bruh]

I'm asking this question for a friend*. He's thinking about becoming an environmental engineer, and lately, I have been making all the rave to him about this degree-hacking thing. As a result, he's become a somewhat interested in the actual prospects of using degree-hacking to achieve his own goals. Especially since engineering is such a technical sort of career field, we were wondering if it's even possible at all. Like, can he go after a BA in biology at TESU real quick and then apply for a graduate program where he'll actually get training? Or would it be better if he takes the more traditional route of going to a brick-and-mortar institution to pursue a bachelor's in environmental engineering while CLEPing out of his general education? Or something else?

Some info about him is that he's a junior in high school, lives in CA, his family can contribute $4k a year to his tuition (at the very least; that minimum amount may double by 2024 though), and he has no family/work commitments which would let him be a full-time student if he wanted to. I assume he'd also like to be as efficient as possible in going after this career path, but he probably also wants to make sure he'll actually be good at his graduate studies/actual job if he's given such an opportunity.

* not really asking for a friend; we've just been discussing personally and I came here on my own initiative to get some answers 

[ss20ts]

I am not up to speed on what degrees are required for the various engineering fields in Cali, however, a BA in bio from TESU would likely help him even if he went onto a 4 year program elsewhere or a master's. If he takes CLEP exams, many of these will transfer. This will vary by school and program. Also once you have a bachelor's degree, you're typically waived from completing gen eds and many electives leaving you free to focus on your major. I sat through a 16 week course on Western Civ....thought I would die of boredom. I've never used it again in my work life. Same holds true for many gen ed requirements and many jobs. Might be better to get them over with on the cheap and easy instead of spending big bucks and 15 weeks over and over on them.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, interesting, it really depends on various factors, you should complete the degree template/addendum and provide more details... There are so many different options towards that goal... I'm not sure why you're looking at a BA Biology when there is already a BA Environmental Studies option at TESU. You can go for that and then ladder to a more refined Masters of your choice afterwards.

When you're only a Junior in high school, your best bet is to take Dual Credit options at the local community college in addition to the CLEP/AP options available. TESU needs RA credits anyways, get them cheap at your CA community college, in fact, CA probably has the least expensive associates degree, get it at a local institution and then ladder those credits towards a BA Environmental Studies at TESU.

[sanantone]

Hmm, interesting, it really depends on various factors, you should complete the degree template/addendum and provide more details... There are so many different options towards that goal... I'm not sure why you're looking at a BA Biology when there is already a BA Environmental Studies option at TESU.  You can go for that and then ladder to a more refined Masters of your choice afterwards.

When you're only a Junior in high school, your best bet is to take Dual Credit options at the local community college in addition to the CLEP/AP options available.  TESU needs RA credits anyways, get them cheap at your CA community college, in fact, CA probably has the least expensive associates degree, get it at a local institution and then ladder those credits towards a BA Environmental Studies at TESU.

TESU's environmental studies program is not an environmental science program. TESU's program is mostly humanities and social science. A biology or chemistry degree would be better preparation for an environmental engineering graduate program.

[bruh]

Hmm, interesting, it really depends on various factors, you should complete the degree template/addendum and provide more details... There are so many different options towards that goal... I'm not sure why you're looking at a BA Biology when there is already a BA Environmental Studies option at TESU.  You can go for that and then ladder to a more refined Masters of your choice afterwards.

When you're only a Junior in high school, your best bet is to take Dual Credit options at the local community college in addition to the CLEP/AP options available.  TESU needs RA credits anyways, get them cheap at your CA community college, in fact, CA probably has the least expensive associates degree, get it at a local institution and then ladder those credits towards a BA Environmental Studies at TESU.

TESU's environmental studies program is not an environmental science program. TESU's program is mostly humanities and social science. A biology or chemistry degree would be better preparation for an environmental engineering graduate program.

Ohhh, got it. I've also started looking into the environmental science degree at SNHU. Trying to look into what's be useful at our nearby community colleges too. I'll complete the degree template/addendum about him later as well (I'm away from home at the moment, I'll edit the original post later :p)

[natshar]

Honestly if someone is going for Engineering. I would say just get an actual engineering degree. Not sure why everyone is encouraging TESU biology degree. Many colleges even in California accept CLEP, DSST, and AP credit. You could also do things like math and sci sequence at CC possibly for cheaper and faster if you do accerlated options. There are a few engineering courses in ASU Universal learner as well. BYU independent study has cheap courses and they have some science and math that might work toward engineering. Cali has a lot of cheap CCs maybe take advantage of an articulation agreement 2+2 or 3+1 and combine that with CLEP, DSST, AP, ASU, BYU independent study. By leveraging these options one could maybe save half the time/money as a an engineering degree.Then once you get to the university you only have to do your actual major courses.

The trouble with a lot of masters of engineering degrees is a lot of times they require a Bachelors engineering and if they don't its harder to get in and you might have to take certain pre-reqs to get in. If you want an MSE degree you usually need an ABET BSE first.

And because engineering is so sequential in nature you might save credits/money but not as much time. (unless an articulation agreement is used) Even if you come in with say 60 credits you might still have to take three years to get the degree because of the course sequence. However, because of this one could take a light load than a traditional student. Which could mean time to do an internship and get real world experience and $ while finishing your degree. I know someone who did this method and he turned out alright.

This is what I would I do if I wanted to hack an engineering degree.

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Basically like this:
1. Find CC that accepts CLEP, DSST and find articulation agreement toward 4 Yr school that is also transfer friendly
2. Do CLEP, DSST, ASU UL, BYU idpent study and do the rest at local CC for AA/AS
3. Go To 4 yr school for final part of degree with all gen eds, and free electives done and hopefully most of the math/sci too.
4. If you need more semesters but are light on credit crt hrs (part-time student due to scheduling of courses) then try to get a good internship in the field for real world experience. Engingeering is one of the few majors where interns are basically always paid and usually good pay too.

The CC near me has 3+1 agreement with local Uni (meaning 3yrs at CC and only 1 at CC) for both electrical and mechanical engineering. Both schools accept, CLEP, DSST, and transfer credit. They have their DSST/CLEP and transfer policies easily visible to see. I figured if the right planning they could do the whole degree in only 2.5 yrs which is crazy for an engineering degree.

Also Environmental engineering is tricky to find. Might be better off just getting A Chemical Engineering Major with a minor in Environmental Sci. Would be easier to hack, find schools that offer the major and probably more job options too.

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Edit: I didn't realize he is a HS junior. My plan was somone out of HS. In that case, I'd say do as many CLEP, DSST, APs now. Also maybe consider ASU's intro to engineering course to see if engineering is actually something he'd like to pursue. Since he's still in HS he could have a ton done now with credit by exam. And depending on his math ablility could even start Dual enrollement for math/sci courses. With the right planning it would probably possible to get an engineering degree 2-3 yrs out of HS instead of the usual 4 (or often 5).

[Alpha]

The University of Phoenix has a Bachelors programs in Environmental Science

[sanantone]

Honestly if someone is going for Engineering. I would say just get an actual engineering degree. Not sure why everyone is encouraging TESU biology degree. Many colleges even in California accept CLEP, DSST, and AP credit. You could also do things like math and sci sequence at CC possibly for cheaper and faster if you do accerlated options. There are a few engineering courses in ASU Universal learner as well. BYU independent study has cheap courses and they have some science and math that might work toward engineering. Cali has a lot of cheap CCs maybe take advantage of an articulation agreement 2+2 or 3+1 and combine that with CLEP, DSST, AP, ASU, BYU independent study. By leveraging these options one could maybe save half the time/money as a an engineering degree.Then once you get to the university you only have to do your actual major courses.

The trouble with a lot of masters of engineering degrees is a lot of times they require a Bachelors engineering and if they don't its harder to get in and you might have to take certain pre-reqs to get in. If you want an MSE degree you usually need an ABET BSE first.

And because engineering is so sequential in nature you might save credits/money but not as much time. (unless an articulation agreement is used) Even if you come in with say 60 credits you might still have to take three years to get the degree because of the course sequence. However, because of this one could take a light load than a traditional student. Which could mean time to do an internship and get real world experience and $ while finishing your degree. I know someone who did this method and he turned out alright.

This is what I would I do if I wanted to hack an engineering degree.

---

Basically like this:
1. Find CC that accepts CLEP, DSST and find articulation agreement toward 4 Yr school that is also transfer friendly
2. Do CLEP, DSST, ASU UL, BYU idpent study and do the rest at local CC for AA/AS
3. Go To 4 yr school for final part of degree with all gen eds, and free electives done and hopefully most of the math/sci too.
4. If you need more semesters but are light on credit crt hrs (part-time student due to scheduling of courses) then try to get a good internship in the field for real world experience. Engingeering is one of the few majors where interns are basically always paid and usually good pay too.

The CC near me has 3+1 agreement with local Uni (meaning 3yrs at CC and only 1 at CC) for both electrical and mechanical engineering. Both schools accept, CLEP, DSST, and transfer credit. They have their DSST/CLEP and transfer policies easily visible to see. I figured if the right planning they could do the whole degree in only 2.5 yrs which is crazy for an engineering degree.

Also Environmental engineering is tricky to find. Might be better off just getting A Chemical Engineering Major with a minor in Environmental Sci. Would be easier to hack, find schools that offer the major and probably more job options too.

---

Edit: I didn't realize he is a HS junior. My plan was somone out of HS. In that case, I'd say do as many CLEP, DSST, APs now. Also maybe consider ASU's intro to engineering course to see if engineering is actually something he'd like to pursue. Since he's still in HS he could have a ton done now with credit by exam. And depending on his math ablility could even start Dual enrollement for math/sci courses. With the right planning it would probably possible to get an engineering degree 2-3 yrs out of HS instead of the usual 4 (or often 5).

Environmental engineering tends to be more flexible in its admissions requirements. There are some programs that strongly recommend a bachelor's in environmental or civil engineering, but I'm not sure how many online undergraduate programs there are for those two majors. At the master's level, there are many online environmental engineering programs.

[natshar]

Environmental engineering tends to be more flexible in its admissions requirements. There are some programs that strongly recommend a bachelor's in environmental or civil engineering, but I'm not sure how many online undergraduate programs there are for those two majors. At the master's level, there are many online environmental engineering programs.

hmm. I'll look into that. I guess Env Eng is a newer field. But there are also less schools that offer it as a major than Chem E. But the question is would someone with a hacked degree and no related work experience get in. I'd imagine they'd give preference to engineering majors. 

The TESU env study and biology is not as easily doable in time/money as majors like business or liberal studies anyways so it might make more sense to get an actual engineering bachelors. Like if takes 2 yrs to get an hacked Biology or Env study degree why not take one more year and get the actual degree the person wants and could lead to more pay and opportunities over a lifetime.


I know for most ABET MSE degrees you usually need an ABET BSE to get in (or a STEM degree but you took took all the engineer math/sci sequence). 

Although I know someone who got into a very prestigious engineering grad program without a BSE but he is was a math major and took every single math/sci course an engineering student takes and he was elec/comp engineer minor. I checked the schools website and admissions said you needed an BSE to get in to the program, but I guess he got an exception because he had all the coursework. Idk how it works for all schools though.

[bruh]

Hmm, interesting, it really depends on various factors, you should complete the degree template/addendum and provide more details... There are so many different options towards that goal...

Whoops, looks like I can't edit the original post anymore. Here are some more details.

Your Location: CA
Your Age: 17, turning 18 in mid-December
What kind of degree do you want?: A degree that'll prepare him to be an environmental engineer

Current Regional Accredited Credits: N/A, but is trying to register for some this summer/fall, eg...
— Calculus II
— Physics w/ Calculus I
— Intro to Engineering (also to see whether the field's for him :p)

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:

Advanced Placement (AP) Total Credits: 6
European History, 6, A

He's planning to take the AP exams for these within the next few weeks too:
— Calculus AB
— English Language and Composition
— Chemistry
— US History

He's hoping to take these APs next year too:
— US Government and Politics
— Macroeconomics
— Biology
— Statistics
— English Literature and Composition

Any certifications or military experience? N/A
Budget: Expected family contribution per year is at the very least $4k, which could double by next year though
Commitments: Just the usual things w/ friends and family (parents and a brother). He could pursue his postsecondary studies part-time alongside his high school classes until he graduates, which would allow him to go full-time.
Dedicated time to study: At least a few hours per week while he's still in high school
Timeline: Maybe a little faster than if he were to pursue an engineering degree in the traditional way (perhaps a few months before May 2028, so the timeline's roughly within 4.5 years from now)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: FAFSA and perhaps some scholarships too if he goes for those. Our local community college is entirely free for full-time student residents of our county too.

He's open to doing things like CLEP, Sophia, SDC, etc, but at the same, he wants to make sure he can get into a good place that'll teach him how to do his job right.