Degree-hacking for engineers?

[davewill]

If he's able to pass all those AP courses, he should also be trying for academic scholarships to traditional universities.

[sanantone]

If he's able to pass all those AP courses, he should also be trying for academic scholarships to traditional universities.

I agree. The traditional route is usually better for teens. He can also look into community colleges with block transfer agreements with California universities. They might let him CLEP out of gen ed courses. That way, he can earn an engineering degree for less.

[Silvious]

You should seek an EE's help to align the necessary needed body of knowledge. The path for engineering start from an ABET Bachelor (Master can only subs this in like 2 states) => EIT => PE. For Environmental, to get to become an EIT, there's a Fundamental of Engineer Exam in Environmental when you are fresh outta college, and 4y later a Principal &Practice of Engineering exam to officiate one to become a licensed Professional Engineer.

https://ncees.org/exams/fe-exam/
https://ncees.org/exams/pe-exam/environmental/

Check out the two exams and make sure to get courses in at least 80% of the material covered, with each topic is typically one UG course. Unfortunately because of this, there is not really a quick way to get around engineering credit, and neither attempting to is recommended. Remember, Engineers are the experts that easily hold thousands of people's life in their hand with their decision, so I wouldn't recommend you skipping by any topic. A relevant one for you it might be a basic chemistry problem about lead poisoning that go undetected in a waste-water project.

If you absolutely hate literature then fine, go get all of the gen-ed fulfilled with alt credit. Even Physics and Chems can be taken online. But not any engineering course should be accepted without a thorough understanding, and those courses are what build up your experience, and that experience earn you high-paying jobs. Good engineering programs also teach you team work and collaboration, which is absolutely needed in the corporate world. We don't simply just get it; we get it because we proved that we can do more than what our peers can do and not just sit around. But do check again on the regulation of where you want to practice in the future to make sure that you are aware of all required boxes.

[bjcheung77]

Great template and last post addendum update, as I mentioned earlier, it's best to work on the AP/CLEP and dual enrolment especially since you can get the associates free. The main reason is for the graded RA if you wanted to transfer into another 4 year institution to complete the degree of choice. Generally for these programs, they want to take a look at the GPA and you need at least 30+ credits. With dual enrolment, you get there cheaper/faster, once done with the associates, you can ladder to the Bachelors of choice, use the free tuition for courses that can't be completed with AP/CLEP - the prerequisites to the ABET Bachelors or entry to a Masters that doesn't require the ABET.

[cardiacclep]

As most have stated....you can probably accelerate the bs gen ed stuff fast but engineering is sequential in nature. I would also add that depending on your friend's career goal....getting the correct degree with ABET accreditation is key if you want to ever become a professional engineer or some higher end engineering jobs. I know many engineers and you ultimately have a pay your dues with a rigorous undergrad which is a main reason it is a well compensated field. If still in your younger years just do it correctly now versus hacking it. I knew a friend that did two years at CC and two years at a highly regarded top 20 engineering school so it can be done cheaper overall with that approach if the student knows the transfer policies. Hack/accelerate the first two years and acknowledge the last two years are for building engineering skills that will pay great dividends immediately after graduation.