Online Schools for Mechanical Engineering and Robotics: How to Choose

Mechanical engineering and robotics, while they may overlap, are not often available jointly in online form. While online mechanical engineering degrees are fairly common, fully online robotics degrees are very rare and may only be available in a hybrid format.

How to Choose an Online School for Mechanical Engineering and Robotics

Program Type and Availability

Although mechanical engineering and robotics may at times be studied in the same degree program, few or no online degrees focus specifically on both of these fields. Mechanical engineering degrees can be found at the graduate level, and students who wish to study robotics may have to choose a related discipline from which to approach the subject. Robotics degrees with online components may require students to complete some portion of the program on campus.

Career Choice and Study Focus

Graduates from a robotics program study and work in areas such as artificial intelligence, systems engineering, data base systems, computer communication and power management. Mechanical engineering students may study and focus on careers involving engineering or electronics, as opposed to computer technology or program automation. Students must often choose a degree focus that will determine their career options, such as autonomous vehicle design or process automation.

Online Program Availability for Mechanical Engineering and Robotics

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

A master's degree in mechanical engineering, while it may not have any particular robotics component, may be available from many different sources in an online format. Students often take courses in engineering analysis, electronics management, heat transfer, vibration analysis and properties of solids. Online graduate level degree programs are often designed for continuing education and working professionals. This means that programs have flexible schedules with very few set deadlines.

Master's Degree in Robotics

Online degrees in robotics are extremely rare. The master's degree level is one of the few opportunities that students have to complete an online robotics degree. Common courses in a robotics program include modeling, simulation, control systems design and process analysis. Online robotics programs may vary widely in their scheduling requirements.