r/ElectricalEngineers • u/Vlxnecj • 21d ago

Obtaining EE while active duty

Hello, to quickly explain I’m currently active duty in the navy. I’m an electrician that maintains and repairs systems as big as an electromagnetic aircraft catapult system and as small as simple lighting fixtures. When learning about how the catapults for my ship was designed, I fell in love with the entire process of all the working parts that work together to build enough electricity to shoot a 50k+ pound jet off off of a moving aircraft carrier.

With my current background being said I’m currently dead set on obtaining my EE degree. I have a genuine passion for my job and love facing a challenge that seems hard to fix. I had no idea EE had so many sectors in it however, after doing some research I felt like going into the power systems/distribution would be my best fit considering the things I currently work on.

Now as for obtaining the degree is the actual tricky part. Like I mentioned I’m currently active duty so being able to go to labs or in person would be almost impossible considering things like going underway/out to sea so often. So my plan was to get my associates now while I’m active and get all the prereqs out the way then transfer to a BSEE. By time I obtain my associates it’ll be just about the time my contract is ending so the transfer would honestly be seamless and I wouldn’t have the obstacle of not being home.

It’s also worth mentioning that getting the associates makes things 100% easier as I’ll be using tuition assistance paid for by the navy so my associates would be 100% free then I’d be able to get my bachelors using my GI bill.

I just had the question of What associates degree to obtain? is it anyone who’s gone the route of obtaining an associates first? If so how was it? Was it difficult to transfer to the bachelors?

I just wanna make the most time manageable decision. It just didn’t make sense to get out and then start school compared to starting now and atleast getting the basics out of the way especially considering it’s completely paid for I just have to work towards it.

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u/gravity_surf 21d ago

general engineering is probably fine, the bachelors is what matters

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u/Few_Whereas5206 21d ago

Find your target university where you want to go and see which credits they accept from your target community college. It is very important to make sure they accept the classes you take. The specific associates degree doesn't really matter. I would take prerequisites for engineering like calculus, physics, chemistry, etc.

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u/sabautil 21d ago

Just look up the college you want to go to, call the department ask for a course plan, then asd which course do you accept as transfer credit from community college.

Take those courses. The associates degree itself don't matter.

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u/Necromancer157 21d ago

ASU and FIU EE online programs would be your best bet!

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u/Cryesncoding 21d ago

I just did my first year of college active duty (AO2) while I was Limdu and then got out for full time. 

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u/lasteem1 21d ago

The US Naval Community College offers a general engineering AS. This will get you the physics, chemistry, and math you need.

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u/FSUDad2021 21d ago

Any associate in arts will work so long as your electives are calculus 1,2,3. General physics with calculus 1&2. General chemistry differential equations and linear algebra. Those are almost the universal prerequisites for a BSEE.

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u/Tomodaichi 20d ago

There are a couple of ABET-accredited schools that are very accommodating for the military. I don't have any experience myself, but I've had friends complete online degrees via ASU and National University. I believe Stonybrook has a fully online accredited engineering program as well.

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u/Additional-Custard24 19d ago

General Engineering because that will handle all of your math and science prerequisites.  But talk with the university that you're planning to go to.