New online electrical engineering certificate offers full course flexibility

Penn State is offering a new electrical engineering certificate online that students can customize to fit their career interests.

Applications are being accepted for the postbaccalaureate certificate in electrical engineering. The nine-credit certificate is being offered online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the Penn State Harrisburg School of Science, Engineering, and Technology and the Penn State Department of Electrical Engineering.

The certificate is designed for working engineers interested in transitioning to electrical engineering or electrical engineers looking to advance in the field. The certificate can be completed in one year or less, said Robert Gray, associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State Harrisburg and professor in charge of the online program.

Students will choose courses from disciplines including electronic communication systems, electromagnetics, control systems, signal processing, and power systems. “If they’re interested in climate change, using smart grid energy, we have that,” Gray said. “If they’re interested in intelligent dynamic controls, we have that. If they’re interested in advanced probability or signal processing with pattern recognition, we have that.”

Gray said professionals can use the certificate program to increase their knowledge in specific advanced topics or as a jumping off point for pursuing a master’s degree. All nine credits may be applied to the Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering degree if a student applies and is accepted to that program.

Courses will be taught by expert Penn State faculty who are trained in online learning and committed to helping students succeed, Gray said.

“Students aren’t treated like numbers,” he said. “It’s very important to me to truly understand who they are, what their goals are, and what works best for them. Each student matters."

Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about the new postbaccalaureate certificate in electrical engineering.