If you want to start a new career as an electrical engineer, you can start by attending one of the six engineering schools in Montana. All six of these schools offer Associate’s degree programs. Four Montana schools have Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree programs. Two Montana schools have PhD programs.
Earning an undergraduate degree is the first step to becoming an engineer. If you want to try lower-level engineering classes before committing to a Bachelor’s degree, you may want to pursue an Associate’s degree. This takes about two years, and involves completing 60 credits in engineering and general education courses.
A Bachelor’s degree is required for licensure in Montana. You have to complete between 120 and 130 credits, which takes between four and five years on a full-time basis. Some of the courses you have to take as an undergraduate student include Advanced Circuits, Fundamentals of Power Systems, and Electric Power Engineering.
After earning your Bachelor’s degree, you may want to continue your education by pursuing a Master’s degree or PhD. While a Master’s degree takes about two years, a PhD takes about seven years. Some of the courses you may take at this level include Energy Conversion, Power Electronic Converters and Systems, and Quantum Transport.
The average cost of tuition in Montana is $7400. However, two-year colleges tend to have much lower tuition rates than this. You may be able to pay for part of your education by applying for scholarships and grants.
The Montana Broadcasters Association provides a variety of Montana scholarships, including those for engineering students. You may also want to look into scholarships offered by the Montana Society of Engineers.