Going back to school as a working engineer: How to make it work

Wondering what it’s like to earn your engineering master’s degree online while working full-time? 

For many students, it means continuing their day-to-day routines—going to work, caring for family, and fitting coursework in whenever it makes sense. 

Read on to find out how current and former students have managed to balance work and family while earning their engineering master’s degree.

Balancing work and family responsibilities

It’s natural to wonder how you’ll balance school with work and family life, but with an online professional degree, you have more flexibility to carve out study time whenever it fits into your schedule. 

The challenges of going back to school are short-lived, but your experience and credentials are forever. Getting a master’s degree can help you hone your skills, expose you to new ideas, and increase your earning potential over the long term.

Dave McCabe, a controls engineer at Trident Automation in Green Bay, wanted to level up in his career, but he didn’t think graduate school would be an option for him as a working parent. 

“I have a family and a full-time job. I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to be able to find an opportunity to pursue my master’s degree,” Dave says, “I’m glad I was able to find the opportunity.” 

Now he’s earning a Master’s of Engineering in Data Analytics online through the College of Engineering’s Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro). 
They have flexible, interactive online graduate programs designed for professionals who want to grow their careers without stepping away from work. A fixed curriculum on a traditional semester schedule helps you stay focused while the online format gives you options so you can meet your obligations at work and home.

Taking classes as a working professional

The courses in the online engineering master’s programs are designed to accommodate working professionals. 

You don’t have to uproot your life to earn an advanced degree. You can do your assignments from home, whenever it fits your schedule, connect with your classmates online, share resources and build your professional network.

Lael LaRusso, a principal engineer at Verizon Wireless, says the online engineering master’s degree is ideal for a working professional. He’s earning his Master’s in Sustainable Systems Engineering remotely from Georgia.

Gaining practical skills for the workforce

Exceptional faculty and industry experts have designed a curriculum that emphasizes practical skills and real-world problem-solving.

Kim Giannini, materials and processes engineer at Sierra Space, says the highlight of her Polymer Engineering degree program has been doing project-based coursework.

“Getting to already start using this information conceptually for a project helps me orient myself for the workplace and the projects I’m going to be doing,” Kim says.

Project-based coursework and hands-on experiences can help you stand out from the pack with the practical skills you need to be a leader in your organization and industry. Plus, you can apply your current work projects to course assignments, creating immediate, real-world impact.

Why Choose UW-Madison for Your Online Graduate Programs?

• Flexible Learning for Busy Professionals: Our programs are delivered 100% online, allowing you to balance coursework with your career.
• Immediate Impact: Apply your new skills directly to your current work, solving real-world challenges as you learn.
• Pathways to Advanced Degrees: Start with a capstone certificate and transition into a full master’s degree, gaining credits along the way.
• Industry-Experienced Faculty: Learn from industry leaders and faculty with decades of experience, and collaborate with peers from leading organizations.
• Interactive Online Learning: Our programs are designed to be synchronous and highly interactive, fostering collaboration with your instructors and classmates.

Ready to take the next step? Learn more about UW–Madison’s online engineering programs by visiting interpro.wisc.edu or attending an upcoming information session.