kentucky

 

Engineering students can expect to work in one of the highest paying careers for a new graduate. An affordable online engineering degree program is a way to start cashing in on the higher salary faster than if the degree was obtained through a more expensive traditional campus based university. Of the 17 engineering specialties, the five engineering degree programs that are expected to have a good outlook for employment in the future are chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering and industrial engineering.

Job growth for environmental engineers is expected to increase by 25% over the next decade according to the US Bureau of Labor. Increasing environmental regulations and proactive concern for the environment are influencing the expected growth in this field. The pay range for this specialty ranges from a low of $43,000 to a high of $106,000 with a median salary of $69,000. Schools such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute offer online masters of engineering programs in this field.

Industrial engineering positions are expected to increase by 20% over the next decade. Industrial engineers study the most effective way to affect production through the use of resources; people, material, and processes. Salaries range from a low of $44,000 to a high of $100,00, with the median being $68,000. Penn Foster College is an online college that offers this degree.

Civil engineering is another specialty that is expected to grow faster than average at a growth of 18% over the next decade. Civil engineers are needed to keep up with the demand of an increasing population in developing infrastructure. The salary range is a low of $44,000 to a high of $104,00, with the median being $68,000. Penn Foster College and Norwich University offer online civil engineering programs.

Chemical engineering positions are expected to grow at an average rate of 8%. Pharmaceutical companies are the most likely to need engineers. Also companies involved in biotechnology and nanotechnology. The salary range is a low of $50.000 to a high of $118,000 with the median being $78,000.

Job growth for mechanical engineers is expected to increase only 4%, but mechanical engineers will be able to enter other specialty areas because of their more broad background. Areas of nanotechnology, materials science, and biotechnology are areas where mechanical engineers can fill the bill. The salary range is a low of $45,000 to a high of $104,000 with the median being $69,000. The University of Delaware offers an online masters program in mechanical engineering.

The overall outlook for engineers of any specialty is good with an expected growth of 11%. Currently there are 1.5 million engineers working in a wide variety of specialties. Civil, mechanical, industrial, and electrical engineers hold the four top positions number of engineers employed.

Many schools such as Ashford, Drexel, University of Toledo, Polytechnic, Eastern Kentucky, Norwich, University of Delaware and Penn Foster College offer online engineering programs.

An online college and university website can provide information about the various programs, colleges and universities, costs, and financial aid. Advisors are available to answer questions, and you can send for information to read at your leisure.

Just click on the following link to get online college degree information. It’s fast, it’s free, and you’re under no obligation. You can get information about many types of online bachelors degree programs from many colleges. They also offer information about programs and schools that offer distance learning online masters degree programs.

by: Geoff Ficke 

This past New Years holiday weekend, I had planned on the ritual television viewing of endless college and professional football games with my son. He is home for Christmas break from university, and the last weekend of each year we have always devoted to eating, lazing and yelling at the screen as teams with which we have no real interest slug it out in endless gridiron skirmishes. However, this year, our viewing habits were turned upside down by a re-run of a car auction.

Each January, the Barrett-Jackson Classic Automobile Auction takes place in Scottsdale, Arizona. The auction takes the better part of a week and features the most stunning car stock in the world, selling for mind numbing prices to ultra-rich celebrities and collectors. If you like cars, and as a child of the 1960’s I do, this is addictive stuff. My son and I saw very little football this weekend, as the auction ran hour after hour, a repeat of the January, 2006 auction as shown on the Speed Channel, and we were consumed.

Watching the auction was revealing on several levels: not only was the auction exciting, the cars beautiful and unique, the bidding spirited, but collectors demand for American classics overwhelmed the markets desire for all other types of collectible vehicles. Ferrari’s, Porsches and Maserati’s were offered and sold, however, all of the record sale prices were achieved by American muscle cars from the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Were ANY American automobile executives in attendance, watching on television or even aware of the insatiable demand for their historic nameplates? At a time when Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, virtually all that is left of the once mighty American auto business, are losing market share, bleeding cash and shuttering factories, the demand for once-pedestrian priced rolling stock is immense. Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Hemi, Chevelle, Camaro, Firebird, Mustang, and dozens of other American auto models, all once widely sold and, at prices virtually every man could afford, commanded prices as high as $2 million. That is right: $2,000,000!

The re-run of the Barrett-Jackson 2006 auction underlined clearly what ails the American automobile business and what the prescription for a return to the glory days must include. The engineers and designers of the mid-20th century American cars loved the industry: They were car guys first, last, always! Their designs and performance enhancements reflected passion. Cars were more than mere mass transportation; they were statements of creativity, art and American leadership and inventiveness. Can any of these traits be applied to today’s bland, look alike, pedestrian offerings coming to us from Detroit?

Harley Earl at GM, Raymond Loewy at Studebaker, Lee Iacoca at Ford, John DeLorean at Pontiac, and Virgil Exner at Chrysler were craftsman whose designs and styling cues influence the worldwide auto design industry to this day. Can you name the lead designer of any contemporary American auto model working today? They are as faceless, and colorless as their vehicles.

The classic “baby bird”, the Ford Thunderbirds of the 1950’s, were allowed to atrophy, became gluttonous and boxy before being put to a long deserved death in the 1990’s. A few years ago, Ford announced to great fanfare that the Thunderbird would be re-offered in the original two-seat sport roadster presentation. Expectations were high for the “new baby bird”, pre-production bookings encouraging and publicity generous in anticipation of the return of this American classic.

Sadly, the car proved a bust on every level. Performance was dull, lines and body silhouette a pale memory of the distinctive 1950’s design and the public walked quickly away from the car. After only three years of disappointing sales, the new Thunderbird was discontinued.

Ford at least tried. My question, re-issued while watching the 2006 Barrett-Jackson auction was this: Why didn’t the new “Bird” body look exactly like the old bird, gorgeous pastel colors, cutting edge styling cues, continental kits, but with modern mechanics under the hood? The “old Bird” is a recognized classic. Every collector wants a classic Thunderbird in the garage. No one cared for the lame attempt at a pseudo-Bird as offered by today’s Ford designers.

The contemporary American car business suffers for many reasons, including legacy costs, past management mistakes and bloated staffing. However, the biggest mistake by far, and I believe any casual viewer of the Barrett-Jackson auction would agree, is the stodgy, sameness of their contemporary offerings. When a Cadillac, a Buick, a Hyundai and a Toyota look the same, the car with the lowest price, best warranty and best service history will claim the lions share of the sales. Unfortunately these are not currently benefits associated with American cars.

The historic design pedigree that naturally could, and should be attached to American models has largely been forfeited. When a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda (original sticker price, $4000) sells for over $2 million and Shelby Mustangs regularly sell for $1 million the market is making a clear statement. Is any body in Detroit paying attention?

Congratulations to those players seleted for the United States Men’s Olympic Basketball Team from Coach Jamaal of Boise’s Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!!! This year the Olympic Summer Games are being held in Beijing, China…the home of “chow Mein,” lo Mein, ans Coach J’s favorite- szchezwaun beef!!! The USA Basketball Executive Committee is responsible for the selection process and let’s just say it’s great to select from the NBA who plays host to the most extraordinary basketball talent in the world!!!

Mike Krzyzewski of the storied Duke University NCAA basketball program in Durham, North Carolina (ACC), is the Head Basketball Coach of the United States Olympic Basketball Senior Team. Nate McMillan, Mike D’Antoni and Jim Boeheim of the Portland Trailblazers, New York Knicks and Syracuse Univerity, respectively, are USA the Olympic Basketball Assistant Coaches for the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.

Team members include these National Basketball Association stars!

Carmelo Anthony- Denver Nuggets; the explosive Carmelo Anthony is a versatile NBA talent from Baltimore, Maryland and Syracuse University. With an NCAA basketball championship he’s now paired up with Allen Iverson (“The Answer”) in Denver with hope of bringing a title to the Mile High City! 

Chris Bosh- Toronto Raptors; Chris Bosh is a phenomenal leaper with unparalleled basketball skills in the paint. Chris Bosh’s athleticism makes for exciting NBA dunks and “rim shakers!” NBA basketball at its finest and will be fireworks to see him paired up, on the basketball hardwood, with the likes of Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) and LeBron (“King”) James (Cleveland Cavaliers)!

Michael Redd- Milwaukee Bucks; Michael Redd’s terrific long range game is TOPPS in the NBA and during Olympic play it will be enteresting to see him play bombs away against international basketball teams. Michael Redd played collegiately at Ohio State University.

Deron Williams- Utah Jazz; Deron Williams has both a strong basketball inside game and outside jumper. Slashes his way through opponents with penetration similar to a vibrant “Rookie” basketball version of Gary Payton (The Glove- from Oregon State University). Deron Williams played collegiately at the University of Illinois (Big 10/NCAA)

Chris Paul- New Orleans Hornets; Chris Paul had arguably the best season of all National Basketball Association (NBA) players and and some basketball fans, writers and critics, feel as though he should have won the NBA’s MVP award. Chris Paul is a versatile Point Guard with a knack for penetrating the lane and creating havok for defenders, as big men in the middle have to converge, leaving wide open jump shots for Chris Paul’s (CP’s) teammates in New Orleans. The New Orleans Hornets are having an exciting time with NBA basketball and Olympic basketball fans will be watching one of the best point guards in the modern NBA! Chris Paul played for the Wake Forrest Demon Deacons of the NCAA’s Atlantic Coast Conference (notable ACC basketball programs: Duke University, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University, Florida State University and University of North Carolina).

Tayshaun Prince- (Coach Jamaal’s)! Detroit Pistons; Tayshaun Prince is a wirey, smooth shooting guard with great touch. Coach Jamaal Al-Din of Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227 grew up as a Detroit Pistons fan, watching Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, John Salley, Mark Aguire and Dennis Rodman. It will be basketball heaven to watch Tayshaun Prince teamed up with guards like Chris Paul (Wake Forest Deamon Deacons/ New Orleans Hornets) and Deron Williams (University of Illinois “Fighting” Illini/ Utah Jazz). Tayshaun Prince played NCAA basketball at the University of Kentucky (“Wildcats”) for Coach Tubby Smith. 

Dwight Howard- Orlando Magic; an extraordinary physical basketball talent who is quickly making his mark on the entire National Basketball Association (NBA). Dwight Howard (see 227’s You Tube- Dwight Howard), is a physical inside player who rebounds and scores with the best basketball centers and forwards in the NBA. Look for Howard to control the paint like SHAQ (Phoenix Suns) and dominate Olympic play. Noted for his famous U Tube (YouTube, you tube, utube) “Superman” dunk, Dwight Howard came into the NBA right after high-school, like his NBA counter-part…Kobe Bryant (of the 81 point performance, which can be seen on YouTube)!

Dwayne Wade- Miami Heat; D-Wade of the marketing NBA creatives, is a slashy, creative, shooting guard witha championship ring to go with the exceptional performance he put on during the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Dwayne Wade’s game is versatile and should flourish during Olympic style basketball play. Dwayne Wade played collegiately at Marquette University (NCAA). 

Kobe Bryant- Los Angeles Lakers; Kobe Bryant… well, Kobe Bryant, need I say more. An 81 point scoring outburst and a phenominal 2007-08 season with the Los Angeles Lakers which culminated in a Western Conference Championship. Kobe will be a special basketball treat for all Olympic basketball fans. Kobe entered the NBA right out of high-school, similiar to the legendary Moses Malone (“4, 4, 4″) and Darryl Dawkins “Chocolate Thunder!”  Kobe is a product of Philly.

LeBron James- Cleveland Cavaliers; the most electrifying dunker of modern NBA basketball  and arguably all-time. LeBron’s strong game of dunk-you-very-much and power has took the National Basketball Association by storm! LeBron is only a blink away from establishing himself as the epitome of NBA shooting guards with strength and power to go along with his basketball intelligence which is unmatched! LeBron James came into the NBA, right after high-school and was regarded highly as everyone’s McDonald’s Basketball All-American, from Ohio.

Carlos Boozer- Utah Jazz; the former Duke University Blue Devil is a fierce inside presence and has a soft touch, he’ll be an asset teamming up with Deron Williams, as they’re teammates with the Western Conference Utah Jazz in the NBA.

 

Some of the basketball members of the United States Men’s Basketball (USA) Team have had experience with FIBA Basketball, and the World Championships. Stay tuned and watch the best of the best USA basketball talent during the Olympics in Beijing, China. Coach Jamaal Al-Din of Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227 says “Good Luck, red, white and blue!” Jamaal Al-Din is a former player of Olympic scoring record setter, Ed Palubinskas, who played at BYU-Idaho (formerly Ricks College) and LSU. Coach Palubinskas is a member of the Australia Basketball Hall of Fame. Jamaal Al-Din’s Hoops 227- the everything basketball website!