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When One Just Isn't Enough: Distance Education Graduate Earns Second Master's Degree Through K-State

May 9, 2008

Some say that the only constant is change. It can be true in life and in the field of technology. Chris DeWaal can vouch for that.

As a consultant for Raasch Associates, a small engineering firm in Green Bay, Wis., DeWaal sees change every day – which is part of the reason why he chose to earn a master's degree through online education.

To keep up with the renewal of the 19 professional licenses he holds, as well as the need for up-to-date training and know-how, DeWaal enrolled in the online master's program for electrical engineering at Kansas State University.

“Kansas State just seemed to have the most organized program,” DeWaal said. “Some of the other institutions I looked at weren't so certain about when they would be offering courses or what the requirements were.”

DeWaal began taking courses through distance education in 2002. He was impressed with the program faculty; a little research into their work had shown he was learning from world-class engineers. Their availability and willingness to explain complex ideas were a welcome surprise.

“They went way above and beyond what I expected as far as making themselves available,” DeWaal said. “Things have changed since I was an undergraduate; the Internet and e-mail make it possible to receive all kinds of help with questions or concerns.”

As he neared completion of his master's degree in 2005, DeWaal began to contemplate his future at his consulting firm. It wasn't long before he realized he'd need a solid background in business to move up when senior management retired and moved out. So he signed up for his second online master's degree program in engineering management.

“The experience with K-State's master's in electrical engineering was outstanding,” DeWaal said. “The staff was great, the classes were immediately applicable, and I knew the management experience would be similar.”

Interaction with his fellow students was an unanticipated benefit in regard to DeWaal's nontraditional student status.

“Going into management, the people that I will be managing will often be of an age where they'll just be getting out of school,” DeWaal said. “That interaction gives me an idea of how people in that age group think and how they approach problems.”

DeWaal wasn't able to attend the commencement ceremony for his master's in electrical engineering, and it looks like he won't be walking across the stage this May either for his master's in engineering management. Both commencement ceremony dates have fallen during a scheduled business trip.

However, he can participate in K-State's virtual commencement, an online site to honor graduates who live at a distance from the Manhattan campus and are not able to attend their on-campus commencement. The site is available at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/students/commencement and visitors can post messages to K-State's spring 2008 distance graduates at the site's virtual reception area.

DeWaal, though, already is familiar with the K-State campus.

“I've got clients in Kansas and actually get to campus once a semester,” he said. “It's a very appealing area, but right now, my opportunities are here.”

So will DeWaal turn to K-State when he decides to go after a Ph.D.?

“I'm not going to say never,” he said, “but Ph.D.-level education generally requires you to be on campus. I would definitely pursue it if K-State made a program like that available online.”

More information about engineering programs and other programs available at K-State through distance education is available by contacting the K-State Division of Continuing Education at 1-800-622-2578 or online at http://www.dce.k-state.edu