To enter the field of quality engineering, all you typically need is a high school diploma or GED. However, to become certified in quality control, quality assurance or quality engineering, you will need at least an associate's degree. Bachelor's and graduate degrees allow you to get higher-level certification with less on-the-job experience. The following article details quality engineering programs offered by some well-known schools.
Quality Engineering College Programs
Quality engineering, sometimes known as quality assurance, refers to the practice of evaluating the quality of a product or system, typically in the manufacturing process. Evaluations can be conducted on materials, design, reliability or improvement planning. A quality engineering college program could prepare future project managers, inspectors, quality auditors or industrial engineers.
Typically, certificate programs in quality engineering are chosen by managers who need to get a little extra qualification for promotion or to improve their performance. Associate's degree programs are right for managers who want certification by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) or for people who wish to enter the field of quality engineering for the first time. Baccalaureate, master's degree and doctoral degree programs in quality engineering confer enough knowledge to pass upper-level certification exams and start in higher levels of employment.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisAreaOfStudy">Important Facts About This Area of Study</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Specializations </td><td> Problem solving for quality improvement, geometric and surface texture tolerancing, quality auditing, measuring customer satisfaction, lean service quality</td></tr>
<tr><td> Online Availability </td><td> Fully available</td></tr>
<tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Quality analyst, quality assurance tech, quality supervisor, continuous improvement specialist</td></tr>
<tr><td> Continuing Education </td><td> Exams to become a certified quality technician, certified quality auditor, certified quality manager, certified quality engineer, and certified reliability engineer; certifications for quality process analyst, quality improvement associate</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$38,580 (<i>quality control inspectors</i>)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>-3% (<i>quality control inspectors</i>)</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---SchoolsAcrossTheU.S.WithQualityEngineeringPrograms">Schools Across the U.S. with Quality Engineering Programs</h3><p>These colleges are drawn from all over the U.S. They offer degree programs in quality assurance from undergraduate certificates to master's degrees.
</p><ul><li><b>Elizabethtown Community & Technical College in Kentucky</b>
<ul><li>Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Quality Management Systems
</li><li>Diploma in Quality Technician
</li><li>Certificate in Quality Leader
</li><li>Certificate in Quality Monitor
</li><li>Certificate in Quality Specialist I & II
</li><li>Certificate in Quality Support
</li><li>Certificate in Quality Auditor
<ul><li>These certificate programs are 12 credits (four courses) and are embedded in the AAS program.
</li></ul></li></ul></li><li><b>Tulsa Community College in Oklahoma</b>
<ul><li>Certificate of Achievement in Quality Control Technology
</li><li>Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Engineering Technology with an option in Quality Control Technology
</li></ul></li><li><b>Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA</b>
<ul><li>Undergraduate Certificate in Quality Principles
</li><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Quality Assurance
</li></ul></li><li><b>Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI</b>
<ul><li>Graduate/Advanced Graduate Certificate in Quality Management
</li></ul></li><li><b>California State University-Dominguez Hills in Carson</b>
<ul><li>Bachelor of Science in Quality Assurance (BSQA) (online/on-site)
</li><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Quality Assurance (may be earned online)
</li></ul></li><li><b>Milwaukee Area Technical College</b>
<ul><li>Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Quality Engineering Technology
</li></ul></li><li><b>Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX</b>
<ul><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Quality and Engineering Management (online)
</li></ul></li><li><b>University of Texas at El Paso</b>
<ul><li>Master of Science (M.S.) in Industrial Engineering with an area of interest in Quality Engineering</li></ul></li></ul>
