Searching for a Master's Degree On or Offline? 46
rstewart asks: "I've been searching for a good school to get a Masters in computer science from. The catch: I want to do it as an online degree since I do not have the time during the day to take classes and am not interested in moving/switching jobs right now. I'm not interested in something like University of Phoenix or one of the other schools like that but a traditional brick and mortar school where I can get a Masters degree that is the same as being at that school's location. I'm wondering what other users experience with online degrees are and if there are any schools worthy of mention for this type of goal." There's another question of the offline variety as well.
jokrswild asks: "As the end of my college career ends, I start to look toward the future. After recieving my BS in Computer Science, I could go on to get a job right away, or continue my formal education and get a Masters in Computer Science. Thinking about it, I've decided that I would like to further my knowledge of Computer Science, and pursue a masters degree. The only problem is that there are too many schools to choose from! What are your experiences with computer science at different schools around the country, and which do you think offers the best program for a Masters in Computer Science?"
Consider also studying abroad (Score:3, Interesting)
Depending on what is the field you would like to specialize in, think about studying abroad. For example, I have heard that studying in Finland in HUT [www.hut.fi] or TUT [www.tut.fi] for example might be a major boost both for your skills and employment opportunities especially if you plan to specialize in wireless stuff. (Why? Much of it originates from Nokia)
Check your email (Score:4, Funny)
Cheers
My Masters Degree (Score:1, Funny)
Re:My Masters Degree (Score:2)
be more specific (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: Searching for a Master's Degree On or Offline? (Score:2)
Simple answer (Score:5, Insightful)
You can't. A Master's degree, a good one, isn't taught like an undergraduate degree, with a lecture hall of students taking notes while a professor lectures at the front. It's much more interactive; lots of small groups, discussions with fellow students and faculty, collaborative learning. The benefits of a well-respected course include the quality of the other students, remember, not just the quality of the faculty and facilities. You aren't just soaking up data, you're exercising the application of new heuristics. The best professors I had during my Masters would start a discussion, then expect the class to arrive at a solution, guiding it along the way where necessary. Active participation makes for a much richer learning experience, one that both gives a good grasp of the theory and can be applied to the real world. All an "online" degree offers is a reading list and a test of how well you've memorized it.
You can get an online Masters if you just want the letters after your name, but if you really want an education, you will have to do it the old-fashioned way, there are no shortcuts.
Re:Simple answer (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Simple answer (Score:3, Insightful)
Take a good look at programs and make sure that they are more than online Powerpoint presentations and videos - how will you grow through interacting with your professors and classmates online?
Re:Simple answer (Score:1)
Re:Simple answer (Score:3, Insightful)
The internet is, primarily, a communication medium.
So, where exactly is the conflict here?
For the record, I used to scoff at Online courses as well. Now that I've taken one, though, I have to say there is potential for an online course to be much better than a "physical presence" course. Obviously that depends greatly on the instructor, but a poor instructor is not a problem that will be avoided simply by being in the same room with them. In fact, physical presence could easily exacerbate the problem, since online discussion (via newsgroups, chat, IM, IRC, mailing lists, whatever) facilitates in depth discussion much more than oral communication does.
What do you want to do? (Score:3, Insightful)
First question: do you want a "generalist" MS CS or do you want to specialize in a particular area, such as software engineering, AI, computer graphics, or do you want to go into research?
Decide this, then narrow down your potential list of schools using their strengths in the area(s) you are most interested in. If you can't decide, get a job and work for 3-4 years, maybe spend a year or two in different roles, then you will have a much better idea of what your goals and interests are, and you might even have made a dent in your student debt!
Bricks vs Clicks (Score:4, Interesting)
For your self-fulfillment / your CV / fill in time ?
From an employer's perspective, I would not give much credit to someone with a bit of paper from a purely online 'university' course.
You do not know
- what the standards are
- that the person who did the 'work' is the same person in front of you.
Therefore I would never spend my money on a purely on line course.I would never spend my money on a course without a final exam.
I would only spend my money on a respected course, with a bit of a track record. This is not just academic snobbery.
- one of the most important benefits is the networking. And networking with other losers is inherantly less productive (so my friends tell me as they are leaving).
- In reality the money is not that important. Your time is actually the most valuable resource you will put into this degree, so if you are going to do it, you may as well do the best course you can afford.
If I were going to use a distance learning univ, I would use one which had been set up and has long experience in the joys of distance learning - in the UK, the Open University. These universities have been in the game a lot longer than U.Phoenix and recognise that pure distance learning with no face to face is not good. At a masters + level, where critical thinking is important, you need to develop a relationship with your tutor.I did an MBA this way - mixed distance with some face to face, and found it worked very well.
There is a lot to be said (from an educational and a practical viewpoint) for doing your further study while you are working. An employer with their head screwed on will support you, and you will be able to relate your learning to real-life.
Over the past decade, many universities have been pressured into setting up distance learning as it obviously increases their income, without increasing their expenditure. They had little interest or experience in managing these students, and much unhappiness has resulted.
[Previous convictions: two bachelors degrees, two masters incorporating distance learning and now on PhD on distance/ web based learning.]
Good Luck!
Re:Bricks vs Clicks (Score:3, Interesting)
On the other hand, they can also be sure that people know Usenet, because that's the most important way for students to cooperate, and every Usenetter knows what kind of timesink that can be (and every /.er can make an educated guess). ;-)
Re:Bricks vs Clicks (Score:1)
I have to agree with this. I'm almost done with my MS in Software Engineering, and there are many concepts that would not have fully sunk in were it not for work experience I could relate them to. Conversely, many things I learned in class I was able to try out at work on production practices, and received good feedback on the useful(less)ness. I'm one of those people who learns best by doing and real work often brings up issues that the toy projects of classwork can't.
Plus the fact that my employer picks up the full tab for education doesn't hurt
Re:Bricks vs Clicks (Score:3, Insightful)
* what the standards are
* that the person who did the 'work' is the same person in front of you.
And you know these things WRT a non-online program how?
Someone who's going to cheat is going to cheat, regardless of the class medium. It's not like cheating was invented on the internet.
You know the standards, as well as who did the work, for an online course the same way you know it for any other type of course: by taking someones word for it. That's what accreditation is all about, and that's why the article specifically says "I'm not interested in something like University of Phoenix or one of the other schools like that".
Read your spam! (Score:2, Funny)
(nb: I'm kidding - please don't take this seriously!)
Athabasca? (Score:2, Interesting)
Excuse me... (Score:3, Informative)
If you have practical, hands-on work experience and if you, like me, do not have the capability due to work schedule (boss's unwillingness to let you flex your schedule to take a class also fits in here) or your location on this planet; online coursework is the best way to do this. It is my observation that the very fact that you have taken the time to get an advanced education often outweighs the name or nature of the school you got the degree from. Even 'traditional' schools are offering online coursework; and it is observation that many businesses recognize this and accept anything accredited. I do believe if you get your diploma from a 'degree mill', you'll suffer for it soon enough when people realize you don't have the knowledge you claimed you had -- but there is nothing wrong with obtaining an education online.
A considerable number of companies provide most of their training online now through video, CBT or web-based live demonstrations and tutorials. A certain government facility's yearly security awareness brief is not provided online. Another company's GMP and Documentation Standards courses; as well as all the requisite exams following the courses; are all provided in an automated system.
Re:Excuse me... (Score:2)
Best one I've seen (Score:3, Informative)
Master of Science: Information Technology at RIT... [rit.edu]
Baker College (Score:3, Informative)
Univeristy of Illinois (Score:2, Informative)
You can find more info here: I2CS program [uiuc.edu]
Two style of masters (Score:3, Informative)
Profession masters usually consist mostly of course work. Part of the courses will be a graduate level "redo" (the courses will be more indepth and expand on the knowledge you gained as an UG) of some of your undergrad work (usually a fixed curriculium), while the other courses will be more advanced, allowing you to study things you find more interesting.
A more research oriented masters is similar to the program above, but has a thesis project in addition to (or in substitution for) some of the courses. It is "independent" research, you will be working with a faculty advisor as part of his/her research group.
Usually research masters require you to be a full time student (and some even offer fellowships / assistanceships to help you financially), whereas many professional masters can be done while you are working. For example NYU [nyu.edu] offers their masters corses in the evening.
The choice between the two types of programs depends on what you would like to accomplish, and what your time and financial limitations are. Both will impress potential employeers. I'd give a slight edge to the research masters, because you will have something very interesting to discuss with interviewers, and if you present them with a copy of your thesis it will be impressive. Also, certain "research" type jobs might want to see proof that you could do research before they hire you.
If you do a research degree, you might be convinced to stay on (or continue somewhere else) and get a PhD (and, you'll have a better sense of what one is like), but it is definitly not a formal stepping-stone. Most PhD program will take people straight out of undergrad, but will require them to do some general course work and obtain a masters en-passant. Having a masters already might help reduce that course load, or at least make it easier.
Good luck.
NCSU (Score:2, Informative)
See http://engineeringonline.ncsu.edu for details.
Re:NCSU (Score:1)
How about Columbia University (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.cvn.columbia.edu/ [columbia.edu]
http://www.cvn.columbia.edu/b/degrees/csms.html [columbia.edu]
Definitely a little more respectable than your average degree-by-mail solicitation.
NTU? (Score:2)
Speaking of NTU, does anyone have opinions about it? I'd be curious as to others' experience with NTU.
Check out this one... (Score:1)
Homepage [ntu.edu]
Computer Science Degree [ntu.edu]
University of Southern California (Score:1)
Just wait... (Score:2)
Work first, then go back to school (Score:1)
I think a MS degree is an excelent step but I would suggest getting out and working a bit first. There are many good schools, as well as many diferent types of programs to choose from. I just started going back to school for my MS, but it took me 3 years to decide what I wanted to specialize in. By working it gives you more of an opportunity to see all the different parts of the business world. This will allow you to steer your degree program to help you fulfill your career goals.
On the flip side, if you have already decided that going straight back to school is the right thing to do then may I suggest George Mason University [gmu.edu]. It is a state school located right in the heart of Northern VA. There are a lot of technical companies located in the area that will give you great internship opportunities and work opportunities after you graduate. Also since it is a Virginia state school the tuition is only about $210 per credit (in state rate). The instructors I have encountered are great too.
Have an MCSE? You're halfway there. (Score:1)
In-ter-esting.
Re:Have an MCSE? You're halfway there. (Score:1)
You're halfway to a masters degree at Charles Sturt Univeristy. This is like the difference between a state university and an ivy league one.
If you want a degree based on 'Recognition of Prior Learning', look through your spam.
If you want a degree which takes your prior learning, and builds on it, go to a 'more academic' university.
From the course organiser's viewpoint, recognising your 'prior learning' is a convenient way of saying 'less work, more money'.
Re:what 'bout night classes? (Score:2)
But of course, this is only useful if you live in East. MA.
The Best That I've Found ... (Score:1)