Searching for a Master's Degree On or Offline?

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?"

Comments

be more specific

[Hythlodaeus]

A CS professor once described his department to me as "selectively excellent." There are a few places like MIT or Georgia Tech that can educate you on the cutting edge of just about anything technical, but most programs just have a few highlights. Masters' programs tend to require more specialization (e.g., AI, operating systems, graphics, teaching, algorithms, etc.) than an undergraduate degree, so you should decide what that specialization might be and evaluate masters' programs by that criteria. Do keep in mind, however, your interests could shift. (That's why I passed on Georgia Tech for undergraduate study... God help you if you go there and decide you don't want to major in engineering/cs after all.)

Simple answer

[sql*kitten]

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

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

[gallen1234]

An online degree is more than just reading and writing. (I'm speaking from experience - I got an MBA through an accredited online school that also has a traditional, brick-and-mortar facility.) A good program includes discussion facilities that provide exactly the sort of interactive experience you described.

Re:Simple answer

[krswan]

While many online programs are excactly as you describe them, they don't have to be. I just finished a program that was richer and more interactive than anything I experienced in my undergrad schooling or in my first Masters degree. It used online communities for classwork and homework, which allowed for the kinds of dynamic discussions that often appear here in Slashdot. We were all expected to contribute to the discussion, and because we could take our time typing out a thought-out responce, the discussions were vastly different from the usual "teacher calls on the students who raise their hand" discussions that happen in physical schools.

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

[MrResistor]

So what you're saying is that a good Masters degree program is based on communication.

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?

[sql*kitten]

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?"

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!

Re:Bricks vs Clicks

[MrResistor]

You do not know

* 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".