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Searching for a Master's Degree On or Offline?

Posted by Cliff on from the getting-out-of-all-the-hassles-of-graduate-school dept.

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?"

1 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Simple answer by sql*kitten · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.