Georgia Tech and Udacity Partner for Online M.S. in Computer Science 122
Georgia Tech and Udacity — the online courseware project led by Sebastian Thrun — have announced a plan to offer an accredited M.S. Computer Science program online. The two organizations are also working with AT&T. This is the first time a major university has made an actual degree available solely through the MOOC format. Getting a degree in this manner is going to be much cheaper than a traditional degree: "... students also will pay a fraction of the cost of traditional on-campus master’s programs; total tuition for the program is initially expected to be below $7,000." U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said, "Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have quickly become one of the most significant catalysts of innovation in higher education. As parents know all too well, America urgently needs new ideas about how to make higher education accessible and affordable. This new collaboration between Georgia Tech, AT&T and Udacity, and the application of the MOOC concept to advanced-degree programs, will further the national debate — pushing from conversations about technology to new models of instruction and new linkages between higher education and employers." Georgia Tech is looking at the big picture: "At present, around 160,000 master’s degrees are bestowed in the United States every year in computer science and related subject disciplines; the worldwide market is almost certainly much larger, perhaps even an order of magnitude larger."
I have a suggestion (Score:5, Interesting)
For all those Silicon Valley Tech companies that can't get "qualified" people, might I suggest they use their billions and pay for us unqualified Americans?
It'll be a tax write-off and great PR - "We understand that there's a problem with STEM education in this country and we're going to help. We need qualified people, so we're going to be good corporate citizens."
They won't do it though because they are all full of shit. There is no shortage and they'd rather of H1-Bs.
They'd rather spend their money on lobbying Congress, legal fees for getting around laws, etc... than actually solving the "problem" - which doesn't exist, anyway.
In the internet no knows you are a dog. (Score:3, Interesting)
What about Undergrad classes? (Score:2, Interesting)
For those who wish to pursue the online MSCS, but who do not already have a BSCS, I wonder if this program will offer the requisite undergraduate CS classes.
I have a BSEE and MSECE from Georgia Tech and wouldn't mind doing something like this if I could get the undergrad part online as well. It's a long drive from here to Atlanta.
Re:How about offer a BS first? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:so help me to understand this (Score:3, Interesting)
This is an incredibly short sighted view of why these institutions are interested in this.
Georgia Tech:
The CS department has consistently been at the forefront of improving the educational process. They started the Threads curricula which was praised a few years back for looking at computer science as a holistic process rather that just a technical effort. This extends that push towards providing a full educational experience to the most people possible. It is currently very difficult for a working professional to take the time to participate in an on campus degree program unless they are lucky enough to live in the same city.
Udacity:
This is a great opportunity to legitimize the online course offerings they already give. As well as giving them an opportunity to expand this offering if this pilot is successful.
AT&T:
Already spends a lot of money in tuition assistance and lost productivity for it's employees to go back to school for their masters. If they can reduce the cost and lost time, that's a win/win for them. Not to mention the publicity.
But to take cheap digs at a school for it's geographic location, as well as the other ad hominem attacks against the other participants, doesn't really show any insight into the program they are creating.
PS. I am an alumnus in CS from GA Tech.
You get what you pay for (Score:3, Interesting)
Why isn't this program free? And don't give me this BS that by charging money you'll get the "serious" students.
The issue with "free" is not about how serious the students are it is about how serious the accreditation of those students is. Frankly I would not give any worth to a degree based only on online tests and assignments taken remotely. There is no way to guarantee that the person taking the tests is the person that they say they are. To do this you need some physical verification i.e. the exam has to be held where someone can physically verify who is taking the exam and that they are following the exam rules. You also need someone to setup a new exam each time and grade the responses: this is not "free" someone has to be paid to do this as well as develop and maintain the software to run the course, regularly update the course materials to e.g. make examples more relevant etc. etc.
In essence the old adage "you get what you pay for" applies. Online degrees may be a lot cheaper and, with physical verification of students for exams and important tests, they may gain value but those that remain free will likely have very little value attached to their accreditation. That does not mean that you cannot still learn a lot from such free courses but it will mean that you will have no paper to prove that you know the material. So, in essence, they would be the high tech equivalent of reading a book.