Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

We’re not yet ready to announce a specific program cost, but the plan is to offer the Georgia Tech OMS CS for a total cost of under $7,000—a fraction of the cost of Georgia Tech’s on-campus program and even less than that of comparable private universities.

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#4

Post by recuter » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:02 AM UTC

http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/faq/

> How much does the degree program cost? We’re not yet ready to announce a specific program cost, but the plan is to offer the Georgia Tech OMS CS for a total cost of under $7,000—a fraction of the cost of Georgia Tech’s on-campus program and even less than that of comparable private universities.

> The total workload is the same as the residential program; the weekly or hourly workload depends on how quickly students wish to complete the program.

This is revolutionary.

Not only is it much cheaper, the incentives are now back in alignment. I know plenty of people that could graduate much faster and get on with their lives - The schools on the other hand, want them to stay longer (and thus pay more).

This removes the nickel and dime element and all kinds of backwards tedium.

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#5

Post by rsanders » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:03 AM UTC

dhawalhs wrote: post #2

Where do you see the price $7000?

If you chase the links you end up on the Georgia Tech site about it: http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/faq.

  We’re not yet ready to announce a specific program cost, 
  but the plan is to offer the Georgia Tech OMS CS for a 
  total cost of under $7,000—a fraction of the cost of 
  Georgia Tech’s on-campus program and even less than that 
  of comparable private universities.

All the content will be free to everybody, but you have to apply to Georgia Tech and pay if you want the actual degree.

You also have to have a Bachelor's degree, which is a disappointment for me. I left college before completing my BS in CS, and I'd love to be in this program, but I wouldn't be admitted.

[disclosure: my wife works in the Georgia Tech Professional Education group, which is how I heard about this]

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#6

Post by kmfrk » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:12 AM UTC

That Udacity is behind this initiative makes this much, much more exciting to me (I'm not big on the whole MOOC business, but Udacity is different; it's the Khan Academy of MOOCs). I've found them to hold themselves to a very high standard, and as someone who's been right in the middle of education-based experiments gone wrong, this makes me feel a lot more optimistic about this project.

Still, I'd recommend people at least let it run for a full one or two years before giving it a shot. The second mouse gets the cheese and all that.

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#7

Post by rsanders » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:15 AM UTC

The cost of a similar master's degree at a university like Georgia Tech can run $40,000.

It's not quite the same thing -- watch the video by Charles Isbell on the GT site to hear their differentiation between the "on campus" and online degrees. But it's an amazing value for people who can learn effectively in a MOOC environment and aren't focused on the path into research and academia.

The video is also at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zihmiLx3Xlk.

[edit: added link to video]

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#8

Post by waterlesscloud » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:20 AM UTC

The signs are telling me I should cash out my bitcoins and get an online MSCS!

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#9

Post by moistgorilla » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:25 AM UTC

As an undergraduate georgia tech cs student. I wish this was for undergrad degrees also. At least I will be able to get a cheap masters degree.

Re: Announcing Online MS in Computer Science in Collaboration with Georgia Tech

#10

Post by rayiner » Wed, May 15, 2013, 1:30 AM UTC

I think Georgia Tech is just the right kind of partner for something like this. Solid name recognition to give credibility to the degree, but not one that's so steeped in exclusivity that it might be compromised by association with the online format. And the pricing, $7,000, is spot-on for what this offers.