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Ask HN: What are good distance learning Bachelor's/Master's degrees one can do?

161 points by polyphonicist ↗ HN
I do not belong to USA or UK. I am a software engineer with a Bachelor's degree in computer science. But I would like to do a distance learning program to earn an additional bachelor's or master's degree in math or physics or another related topic to satisfy my eagerness to learn more.

I would like a distance learning degree from a UK or European University because they are cheaper than American ones. Any suggestions of degree programs and universities?

69 comments

[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 133 ms ] thread
[dead] beeschlenker
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jaredtn
I'm currently enrolled in Georgia Tech's OMSCS program - http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/. 2-3 years of part-time work for $7000, and it's a fully accredited degree with no distinction from the on-campus degree. It's no pushover, a lot of work is required. But the opportunity to get a top-10 CS degree for under ten grand total is unparalleled.
toomuchtodo
Any recommendations as to a distance learned BS to pair with this?
non-entity
Sadly the options are very limited it seems. There are a handful of state schools that either offer them to people who have some existing college credi (not if you dont have any prior education) or offer made up bullshit sounding degrees for "continuing professionals". There are also for profit school and school that seem to not be outright scams, but might not be high quality (e.g. WGU)

So if you just want to check a box for grad school or to bypass ATS filtering, etc. you have a few options, otherwise you might be out of luck

source: did some research on going back to school late last year. I sould also mention my comment is within the context of the Is

bitL
University of London has a BS in CS, however it's a 3-year degree so I am not sure it would be relevant in the US.

https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-compute...

Zircom
BS degrees in the UK are a little different than in the US, 3 years is standard because a lot of what would be first year coursework in the US is covered and credited by their GCSE/GCE exams(somewhat similar to to how you can test out of lots of first year credits in the US with AP tests).

In any case I've never seen anyone with a UK degree have any difficulty having it being equated to a US degree for hiring purposes, and that online CS degree from University of London specifically requires 30 hours of college credit from US students so it still comes to 4 years in the end.

willhslade
Athabasca University offers a 4 year, Canadian distance Computing and Information Sciences Bachelors. It's affordable, the whole thing is under $40K CAD ~= $31USD. Just a suggestion for the non-Canadian Hacker News set.
rootusrootus
Over on the OMSCS subreddit there is regular discussions of competing programs as well, like ASU, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, etc. Everyone is getting into the game, it seems, though I think that OMSCS still provides the best value. I'm on class #6 myself.
lozaning
I've been toying with the idea of getting the OMSCS degree for a while. Just took a peek at the stanford offering based on your post. Holly wow, the cost of a single stanford course is almost expensive as the entire OMSCS course from GT.

Curious if any stanford grads would argue stanford alumni status is worth the additional cost.

hobos_delight
This is the exact same though process I went through when looking - I would love to experience Stanford courses - but the single course being nearly the entire cost of the GT one...

I'm on subject #7 of the course this term - overall it has been a pretty positive experience, though you need to research the subjects you're taking on - OMSCentral is critical here.

I've so far avoided any subjects that require group work, and I'm really hoping to keep it that way.

tigerlily
I've got a colleague who is brushing up on his math before he takes on this very degree. I think he's going down to four days a week from next year, to accommodate his study.
hello_moto
Why is he brushing up on Math? Is he doing Data Science?
throwaway3neu94
Because real CS degrees require a lot of it, and math exams are the main reason people wash out in the first 2 years. (There's some controversy around whether that should be but it is what it is.) And it's not a watered down version for CS students. In the universities I know, the first ~4 math courses are taken together by maths and CS students. I've heard "CS is applied math" a lot, and I agree with it. (If you want to become a programmer, you don't need to go to university.)
hello_moto
I get that CS degree requires Math because schools asked students to take Math courses but in this case we're talking about MSc (grad level courses).

I'd imagine if someone is specializing in Operating Systems, there won't be Math involved.

khrbrt
Set theory and graph theory came up often in my undergraduate operating systems and computer organization classes. I imagine it'd be even more so for graduate level classes.
throwaway3neu94
Not saying you can't coast through without math if you're somewhat picky, but it would be a significant restriction. And for me the realization that most CS problems can be approached in a very rigorous, mathy way was one of the main takeaways of all the time studying.

Agree OS is less mathy, but even for operating systems you need statistics the moment you want to talk intelligently about performance (look how many people average percentiles, do coordinated omission, or insist on averaging results instead of looking at distributions). Btw random webdevs handling A/B testing tools would benefit as well. We're talking MSc? Ok, a basic OS class won't occupy you for long, it's 5% (actual number of one uni) of credits for an MSc only. Let's say you stay in the field... queueing theory is somewhat mathy? Advanced data structures needs experience with proofs, which is taught in maths.

Maybe other fields are safer?

Computer graphics and it's subfields need lots of linear algebra.

Crypto? Symmetric crypto needs probability theory, asymmetric crypto needs number theory, side channel attacks need linear algebra.

Robotics, signals and systems, sensor fusion, electrical networks all need lots of linear algebra.

(I've taken all of above courses at some point, but not all exams.)

madengr
My wife is doing the GT MS in data science (career change after after 20 years in microelectronics process engineering). Yeah, for under $10k it is definitely a good deal.

I do think there will be a glut in this field as everyone rushes into it, but I suppose it’s better than microelectronics, which is dead in this country (all back-end processing was outsourced to China).

datguacdoh
Have a colleague who completed this last year, seemed to be a fantastic value. He had to drop to 4 days a week for a few of the more intense semesters, but seemed honestly proud of completing and brought back a ton of knowledge to the team.
wuunderbar
What kind of team are you on, and what specifically did he bring back that was helpful?

(Context: wondering about the value of a Master's in CS for my future self)

adam1210
I graduated from this last year! It is definitely a lot of work, excellent value for the price.
bonestamp2
Can you help me understand how many hours/week you spent on it and how many years it took you to complete it?
greenpizza13
Cohort #2 graduate here. Love the OMSCS program, and I've seen through friends how it's improved since my time. I don't know if it's the best out there but the cost/benefit is through the roof.
sthatipamala
I’m currently enrolled in this program.

Highly recommend it if you’re actually interested in going deep into the material. It’s a lot of work and I’m learning a lot even after several years of industry experience.

Sherl
What's the admission process for SCPD for a non CS major is like?
reinkaos
Does it have some form of capstone project at the end? It wasn't clear from the website.
tonyedgecombe
The Open University is pretty good for mathematics.

http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/

JoelMcCracken
Have you studied here?
vishbar
I've studied there for an MSc in Computing. It was good. The classes are a bit business-schooly but I got some good support from tutors. Obviously it depends on the individual tutor--the one for my project module wasn't as clear and supportive--but some are really fantastic.
spzb
I'm two-thirds of the way through the same course at the moment. To be honest, I've been pretty disappointed with it. I've found the modules to be much more geared towards the management of IT rather than computing and the technical stuff has been largely skimmed over. The only decent module I've done was one of the Cisco CCNA ones and I'm pretty sure you can get the exact same content direct from Cisco for about quarter of the price (and the OU course fee doesn't include the CCNA exam)

I've also had some very disappointing tutors. One in particular was an arrogant arse whose own highest qualification was a BSc yet he was allowed to judge my Masters level assignments

rezeroed
I abandoned the BSc computing. It was rubbish. Java this, java that, java something else. There was one interesting course, a third year course Natural and Artificial Intelligence; nothing else was interesting - bread and water. There was a first year course something along the lines of What is the Web. If you've only ever used ms office, maybe ok, but for an HNer or tech enthusiast a waste of time.
tonyedgecombe
They really need a CS curriculum, the trouble is the current government has pared back funding so I don't think they can afford much right now.
tonyedgecombe
Yes, I completed a BSc in Mathematics about five years ago.
mnw21cam
The Open University is pretty good for a heck of a lot of subjects, and there is absolutely no requirement for you to be in the UK to "attend".
tonyedgecombe
Maths has always been a priority for them though.
playing_colours
I concur. BSc course in Mathematics is good, just try to pick hard subjects and avoid anything with computing.

First year is a high school level - you do not have to take it if you are good at that maths. Second year courses are a bit more challenging, but real fun in on 3rd year. I did Complex Analysis, Fluid dynamics, Further Pure Mathematics - they are solid and interesting.

I thought about some physics like electromagnetism or quantum theory, but decided to stick with pure maths.

I think to also go get MSc with them - they introduced Galois Theory this year, although the choice of subjects is limited there.

bitL
I think Georgia Tech's OMS CS for its affordability and breadth of classes and Stanford HCP/SCPD for the depth of classes are the best choices at the moment.
montenegrohugo
Harvard's Extension School offers a variety of Bachelor and Masters degrees, and whilst not fully online, you can fulfill most of the requirements without setting foot on campus.
montenegrohugo
Can't edit my comment on mobile, so I'm adding relevant info here:

https://www.extension.harvard.edu/

It's not exactly cheap (tuition can cost ~50k$ for a bachelor's). Quality of tuition also varies, there's some fantastic courses and some less stellar ones. Still, I recommend taking a look if you are interested in completing your bachelor's/master's degree mostly online.

For a CS oriented degree, I'd definitely recommend the following courses:

CS50 https://cs50.harvard.edu

CS61 https://cs61.seas.harvard.edu

CS20 https://lewis.seas.harvard.edu/pages/csci-e-20

CS40 https://www.extension.harvard.edu/course-catalog/courses/com...

CS121 https://cs121.boazbarak.org/

CS124 http://sites.fas.harvard.edu/~libcs124/cs124/index.html

adchari
University of Illinois also runs an online MCS program, similar to the Georgia Tech one. The curriculum is very comparable to the on-campus degree, and is supposed to take 2 years or less, I believe
mattferderer
I tried some of the U of Illinois MBA courses & found them lacking in quality compared to the Wharton ones on Coursera & MIT on EdX.

Obviously that's a completely different program & faculty though.

Orcus90482
I am currently enrolled in the online MCS program. So far the classes I’ve taken are very high quality. Feel free to AMA.
justaguyhere
How much time per week do you spend on the course? what is the course fee?
Orcus90482
The whole program is ~20k. Each course is ~2k. There are some additional fees like exams. The previous semester was probably ~3-5hrs per course. This semester my most difficult course is upwards of 10hrs weekly to complete labs. This is not including actual lecture content and quizzes (probably another 5hrs).
gshubert17
This site,

https://www.abet.org/accreditation/find-programs/

lets you search for distance learning programs for ABET-accredited degree programs. (ABET stands for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. They've been leaders in the field of engineering education, accreditation, and professional development for a long time.)

I've taught online computing classes at Regis University, which is ABET-accredited, and offers BS degrees in Computer Information Systems, Computer Networking, Computer Science, and Information Technology; but any of the programs listed have passed their accreditation process.

perplex
Something I've looked for a few years now is Oregon State University has undergrad program that is 100% online: https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/undergraduate...

I'm not enrolled but it it is accredited and (at least in my opinion) OSU has a good CS program.

They also have a postbaccalaureate program that gives you a a CS Degree if you have an existing undergrad.

j_walter
I'm enrolled in the postbac program. It's good so far and while not a great value (~$30K) compared to some, it's still a good program and worthwhile.
tequila_shot
Last semester OMSCS. One of the best Masters Program. Loved it.

It's not easy, I had to spend 60 hour weeks sometimes while taking the harder classes. There are easy classes as well, where I spent between 3-5 hours every week. You can take a look at the courses here: https://omscentral.com/courses

Bonus: My Employer pays for it and I work evenings.

mzarate06
I take it "60 hours weeks" comprised of a 40 hour per week job + course work; was that on 2 courses per semester then? And did you maintain 2 courses per semester throughout the program?

Are you willing to share a little about what made the difficult courses difficult? Heavy math component? Hard algorithms? Time consuming programming? I'm considering this program (and UT's), any additional information would be much appreciated.

Congrats on completing your last semester btw; no doubt a significant commitment and accomplishment.

sthatipamala
Most of the classes are project based (vs. exam based). This means that there is a lower bound on how long you spend, no matter how well you understand the material.

The projects themselves are fairly intense and, if you take 2 courses, their deadlines will likely overlap.

tequila_shot
Hey - There are some courses that need heavy math. Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Computer Photography and Algorithms. You can read more on the link I gave you.
EliRivers
I did a Masters in Maths with the OU, continuously over five and a half years. It was brutal. The percentage of people who make it all the way to to the end is savagely low (although you can cash in your chips part-way through for a lesser, but still impressive, post-graduate award).

It's guided, and the tutors are available to help, and there's the help of your fellows in the forums, but it's very much on you; this does mean that if you're motivated and persistent, you don't just get good at maths - you learn how to take a textbook and tear it into tiny little pieces like some kind of math monster.

"Here's the textbook, here's some problem sheets that will buy you a seat at the exam if you do well enough, and here's that exam - it's three hours, you'll race to answer enough questions, everything rides on it and there's five of them, plus your thesis". They were not messing around, I discovered :/

If you really are eager to learn more, and ready to challenge yourself, it's good.

deepaksurti
What is OU? Oklahoma Univ, could you please clarify.
tdhoot
Currently working on a Masters degree from Stanford through the Stanford Center for Professional Development [0].

I like it. It's a lot of work on top of your normal day job, but the instructors and community are unparalleled IMO. It is on the pricier side though, but at a lot of companies you can get reimbursement. I believe it takes longer than OMSCS (but not sure), most people take around 4-5 years. At any point, you can convert to a full-time on campus student and you can always go on campus for classes or exams if you're in the area.

[0]: http://scpd.stanford.edu/home

cbush06
Just finished my MS IT Management with Western Governors University for around $11,000. I thought the best value was having a mentor who called me every week to keep me focused and on track. They also offer MS Cyber Security and Data Analytics degrees.
trilinearnz
If you decide to grow your business knowledge to compliment your technical skills, Otago University in New Zealand has a highly-rated online MBA programme which I am currently undertaking. We have many international students who attend lectures via Zoom. Would recommend.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/mba/online/index.html

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GiuseppaAcciaio
I would avoid anything provided by Laureate Online, I have an MSc from the University of Liverpool that was provided by them and although the degree was legitimate, the quality of the "tuition" and course material was very low; ultimately I still got some value out of doing the coursework and dissertation but definitely not good value for money IMO.
reinkaos
Can someone recommend a masters in CS, statistics or applied mathematics with thesis option or at least a capstone? I haven't been able to find one.

Ideally with focus on ML.