Who hasn't spent some money on investing in themselves, so of course you can buy it. However, the experience and returns of this type of online course vary from person to person. In fact, if you have similar needs and budget, applying for an online master's degree from a foreign university and enjoying its professional and thoughtful localized services may be more suitable for busy professionals. Now, let's analyze the characteristics and target audience of online course platforms and foreign university independent online master's degrees.
First, let's look at Coursera.
As one of the largest online course platforms in the world, Coursera's notable feature is its breadth.
Today, I randomly searched on it and found that there are 2605 results for free courses alone. It covers a wide range of disciplines: personal development/health and medicine/natural sciences/humanities/social sciences/engineering/business/art and design/education and teaching, you name it.
For example, during the pandemic, the local yoga studio closed, and I was overwhelmed by the countless yoga and meditation apps on the Apple Store and didn't know where to start.
So, I had a brilliant idea and came to Coursera to search for Yoga and Meditation. It was easy for me to choose free courses based on ratings and the offering institutions: The Science of Well-Being from Yale University.
To supplement my yoga practice, I also chose Introduction to Yoga and Physiology from New York University. Although this is a paid course, skipping a few good meals a month can save a few hundred dollars, not to mention the "money-saving" assistance online.
To put it simply, these are just for fun.
I don't need an application skill to level up in the company, nor do I need a fancy diploma to switch careers. So, following Coursera's videos to practice listening and speaking, following professionals from prestigious universities to learn and think, and deepening my understanding of yoga, is truly a rare experience.
However, Coursera also has some prominent issues, such as poor local user experience.
This is because according to Chinese laws and regulations, overseas entities are not allowed to directly operate higher education institutions targeting China. Therefore, platforms like Coursera cannot provide localized services and the user experience suffers.
Imagine this: after working hard in the workplace for a few years and saving some money, you eagerly spent thousands of dollars on a master's course on Coursera, thinking that you got a ticket to a prestigious university, how lucky you are.
But then you find out that the subtitles in the course are automatically generated; students from all over the world in the discussion community are in different time zones and not even on the same page; and communication and feedback between professors and students are even more difficult...
And you, who are used to patient and enthusiastic teaching assistants in China, suddenly start to miss your alma mater with a familiar and friendly teaching and research team.
In summary, Coursera is suitable for two situations:
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Learning some scattered courses out of curiosity and thirst for knowledge, spending a few hundred dollars intermittently for a month, which is more expensive than attending certain reading clubs or workshops, but the knowledge is more solid and systematic.
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For those who are proficient in English and have strong self-learning abilities, and can navigate the world of online courses on their own.
So, what about foreign university online master's programs with thoughtful localized services?
Let's take an online master's program as an example:
The computer science master's program from Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), one of the top four engineering schools in the United States with a long history!
Although the program name includes "online," you can obtain an F1 visa, switch to full-time offline study, and get a 3-year STEM OPT after graduation, allowing you to work in the United States. Moreover, the final degree certificate is exactly the same as the full-time on-campus program, without any difference in "online" or "part-time."
You can also obtain formal academic credentials such as The Hague Apostille, WES certification, and embassy certification. It is recognized for job applications in foreign companies or in Hong Kong and Macau.
It also has the following features:
Overall ranking in the top 80 in the United States, top 10 in the field of computer science
Tuition for computer science master's program is within $120,000
The school is located near New York, only a 10-minute drive to Manhattan
The median salary of graduates ranks 7th in the United States
The official website shows that the tuition is about $56,000, which is equivalent to approximately 400,000 RMB when applying in the United States. However, by applying for the online master's program in the Chinese region, the tuition can be reduced to $16,500, with a total tuition of less than $120,000, and no need to take TOEFL, IELTS, or GRE.
This information gap, while few people in China know about it, you can quickly seize the opportunity, after all, tuition fees at American universities increase every year, and friends who are familiar with this have already become accustomed to it.
Nowadays, everything emphasizes cost-effectiveness. After all, whether you are looking for a cheap program or expecting a return on investment, it depends on whether you can achieve it. Whether it's a 3-year OPT in New York or a 3rd place return on investment in the United States, Stevens Institute of Technology is higher than top 100 universities. In addition to cost-effectiveness, studying computer science also requires professional strength. The online master's program at Stevens Institute of Technology offers two directions in the field of computer science: Master of Computer Science (MSCS) for those with zero coding experience, and Master of Data Science (MSDS) for those with a background in data science. Depending on individual backgrounds and interests, you can consult with the teachers to determine which program is suitable for you. In terms of course differences, the Master of Computer Science program is more applied, covering basic courses such as data structures, algorithms, databases, and operating systems, as well as some applied courses such as machine learning, human-computer interaction, and agile development.
The Master of Data Science program is more focused on mathematics, with more AI-related courses, covering topics such as probability, statistical methods, data science, data science optimization, machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, time series analysis, big data, network mining, and NLP. Depending on your personal interest in technology and career development direction, you can choose the corresponding program.
When we immerse ourselves in this environment with inclusive prices and more user-friendly admission requirements, constantly communicate and provide positive feedback, and become part of this environment, congratulations, you are walking on a winding but bright path of self-realization with everyone else.
With such excellent alumni paving the way, other students can also join this program and alumni community more actively and confidently.
And there are more programs that can provide these services, not just Stevens Institute of Technology. Northern Arizona University (NAU) can also perfectly present high-quality and efficient online computer science master's programs.
This American public university with a history of a hundred years is ranked among the top 500 in the world by Times Higher Education.
With self-paced programs that do not require exams
Tuition for the Master of Computer Science program is over $80,000, and for the Master of Computer Information Technology program is over $50,000
Prominent alumni include Bill Gates, Vice President Harris, and "Stock King" Buffett, who have all given speeches at the university
This university is Northern Arizona University (NAU), a well-known comprehensive public flagship university with a hundred years of history.
Although it is a fully online program, the final degree certificate is exactly the same as the full-time on-campus program, without any difference in "online" or "part-time."