Any advice on online postgrad study?
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I wonder if anyone hereabouts has experience to share of software related online postgrad courses. In about a months time I have to make up mind whether to go for something like this, or back to work full time if I can find a contract. The idea came about having read a couple of Phd thesis on Aspect Oriented Programming a few months back. I realised that I had already implemented most of the same ideas and surpassed what they were doing in a few places. The thought was if they can get a Phd, albeit from a minor German university, for that then I should be able to aswell. Going back to being a student on a campus somewhere is impractical however appealing so I let the idea pass. Now it seems universities are getting very excitable about online courses and offering many more remote places so maybe it could work after all. I have no idea where to start looking given that searching for online-courses will give me millions of hits, most of them not worth following up. Where would I go for a good experience and a Phd or MSc worth more than the paper it's printed on?
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)
There are probably a number of online programs that you'd find suitable, but beware, and check the content and calender before you commit. In my two year experiment, I found that of 30 units of credit required for an MS in Engineering, 12 units were required fluff of no value whatsoever . Of the remaining 18 units, the available courses are rarely offered. I can work around that by taking classes in other disciplines to fill my time while waiting for a relevant course to come available, and I don't mind doing that; I'm in this for learning, not a degree. For now, though, I'm burned out. I've aced Engineering Management, Statistics, Linear Algebra, but I had to draw the line and drop out of Engineering Communications. I've reached my Academic Bullshit Threshold, and can do no more. WTF do any of these required classes have to do with an advanced degree in Structural Engineering? In my day, undergraduate students took classes to be "well rounded" and I agreed with the value of that practice. But when one reaches the point of desiring more in-depth knowledge and a Masters degree, it's time for General Ed and useless fluff to go away. This time should be spent either drilling down more deeply into a specialized scientific field, or expanding one's horizons by exploring and mastering new fields of knowledge which require a solid engineering foundation to master. Adding more Fluff is certainly not helpful... A word of caution - if you're doing this for love of learning, I applaud your effort and encourage you to find a good program and pursue it. But if you're going this route with the expectation that your employer will reward you for having the drive and commitment to build yourself into a far more valuable employee than before, you're going to be disappointed. Bosses don't give a shit, and will not pay for what you've worked so hard to learn. So do it because you love it, not for any other reason. But definitely do it. Good luck to you! :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
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There are probably a number of online programs that you'd find suitable, but beware, and check the content and calender before you commit. In my two year experiment, I found that of 30 units of credit required for an MS in Engineering, 12 units were required fluff of no value whatsoever . Of the remaining 18 units, the available courses are rarely offered. I can work around that by taking classes in other disciplines to fill my time while waiting for a relevant course to come available, and I don't mind doing that; I'm in this for learning, not a degree. For now, though, I'm burned out. I've aced Engineering Management, Statistics, Linear Algebra, but I had to draw the line and drop out of Engineering Communications. I've reached my Academic Bullshit Threshold, and can do no more. WTF do any of these required classes have to do with an advanced degree in Structural Engineering? In my day, undergraduate students took classes to be "well rounded" and I agreed with the value of that practice. But when one reaches the point of desiring more in-depth knowledge and a Masters degree, it's time for General Ed and useless fluff to go away. This time should be spent either drilling down more deeply into a specialized scientific field, or expanding one's horizons by exploring and mastering new fields of knowledge which require a solid engineering foundation to master. Adding more Fluff is certainly not helpful... A word of caution - if you're doing this for love of learning, I applaud your effort and encourage you to find a good program and pursue it. But if you're going this route with the expectation that your employer will reward you for having the drive and commitment to build yourself into a far more valuable employee than before, you're going to be disappointed. Bosses don't give a shit, and will not pay for what you've worked so hard to learn. So do it because you love it, not for any other reason. But definitely do it. Good luck to you! :-D
Will Rogers never met me.
Thanks Roger, If I do it I certainly won't be expecting my employer to be impressed or give me a raise. That's the down side of being self employed, it's even harder to impress the boss. :laugh: I'll look out for the fluff and the stuffing and try to avoid getting bogged down in that stuff.
"The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of freedom, courage." Thucydides (B.C. 460-400)