Berkeley Coursera MAS-Engineering

[Jonathan Whatley]

The University of California, Berkeley College of Engineering is introducing a Master of Advanced Study in Engineering (MAS-E) asynchronously online in partnership with the Coursera platform.

3.0 GPA is required for admission. Most students will have a prior STEM degree, but they are also open to alternative demonstration of quantitative background and prerequisites. There are math and programming prerequisites that can be met through coursework or self-study and can be met after admission.

Tuition is 1750 per unit x 24 units = 42 000.

[spohara]

Very interesting program. I'd file this under "weird" at only 24 hours. It looks like there is a pretty good mix of 1-4 credit courses which makes it very interesting. Big price tag though. I wouldn't pay that just for the UC Berkley name. The curriculum does look interesting, but the website isn't very informative. Good option if you're not paying. I'd look at it much closer if I hadn't already started at CU.

[ThatBankDude]

Very interesting program.  I'd file this under "weird" at only 24 hours.  It looks like there is a pretty good mix of 1-4 credit courses which makes it very interesting.  Big price tag though.  I wouldn't pay that just for the UC Berkley name.  The curriculum does look interesting, but the website isn't very informative.  Good option if you're not paying.  I'd look at it much closer if I hadn't already started at CU.

Their MIDS program is 27 units. Not sure why they offers masters under 30 units but I’m no expert.

[fmsoa]

42K for a degree in "Advanced Study in Engineering"? Will it got filtered out by HR at the first hurdle? If anyone is willing to pay for a degree that costs an arm and a leg, why not go for "a little" more and get a "real" masters in engineering from Stanford for $65K? And it's crazy that UC-Berkeley still charge that much for putting the whole degree on MOOC not their own in-house platform

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, if possible, you should compare other options available with the MOOC's from Coursera and EDX (before you look at others). There may be non-ivy league options, but the pricing may be more affordable for those who will accept say, UT-Austin, GT, and similarly ranked public/state based institutions (State U-this/U-that).

[ThatBankDude]

42K for a degree in "Advanced Study in Engineering"? Will it got filtered out by HR at the first hurdle? If anyone is willing to pay for a degree that costs an arm and a leg, why not go for "a little" more and get a "real" masters in engineering from Stanford for $65K? And it's crazy that UC-Berkeley still charge that much for putting the whole degree on MOOC not their own in-house platform

Why the quotations around “real”? At the end of the day, what does the transcript and diploma say? If it says Masters in X, then it is a real masters degree.

[fmsoa]

"Why the quotations around “real”? At the end of the day, what does the transcript and diploma say? If it says Masters in X, then it is a real masters degree."

Because when you apply for a position as process engineer, HR would filter out those without "Chemical Engineering" on their transcript, or if you apply for supply chain management position, HR would look for "Industrial Engineering" from the pool. They have no time and no interest researching what your "Advanced Studies in Engineering" degree is about.

And $42K for a course on MOOC platform with potentially hundreds of students in a class? Georgia Tech's engineering masters program costs $33K but is delivered on their in-house platform. You can interact with professors not just TAs

[Duneranger]

Looking at the curriculum, it seems like this is geared toward already working engineers correct?

[ThatBankDude]

"Why the quotations around “real”? At the end of the day, what does the transcript and diploma say? If it says Masters in X, then it is a real masters degree."

Because when you apply for a position as process engineer, HR would filter out those without "Chemical Engineering" on their transcript, or if you apply for supply chain management position, HR would look for "Industrial Engineering" from the pool. They have no time and no interest researching what your "Advanced Studies in Engineering" degree is about.

And $42K for a course on MOOC platform with potentially hundreds of students in a class? Georgia Tech's engineering masters program costs $33K but is delivered on their in-house platform. You can interact with professors not just TAs

I am unfamiliar with Georgia Tech’s platform.

Personally, I think each person needs to consider what works best for them. I spent $70K earning a MS in Quantitative Management from Duke. Worked for me but may not work for others. To each their own.