Masters in Computer Science

[Alpha]

without a background in computer science?
Can you get a master’s degree in computer science without a computer science background? | Fortune

[newdegree]

You can but it will be very difficult as the foundation courses are taught in undergraduate. With no background in computer science this may be far difficult but not impossible.

[Pikachu]

Good to see universities (well, the American ones) are willing to consider people without a background in CS.

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You can but it will be very difficult as the foundation courses are taught in undergraduate. With no background in computer science this may be far difficult but not impossible.

Most of the key foundation courses can be taken online, individually, though. There are a lot of options these days. University of North Dakota, Outlier.org, UIUC, and University of Wisconsin have self-paced courses for Math and CS.

[bjcheung77]

There are plenty of Masters programs in Applied Computer Science, essentially they're very similar to Computer Science but with just one or two prerequisite courses for entry. These are geared towards those who do not have an undergraduate degree in CIS/CS or a very similar subject such as Computer Engineering or Software Development, etc.

I would recommend them as it's ideal for individuals to take the courses slowly in that two year time frame to get the "basics" and also ladder up to a "similar" upper level or final year of the Bachelors and beginning of the Masters. Essentially, it's like compacting the last year Bachelors and first year of the Masters...

[Pats20]

There are plenty of Masters programs in Applied Computer Science, essentially they're very similar to Computer Science but with just one or two prerequisite courses for entry.  These are geared towards those who do not have an undergraduate degree in CIS/CS or a very similar subject such as Computer Engineering or Software Development, etc.  

I would recommend them as it's ideal for individuals to take the courses slowly in that two year time frame to get the "basics" and also ladder up to a "similar" upper level or final year of the Bachelors and beginning of the Masters.  Essentially, it's like compacting the last year Bachelors and first year of the Masters...

Bj
What about something like this. It’s a msds not mscs. It appears to have very little risk (other than your time to try it )  since you can take courses as non credit and bump them up to for credit at anytime during the course. It’s a little pricey at $20k but certainly not outrageous for a top 40 school. 
No application process or fees. 

Note if you try the courses for non credit at first you will have to pay a $59 per month (I believe) membership to coursera.

https://www.colorado.edu/program/data-science/

[bluebooger]

weird -- that link doesn't show up
I can't see it unless I hit Reply and then i see the link in the quoted text

[bjcheung77]

There are plenty of Masters programs in Applied Computer Science, essentially they're very similar to Computer Science but with just one or two prerequisite courses for entry.  These are geared towards those who do not have an undergraduate degree in CIS/CS or a very similar subject such as Computer Engineering or Software Development, etc.  

I would recommend them as it's ideal for individuals to take the courses slowly in that two year time frame to get the "basics" and also ladder up to a "similar" upper level or final year of the Bachelors and beginning of the Masters.  Essentially, it's like compacting the last year Bachelors and first year of the Masters...

Bj
What about something like this. It’s a msds not mscs. It appears to have very little risk (other than your time to try it )  since you can take courses as non credit and bump them up to for credit at anytime during the course. It’s a little pricey at $20k but certainly not outrageous for a top 40 school. 
No application process or fees. 

Note if you try the courses for non credit at first you will have to pay a $59 per month (I believe) membership to coursera.

https://www.colorado.edu/program/data-science/

U of C, Boulder is the flagship! If you're from the state of CO, I would recommend them for the recognition and their local/state ranking. Nationally, they're ranked pretty high as well. If you're not from the state, they're a good option to have as well, maybe have them as your third choice. For example, I am in WA, I would go for the GT/UT-Austin as my choices and have NYU as a third choice along with U of C, Boulder.

NYU has tuition scholarships https://cds.nyu.edu/masters-program/, but I don't think it's like their Cybersecurity fellowship, 75% discount for that program: https://engineering.nyu.edu/academics/pr...er-fellows - I remember a couple years ago, with the scholarship it was $15K, last year was $17K, this year it's now $18K for NYU.

[ThatBankDude]

UPenn had the MCIT which is a Master's in Computer and Information Technology. While the title of the degree can be a little vague, it is essentially a Masters in Computer Science for those who do not have a computer science background. Their graduates go on to careers in FAANG as Software Developers and so forth.

[Pats20]

The advantages to the UC boulder program like no application process and essentially try before you buy make it attractive and enticing . Although a major disadvantage to this program which could make it a dealbreaker for many is it doesn’t qualify for federal financial aid.

[ifomonay]

Georgia Tech's OMSCS program does not require an undergraduate CS degree.