STEM masters degrees for non-STEM majors

[Robson]

I've been curious about STEM masters degrees for some time, especially for people who don't have a specific STEM major but have an interest or job in a related field (e.g. a science teacher with an education degree). Here's some of the programs I've compiled:

Math
Texas A&M University - Online Master of Science in Mathematics

Engineering
Open University - Master of Science in Engineering
CU Boulder - Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Biology
University of Glasgow - Master of Science in One Health and Infectious Disease
Harvard Extension School - Master of Liberal Arts, Biology
King's College London - Master of Science in Applied Neuroscience
University of Texas at Austin - Master of Science in Nutritional Science

Maybe
Saba University/Medical University of America - Master of Science in Biological Science (Caribbean for-profit medical schools)
University of Florida - Master of Science in Forensic Science (Typically accepts science graduates but asks non-STEM grads to write in)

Feel free to add on if you know of any! The ones I've compiled have no or almost no STEM prerequisites and might be useful for career changers as well.

[bjcheung77]

This is a very interesting program for those interested in "Biology or Health": https://veterinary.rossu.edu/research/one-health
Here's one post of mine from a few years ago: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid310848

[ss20ts]

I joined a STEM master's program at LSU and you weren't required to have any specific math or science classes as an undergrad or grad student. Let me tell you how lost I was! The courses involved a great deal of math that was way above what I completed in college. I did not have the physics background either. I was so lost within the first 2 weeks of the classes. I withdrew from the program because I just couldn't grasp the concepts. One of the professors told me that they disliked that certain math and science courses aren't required because you need to have a foundation in them in order to pass his classes. There are a lot of dropouts in the program because it's so challenging especially without those foundation courses.

[bjcheung77]

Yeah, without a good foundation in the subject matter, it's going to be hard to play catch up... Thus the reason I mentioned in other threads that there are Applied Computer Science or Information Systems, etc degrees. These bridge, bring in the gap, or are made specifically for individuals who have a completely different undergrad and starting to take classes in that subject matter. It'll have at least 3-4 bridge classes that are masters level but more of an intro to that subject matter and then the rest would be the 'major' at the masters level...

[Robson]

This is a very interesting program for those interested in "Biology or Health": https://veterinary.rossu.edu/research/one-health
Here's one post of mine from a few years ago: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid310848

The very reputable University of Edinburgh offers a partly-online medical degree, with the pre-clinical years being online for healthcare professionals working in Scotland.

[azmusic]

I did look into this for computer science a while back. Ultimately decided to go for 2nd Bachelor’s as any true MSCS was going to be very difficult for me without proper foundation and would largely consist of theoretical algorithm work that wouldn’t be very applicable to my career goals anyway. Here was the list I was considering.
That being said Masters in IT programs are often much more forgiving of diverse undergrad than Masters in CS. Many more options there but I wanted a CS degree.

Ball State University MSCS
$476 per credit + fee
Coursera Pathway Courses for Non STEM
Pathway courses ARE included in degree count and starts from basics
36 credits

Merrimack College
$671 per credit
32 credits
Starts from basics

Franklin University MSCS
36 credits +  12 pathway credits (3 courses * 4 credits each for Non STEM undergrad)
$670 per credit

U of Colorado Boulder
16K ($525 per credit)
Cousera pathway courses
30 credits. Pathway courses included in the degree count
Very difficult coursework. Will allow people in without undergrad but you would need to have CS undergrad level knowledge to reasonably pass this program

Georgia Tech OMSCS
$7K total
Very difficult coursework. Will allow people in without CS undergrad (if you’ve taken a year or two of CS classes) but you would need to have CS undergrad level knowledge to reasonably pass this program

UPenn MCIT
>$1200 per credit
Ivy League. Basically Bachelors in CS curriculum rebranded as a “Computer and Information Technology” Masters

Cumberlands MCS
$355 per credit
Unsure about undergrad prerequisite but it was in my notes to look into

[wow]

I joined a STEM master's program at LSU and you weren't required to have any specific math or science classes as an undergrad or grad student. Let me tell you how lost I was! The courses involved a great deal of math that was way above what I completed in college. I did not have the physics background either. I was so lost within the first 2 weeks of the classes. I withdrew from the program because I just couldn't grasp the concepts. One of the professors told me that they disliked that certain math and science courses aren't required because you need to have a foundation in them in order to pass his classes. There are a lot of dropouts in the program because it's so challenging especially without those foundation courses.

For me, the advantage to the STEM master's programs that don't have undergrad prerequisites is for people who have the knowledge but not the degree or accredited courses. So someone who has a degree in a different area and then learned about their STEM specialty through work or very dedicated independent study through sources like EdX, Coursera, Saylor, textbooks. internships, etc. But I don't see how people without a STEM background wouldn't flounder unless the Masters degree courses also cover material that would usually be covered at the undergraduate level.

[Duneranger]

This is a very interesting program for those interested in "Biology or Health": https://veterinary.rossu.edu/research/one-health
Here's one post of mine from a few years ago: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid310848

The very reputable University of Edinburgh offers a partly-online medical degree, with the pre-clinical years being online for healthcare professionals working in Scotland.

This is very vague. Most of the online health master's degrees at Edinburgh are meant for people who are ALREADY health professionals.

The actual medical degree is extremely competitive and needs to be done there.

I would know...I went to school there...

---

These masters may not require a STEM UG degree but you will be EXTREMELY behind and need to do a to catch up. It's like jumping into the deep end without knowing how to swim at all.

These places will gladly take your money as you flounder.

Would not recommend any of the OPs suggestions without a relevant UG degree unless you want to get destroyed day 1

[cro-magnon]

I'm guessing this is the partly-online Edinburgh programme in question: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergradu...UTDIPMVMHC

You need to have worked as a qualified healthcare professional, clinical scientist or veterinary surgeon, for at least two years prior to the start of the programme and be registered with one of the following:

• Association of Physician Assistants (anaesthesia)
  
• Faculty of Intensive Care
  
• Faculty of Physician Associates
  
• General Dental Council
  
• General Optical Council
  
• General Pharmaceutical Council
  
• Health and Care Professions Council
  
• Nursing and Midwifery Council
  
• Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists
  
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
  

The non-STEM education background part: "We will also consider non-science based degrees supplemented with SQA Higher/GCE A Level Chemistry at grade C or above."


So it's not like you can just walk in with an English Literature degree and start prescribing meds. This is a career transition programme for people already working in healthcare who aspire to become doctors.

[wow]

I looked at Alcorn State's online Biology Masters a few years back. They don't say that they require a biology degree, but I wouldn't try to enter this program without equivalent experience and coursework, or I expect it would be brutal (plus they might not accept you as a student): https://www.alcorn.edu/academics/graduat...n-biology/

They also have a STEM MBA--MBA with some STEM classes, geared toward people working on the business side of STEM industries who require some STEM technical knowlege. Not sure if it's available online: https://www.alcorn.edu/academics/schools...study/mba/