Thread: Online Computer Science degrees?

  1. #1
    and the hat of sweating
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    Online Computer Science degrees?

    Can anyone recommend a good (Accredited) university that has online courses for a Computer Science degree (not Computer Information Systems or anything like that)? Preferably a Canadian school.
    "I am probably the laziest programmer on the planet, a fact with which anyone who has ever seen my code will agree." - esbo, 11/15/2008

    "the internet is a scary place to be thats why i dont use it much." - billet, 03/17/2010

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    Kernel hacker
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    Are you sure you don't just want to buy a diploma? I can forward you some e-mails of "reputable" dealers fo such...

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    Mats
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    Please don't PM me for help - and no, I don't do help over instant messengers.

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    Hail to the king, baby. Akkernight's Avatar
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    lol, matsp ^^ I might be interested in one of those
    ok nah :P
    Currently research OpenGL

  4. #4
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    That's why I said "Accredited". I'd like to actually learn something in those courses, not just buy a diploma. For some strange reason there aren't any universities in Toronto that have part-time (evening) computer science degrees, and online courses are more convenient for me anyways.
    "I am probably the laziest programmer on the planet, a fact with which anyone who has ever seen my code will agree." - esbo, 11/15/2008

    "the internet is a scary place to be thats why i dont use it much." - billet, 03/17/2010

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    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cpjust View Post
    That's why I said "Accredited". I'd like to actually learn something in those courses, not just buy a diploma. For some strange reason there aren't any universities in Toronto that have part-time (evening) computer science degrees, and online courses are more convenient for me anyways.
    I know people who have done CS at UofT part-time. Though you can't always rely on courses being in the evening.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective View Post
    I know people who have done CS at UofT part-time. Though you can't always rely on courses being in the evening.
    That was the first place I looked, but their course schedules are insane. A single course could have 3 different classes at different times of the day. Sometimes the first part of the class is at one time, then the next part would start a couple hours later on the same day.

    I also started going to Ryerson back in 2006, but after I finished my first course they told me they were dropping their part-time Computer Science degree. Yeah, thanks a lot Ryerson!
    "I am probably the laziest programmer on the planet, a fact with which anyone who has ever seen my code will agree." - esbo, 11/15/2008

    "the internet is a scary place to be thats why i dont use it much." - billet, 03/17/2010

  7. #7
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by matsp View Post
    Are you sure you don't just want to buy a diploma? I can forward you some e-mails of "reputable" dealers fo such...

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    Mats
    ooo, Ill have a PhD in Theoretical Neuroscience with a side order of MBA

    I could use a new identity though for sure

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    A single course could have 3 different classes at different times of the day. Sometimes the first part of the class is at one time, then the next part would start a couple hours later on the same day.
    Are you sure they are not just "sections"? I'm not sure if Ontario schools work the same way (I'm in BC), but courses here usually have multiple "sections", and they are equivalent. Just different times and possibly different profs. For very popular courses like first year English, there could be >20 sections.

    I don't think you'll be able to find evening sections for ALL courses, though, especially upper year courses. They usually have very few sections (1-2) that are usually in the day.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyberfish View Post
    Are you sure they are not just "sections"? I'm not sure if Ontario schools work the same way (I'm in BC), but courses here usually have multiple "sections", and they are equivalent. Just different times and possibly different profs. For very popular courses like first year English, there could be >20 sections.
    No, it was the same course, but they broke it up into things like "Lecture", "Lab" & something else.

    Quote Originally Posted by cyberfish View Post
    I don't think you'll be able to find evening sections for ALL courses, though, especially upper year courses. They usually have very few sections (1-2) that are usually in the day.
    That's exactly why online courses are better. I can do them whenever I have time like evenings & weekends, plus I don't have to waste my time in class listening to the dumbass questions that the other students ask... I usually just end up as the assistant teacher helping other students most of the time anyways.
    "I am probably the laziest programmer on the planet, a fact with which anyone who has ever seen my code will agree." - esbo, 11/15/2008

    "the internet is a scary place to be thats why i dont use it much." - billet, 03/17/2010

  10. #10
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    >That's exactly why online courses are better. I can do them whenever I have time like evenings & weekends

    Without a professor you won't learn nearly as much.

    >No, it was the same course, but they broke it up into things like "Lecture", "Lab" & something else.

    Lectures are 3 hours per week, sometimes two 1.5 hour classes and sometimes one 3 hour class. Labs and Seminars are generally optional. They're a place where you can work on assignments with a TA around to help.

    I did a term at UofT as a visiting student. One of my courses (Computational Linguistics) was a 6 - 9 evening course. The others where in the afternoons, labs were optional (though that does depend on the course). A couple of my friends there were part time students (one working a full time job, the other running a web design business). You have to be a little flexible to be able to make daytime classes, but you can do it 1 or 2 courses at a time if you can swing the schedule.

    I don't know of any online degrees that an employer would take seriously, though I admittedly haven't really looked.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective View Post
    Without a professor you won't learn nearly as much.
    Well it depends how you learn. Some people don't read the textbooks and need to hear the teacher tell them everything, while others do better by themselves.
    If there's something in the book that I don't understand, I could always E-mail the teacher.

    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective View Post
    Lectures are 3 hours per week, sometimes two 1.5 hour classes and sometimes one 3 hour class. Labs and Seminars are generally optional. They're a place where you can work on assignments with a TA around to help.

    I did a term at UofT as a visiting student. One of my courses (Computational Linguistics) was a 6 - 9 evening course. The others where in the afternoons, labs were optional (though that does depend on the course). A couple of my friends there were part time students (one working a full time job, the other running a web design business). You have to be a little flexible to be able to make daytime classes, but you can do it 1 or 2 courses at a time if you can swing the schedule.
    I was doing 2 courses per semester (1 online and 1 in person) for 3 years in Virginia. I don't know if I could do that again though. I might be able to do 1 course at a time now.
    I'd like to upgrade my Associate degree to a BS in Comp Science, since nobody in Canada seems to know what an Associate degree is.

    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective View Post
    I don't know of any online degrees that an employer would take seriously, though I admittedly haven't really looked.
    Maybe not if you were fresh out of school, but with about 12 years of experience (with about 5 of those as a C++ developer) I think they take it a little more seriously (or at least they look more at the experience than the education).
    "I am probably the laziest programmer on the planet, a fact with which anyone who has ever seen my code will agree." - esbo, 11/15/2008

    "the internet is a scary place to be thats why i dont use it much." - billet, 03/17/2010

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    Labs and Seminars are generally optional. They're a place where you can work on assignments with a TA around to help.
    For some. I think most labs are mandatory, though, since there are usually no assessments done in lectures, especially for CS.

    Without a professor you won't learn nearly as much.
    I agree. An online course is pretty much just read the textbook yourself. I have taken only 1 online course so far (music theory) in addition to my full-time courses. It's just... not the same.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cyberfish View Post
    For some. I think most labs are mandatory, though, since there are usually no assessments done in lectures, especially for CS.

    The lab work is definitely required, but actual attendance in the lab generally not in my experience. In my entire undergrad program I only remeber one course with required lab attendance. We were given the assignment at the beginning of the lab and had to submit before the end of it.


    >but with about 12 years of experience (with about 5 of those as a C++ developer)

    Is upgrading really worth it? I think that type of experience is worth more on a resume than a BSc vs whatever it is you have (add me as another Canadian that's never heard of an associates degree.)

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    If you can afford to move, you could study at Polytechnique Montréal. They are reknowned for their expertise.

  15. #15
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    And maybe try University of Waterloo, too. They are known for their CS and SE programs.

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