Re:Ask HN: Getting a CS "degree" via MIT OpenCourseWare?
by dragonwriter on Thursday January 02, 2014 @07:38PM
(#7003505)
> To the degree it is about a credential, Western Governor's University is a reasonably priced option - http:\\www.wgu.edu
Not if you want a CS degree, which WGU doesn't offer (WGU does offer a variety of IT degrees, which may be an acceptable substiture, or even the preferred option for some people, but its certainly not even remotely the same thing as a CS degree.)
Re:Ask HN: Getting a CS "degree" via MIT OpenCourseWare?
by brudgers on Thursday January 02, 2014 @07:52PM
(#7003550)
I agree that the difference is important to the degree that the concern is over education rather than about credentials. That's why I also mentioned the value of a CS degree from a less prestigious institution when the student is highly motivated.
But if we're just talking about credentials, then a relevant degree plus experience gives anyone who wants to hire the OP a green light.
Re:Ask HN: Getting a CS "degree" via MIT OpenCourseWare?
by dragonwriter on Thursday January 02, 2014 @07:57PM
(#7003575)
> I agree that the difference is important to the degree that the concern is over education rather than about credentials.
The difference is important if the concern is about credentials, too; when the concern is about credentials, then exactly what the degree is in can be very important.
CS and IT mean different things, including (perhaps especially) to people who are evaluating credentials. (In some cases, IT may be preferred, in other cases, CS may be.)
While MIT might offer good courses, they're designed to be tough for a very select group of the best prepared students even with the support resources such as Teaching Assistants and labs and peer students and professors with office hours that are accessible only on campus. Without those, it can only be tougher. In my opinion, tougher to the level that a multi-year project has a low chance of success even for a person of above average motivation and intelligence.
Personally, I think a CS education from an average school will probably better prepare anyone motivated enough to have a chance of completing a full slate of MIT courses as self study. You can always get a graduate degree someplace more selective.