Nathaniel Hagan

When did you enroll in the MS-CS on Coursera program?

November of 2023

Were you in the non-credit version prior to enrolling in the for-credit version?

For less than a month, to make sure it looked do-able before the end of the term I was enrolling in.

What was your educational and work experience background before you enrolled in this program? 

I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, no relevant work experience before I started the program. Started a job adjacent to software development a few months after enrolling and transitioned into full-stack software development about halfway through last year.

What attracted you to this program in the first place (e.g. faculty, curriculum, performance-based admission, Coursera platform)?

I was looking into some of the other online Computer Science programs, and the fact that I could start this one right away stood out to me. I had just missed the application window for the other graduate programs and would have needed to wait almost a full year before starting a more traditional program. Meanwhile I was halfway done with this one in the same timeframe.

What are your thoughts about performance-based admission?

Initially I thought it was a little bit suspect. After a while in the program I came to the conclusion that without a lot of consistent effort and dedication to learning even someone more qualified wouldn’t make it through the program - it’s too easy to tell yourself you’ll just take a couple weeks off since, after all, the classes will wait for you. While some of the classes could certainly be cheated through (what program has classes that can’t?) the chances of someone making it through the whole program without having achieved a level of competence implied by a master’s degree seems unlikely. 

Were you considering other alternatives? 

Georgia Tech and UT Austin made it to the short list for having completely online programs.

How did you learn/hear about CU Boulder’s MS-CS on Coursera program?

A lot of google searching. Was generally looking through online master’s programs for computer science, there are a larger number of them than I expected.

Can you tell me how the MS-CS on Coursera program fits into your life?

While I was completely classes I made sure to block off time every weekend for the larger projects, and during the week I would watch/read lectures during down times (waiting for someone else to get ready, doing cardio at the gym, waiting on a meeting to start at work, etc.)

What are some of the other key aspects of your life (work, family, etc). How do you balance it all?

I spent a fair amount of time socializing with friends/family and staying in shape at the gym. Realistic expectations for what you can get done, discipline in consistent scheduling, and prioritizing the important things are key.

What are your favorite parts of the program (e.g. Favorite classes, projects, faculty members, etc.)?

I took a lot away from the machine learning courses. They were a ton of work. I don’t like machine learning, I like the idea of it but in practice it’s not something I’d like to do with my life. But I know how, and I’ve implemented some solutions with it that amaze people. The other class I took the most away from was the first one - architecture for big data I believe. I’m still digesting and applying the material covered there as my work projects grow in complexity. 

What do you hope to do with your MS-CS degree?

I’m working as a full stack developer at the moment. I don’t have specific goals for the degree, it was a mix between learning for its own sake and figuring it couldn’t hurt in the market.

Has it already impacted your career in any way?

I use a lot of the skills I picked up during coursework during my job. I think I could’ve picked up the same skills just from the internet but I learn best in a structured environment so it was definitely streamlined.

What benefits have you seen?

It was good getting a wide array of exposure to a variety of topics. I’ve discovered that in-the-weeds machine learning is not something that interests me, for example. Same thing with data analytics. I like building and automating, and this program has given me a level of proficiency to be sure in that.

Would you recommend this program to others? Why or why not?

I wouldn’t recommend any masters degree to just anyone so it depends on the person. Among master’s programs I think that this was a good program and I have recommended it to people already.

What would you say to a friend or colleague who is considering the program?

I think that with all education, you get out what you put in. There’s quite a bit to get out of this program, you just need to be willing to put in the time.

What’s 1 tip you have for students who are starting? 

From talking to other people I took a very different approach to the coursework. I would sign up non-credit for a 3-class series and work through all of the lecture/reading/quiz work for a course. Then I would go back and do all of the hands on things, the projects, etc. Finally I would enroll for-credit for all 3 classes and complete the finals. Momentum is important, have to keep at it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I learned an incredible amount from this program. I’m fairly proficient in a wide range of programming techniques taught from it and I’m glad I spent the time working through it all. These are skills that will stay with me for my career I’m sure.