Pick the Right Online Computer Science Degree Program

The 38-year-old Florida resident, a database analyst for the Florida Department of Citrus, is pursuing his second bachelor's degree at UF Online, the online undergraduate arm of the University of Florida.

"When I was seeking employment, I did not have a degree that went with my experience," says Caudill, who spent four years in the military, then seven years as a government contractor working with the military. "I wanted to seek a technical degree to go with my technical background."

As a working adult with a family and a full-time job, earning a degree online simply made sense, Caudill says. The greater flexibility would enable him to succeed both in the workplace and in his personal life.

"Computer science really lends itself to online," says Caudill, who expects to graduate in August 2018. "I've seen in my career, you do a lot of work remotely with people from different areas."

Like Caudill, today's computer science students may turn to online degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment in the computer science and information technology fields will grow by 13 percent from 2016 to 2026 due to an increased focus on cloud computing, data analytics and information security. The median annual wage for these occupations was $82,860 in May 2016.

A computer science degree can lead to or boost careers ranging from software engineering to web development. On top of assessing factors such as a program's accreditation, student services, faculty and interactivity, experts suggest that prospective students ask these four key questions when researching online degree programs in the discipline.

1. What level degree makes the most sense for you? It's difficult to complete a master's degree in computer science if somebody didn't major in a tech-related field in college, says S.K. Bhaskar, vice dean of computer information systems and technology for the undergraduate school at the University of Maryland University College, which offers an online bachelor's in computer science and many related master's degree programs.

"It's really preferable that it be in computer science," Bhaskar says of a master's student's undergraduate degree, "because there is a systematic progression of courses within computer science going from undergraduate to graduate."

At the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering, students with a limited background in computer science often take additional courses to fill in their gaps in knowledge, says Candace House Teixeira, executive director for corporate and professional programs at Viterbi. Students who pursue a master's, she says, typically want to grow within their field by learning about the latest topics and trends – such as cybersecurity – and attaining management roles.

Some experts say prospective students should also understand the difference between a computer engineering and computer science degree. This is a question that Jeremiah Blanchard – who teaches in UF's online computer science bachelor's program – hears from students frequently. There is overlap between the two disciplines, he says, though there are a few differences.

"Computer engineering, in general, is going to focus a little bit more on the applications side and, in practice, a little bit more on the hardware side," Blanchard says, "whereas computer science tends to be a little bit more software-focused and a little bit more theoretical in nature."

2. Is online education right for you? Online learning isn't right for everyone. Without regular in-person interaction with an instructor, students need to be more self-motivated, for example, and also fit their education in alongside a full-time job and sometimes family obligations. Other students may prefer the on-campus format where they can interact frequently with classmates and professors in a face-to-face setting.

"Different people learn in different ways. So there's nothing inherently right or wrong about it; it's just, what is the best way for you to learn, and do you actually have that structure and discipline within yourself to make it work in the online format?" says Bhaskar.

3. Is the coursework rigorous and directly tied to your career? Many online students want to either accelerate their current career or change fields completely. Regardless of their goals, prospective students should ensure that the online courses offered are applicable to their professional pursuits.

Caudill says he made sure, for example, that UF Online had courses in database architecture as part of the curriculum to tie his education to his specific role.

Experts say prospective students can also determine the different programming languages taught in a specific program and whether the rigor matches that of a school's on-campus program. For example, experts say, an online bachelor's in computer science may include advanced math classes as well as major-specific coursework in topics such as programming and operating systems.

4. Does the curriculum explore the latest technologies? "The field changes so rapidly, that being able to think like a computer scientist is really what's going to serve students in the long run throughout their careers," says Shannon Riggs, executive director for course development and learning innovation at Oregon State University Ecampus, which offers an online postbaccalaureate computer science program.

Bhaskar says prospective students should also look into whether coursework covers the latest technologies, which today may include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science and cybersecurity.

"As a graduate student, it's really about that in-depth learning and understanding the latest tools in your field," says House Teixeira, who notes that computer science is typically interdisciplinary in nature. "In CS, a lot of it has to do with mining data, understanding data and making sure all of that information is secure."

This Article was Originally Published on Usnews.com