WGU vs Eastern University

[bingo1]

Hello all,

I just finished my bachelors degree and want to start my masters degree as soon as possible. Anyone have any experience with WGU & Eastern University. I'm planning a degree in Data Science Masters Degree. Thanks for helping out. I'm trying to accelerate this degree so which ever is beneficial timewise.

[bluebooger]

all I know is WGU changed the curriculum for the Masters in Data Analytics about 3 to 4 months ago
its quite different than it was before
so I doubt many people have completed the current degree

https://badgr.com/public/badges/qxN0-eTmQa2WoqUyCQIfXg

https://badgr.com/public/badges/cVYdt-IORtWIDynMWGP6Kw

https://badgr.com/public/badges/-obsRa9SR0-x-4i1NiQQuA

https://www.wgu.edu/content/dam/western-...t/MSDA.pdf

https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/da...html#close

maybe ask in reddit and somebody might have experience
https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/search/?q=m...r=on&t=all

[posabsolute]

I saw some stuff about the new MSDA on Reddit, it seems people like the new WGU content and it is accelerable, try searching reddit for a couple of threads on the MSDA.

[Cofffeee]

You have to search threat on Eastern Univ . Person who attended it was not too happy about it. U r better to look for threat and read through it

[bjcheung77]

What was your undergrad in? Do you have some data science/math/comp sci under your belt? If you're looking to accelerate, WGU would be your option, Eastern is not a competency based degree program, therefore you're stuck taking it for two years. If you're quick, WGU can be done in a term or two. The program for each university may be affordable, but you're the one who needs to decide which one would be better. I would pick WGU and finish in two terms for 8K and 1 year, vs 10K at Eastern.

[AwardTour]

Hello all,

I just finished my bachelors degree and want to start my masters degree as soon as possible. Anyone have any experience with WGU & Eastern University. I'm planning a degree in Data Science Masters Degree. Thanks for helping out. I'm trying to accelerate this degree so which ever is beneficial timewise.

WGU does not have a program for Data Science. WGU's program is in Data Analytics and yes, there is a difference. WGU changed their MSDA program last year. The changes resulted in only 3 OAs being required and the certifications for SAS were removed. This means that you would have a much better chance of completing this program in one term depending on how long it takes you to complete the project based courses.

WGU will actually be more difficult for you to be admitted into their MSDA program depending on your undergrad degree. If you do not have a STEM based undergrad degree then you will have to jump through some additional hoops. When I spoke to WGU last year their primary concern was that non-STEM undergrads would not have enough programming experience. I agreed to take a Microsoft MTA Cert called "Software Development Fundamentals". That cert is now being retired by Microsoft btw. I spoke with WGU before they changed their MSDA program. 

You will need to contact WGU to get their guidance on how to get accepted into their MSDA program if you do not have a STEM degree. If you do have a STEM degree then you have nothing to worry about. 

Eastern University does offer a Masters in Data Science program. I have actually spoken with a few people here privately after Eleverson wrote a negative review. My conclusion now is that it is a good program and I will probably enter that program in the next few months.

[bluebooger]

bellevue also has a data science program
https://www.bellevue.edu/degrees/master/...cience-ms/

don't know anything about it, but the courses seem similar to Eastern's
https://www.eastern.edu/academics/colleg...ematical-5

bellevue is about $18,000 for the degree
$595 IN-CLASS OR ONLINE COST PER CREDIT
https://www.bellevue.edu/degrees/master/...cience-ms/

eastern seems to be 1/2 the price
Master's in Data Science (MS) Per $300.00 Credit hour
https://www.eastern.edu/sites/default/fi...212022.pdf

I know that Data Analytics and Data Science are two things, but WGU's Data Analytics program doesn't really seem that much different than either of those Data Science programs
https://www.wgu.edu/content/dam/western-...t/MSDA.pdf

WGU seems to be less detailed and more BS with their course descriptions though LOL

Advanced Data Analytics prepares students for career-long growth in steadily advancing tools and techniques and provides
emerging concepts in data analysis. This course hones the mental and theoretical flexibility that will be required of analysts
in the coming decades while grounding their approach firmly in ethical and organizational-need-focused practice. Topics
include machine learning, neural networks, randomness, and unconventional data sources. Data Mining II is a prerequisite
for this course.

the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Professional Studies has a 100% online data science program that I think looks really nice
go here and scroll down to see the course list
http://catalog.sps.cuny.edu/preview_prog...2&poid=607

and they aren't that expensive
$5,545 per semester for 12 or more credits per term
$470 per credit for less that 12 credits per term
https://sps.cuny.edu/financial-aid-and-t...s/graduate
so that's about $14,100 at worst

their admission criteria is much higher though
https://sps.cuny.edu/academics/graduate/...science-ms

However, because the MS in Data Science is a highly quantitative and technical major ... acceptance requires applicants to demonstrate current skills in:

1) Statistics and probability including descriptive statistics, skewness/kurtosis, histograms, statistical error, correlation, single variable linear regression analysis, significance testing, probability distributions, and basic probability modeling;
2) Linear algebra including basic matrix manipulation, dot and cross products, inverse matrices, eigenvalues, representing problems as matrices, and solving small systems of linear equations;
3) Programming in a high-level language such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, C, Ruby, or SAS (2+ years). Applicants must be able to write working code from scratch;
4) Relational databases including connecting to and manipulating data, working with tables, joins, basic relational algebra, and SQL queries. Two or more years of experience with Microsoft Access can be substituted if the applicant is able to perform the same operations without using Access’s graphical interface; and,
5) Analytical thinking including the ability to translate real-world phenomena into quantitative representations and, conversely, the ability to interpret quantitative representations with practical explanations.

Skills in these areas will be assessed in two ways:

1) Completion of credit-bearing coursework with a grade of B or better from an accredited college or university OR 2+ years of relevant experience on a resume; and,
2) Completion of a mandatory challenge exam that will assess current skill and knowledge in these areas.

one really nice thing is their free Bridge Program (but only if you are admitted)

If you have completed credit-bearing courses in the above areas or have used these skills at work but are no longer proficient, we offer three bridge courses: R Programming, SQL, and Data Science Math. These bridge courses are intended to refresh knowledge and skills, but are not for individuals who are learning these topics for the first time.

then there's Harvard University's Extension School graduate certificate in Data Science
https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academ...ertificate
for $11,600

The professional graduate certificate in Data Science requires four courses:
One statistics course (choose one from select group)
Two electives (choose any two courses from select group)
One required data science course (choose one from select group)

course list
https://www.extension.harvard.edu/course...ertificate

I think it easily has the most interesting courses

they also have a graduate certificate in Data Analytics
https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academ...ertificate

out of all of those I think the CUNY masters would be the most work (the course descriptions just sound the most detailed and complicated)

but the Harvard Data Science certificate is the one I'd like to do if I had the math knowledge

I have actually spoken with a few people here privately after Eleverson wrote a negative review. My conclusion now is that it is a good program and I will probably enter that program in the next few months.

would like to hear more why you are choosing this school over others
other than price what makes this so great

[AwardTour]

I have actually spoken with a few people here privately after Eleverson wrote a negative review. My conclusion now is that it is a good program and I will probably enter that program in the next few months.

would like to hear more why you are choosing this school over others
other than price what makes this so great

LOL, let's not remove price so easily from the equation. That is a major factor. Aside from things that appeal to me like price, flexibility as well as ease of admissions are attractive. The things that make Eastern's program stand out above Bellevue's program would be Eastern University's Machine Learning and Applied Machine Learning courses. 

Even WGU has a course that touches on AI and neural networks. Machine Learning/AI/Neural Networks are no where to be found in Bellevue's program descriptions from what I could see.  

Machine Learning and AI are very hot right now. 

Eastern University's MS in Data Science program has the essential courses that I am looking for. The other plus that I have been told about is that student collaboration is not forced/not part of the grade. This is not an issue at WGU either, but it does play a role in other programs. That to me is a personal plus as well. I will be traveling internationally when the world re-opens and I don't want part of my grade to be student collaboration when I am in an entirely different time zone on the other side of the world.

[Cofffeee]

I am curious doesnt it bother u grading issues mentioned before about Eastern University? Time difference would least of my concerns

[AwardTour]

I am curious doesnt it bother u grading issues mentioned before about Eastern University? Time difference would least of my concerns

I spoke with a few people here privately about that. The person that had a problem with grading was turning in assignments late and potentially facing issues with not having English as their primary language.

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You have to search threat on Eastern Univ . Person who attended it was not too happy  about it. U r better to look for threat and read through it

Threat????? Do you mean thread? These are the type of mistakes that can impact your grade for example. Is it safe to assume English is not your primary language?