What does an online graduate student’s typical day look like? It probably involves professional commitments: approximately three-quarters of graduate students work at least 30 hours a week. Schoolwork, personal commitments, and (hopefully) some downtime fill out the rest of the day.
Your itinerary might begin with coffee and a quick review of your schedule. You might then check emails, prioritize tasks, and carve out time for work, classes, and academics. Careful planning should help you reduce stress and fulfill your commitments.
Program flexibility—including access to self-paced study you can fit into your schedule–makes it easier for online students to juggle work, school, and life obligations. After finishing work, students can change into comfortable clothes and log into their virtual classroom from a quiet space at home. They connect with peers worldwide, engage in meaningful discussions, and complete asynchronous coursework as their schedules allow.
Online master’s programs at the Tufts University School of Engineering empower students to pursue their academic and career goals by taking advantage of a flexible format, faculty support, and a collaborative network. This article explores the unique opportunities and challenges of online graduate programs in computer science and data science, focusing on day-to-day expectations and the support systems that promote success.
Gain Expertise in Advanced Technologies
Experience Adaptable Online Learning Tailored to Your Schedule
Choosing the Right Learning Pathway
Choosing an online program is a major decision, especially when you are balancing other commitments. Students pursuing computer science or data science need to find a program that provides a solid foundation while also covering emerging and industry-relevant skills that prepare them for the current marketplace and lifelong learning.
The online engineering programs at Tufts combine flexibility with a robust curriculum designed to equip students with the skills they need to succeed. For working professionals like Hope Rogan—who entered the program with a background in technology but wanted to advance her skills—the Tufts online Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) represented the perfect choice. She points out that “the online program is catered towards working professionals” and is well-suited to students who don’t know “exactly what field they want to go into within the tech industry. They really give you a good background.”
Tufts’ online programs create opportunities to deepen your technical expertise, especially in growing fields like machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Tufts online Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) student Alyssa Bawgus (who was working as a QA engineer at a semiconductor company when she enrolled) “wanted to shore up the fundamentals I didn’t necessarily have coming from a different background.” She also hoped to build expertise in growing fields like machine learning and AI. A New England native, Bawgus was familiar with Tufts’ reputation for producing highly skilled engineers. She chose Tufts for its strong reputation and the online program’s flexibility, which allowed her to continue working full-time while pursuing her degree.
Building Community in an Online Learning Environment
Networking and collaboration play a crucial role in the online learning environment. Connecting with peers and faculty creates an engaging, enriching experience and fosters relationships that can support students’ academic and career growth. As Rogan observes, “At the end of the day, you need to network … you need to meet people.”
The online programs at Tufts emphasize collaboration and engagement through small class sizes, live webcam classes, and online faculty office hours. Students build meaningful relationships with peers and instructors, gaining valuable insights from a diverse peer group that helps broaden their worldview. Part-time Lecturer Lisa Diorio encourages students to “get to know the professors… we’re very welcoming. We’re very accessible,” adding that “professors have things to offer you besides just the topic that you’re learning.” Rogan values these connections, pointing out that “the community is the only way you can better yourself, and they do a really good job of that here.”
Learning That Transforms the Workforce
Students in the Tufts online MSCS and MSDS programs build skills and expertise that can immediately impact their professional lives. These programs teach foundational concepts and provide students with the practical skills to make a real impact at work and build successful careers.
Bawgus applied the knowledge she gained in class to develop a reliability model that improved product development at work. She recounts: “From the first semester, I was really able to take some of those fundamental concepts and immediately apply it to where I was working. I could come in after a weekend of a lecture and be like … that really is something I can use almost immediately to advance my career.” Rogan used the skills she gained from a web programming class to help create a new website for her family’s business and transition the old website to a new platform. She was able to apply what she learned from just that one class to improve the quality of her daily work.
Connecting with Faculty and Support Systems
Tufts School of Engineering students receive dedicated mentorship and guidance from distinguished faculty whose real-world experience enhances learning with industry insights and professional connections. The School of Engineering faculty includes:
- Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Online Programs Marty Allen, who brings expertise in AI and machine learning; his recent research focuses on multiagent reinforcement learning. Allen’s work has been featured in numerous publications.
- Associate Professor Alva Couch, whose work focuses on data science and software systems engineering; Couch has been honored with multiple awards for teaching and advising.
- Associate Teaching Professor Ming Chow, who specializes in web and mobile security and engineering; Chow has earned national recognition for his Introduction to Game Development course and has spoken at numerous conferences.
- Professor and Department Chair Jeffrey Foster, who focuses on programming languages, software engineering, and security. He received an Amazon Research Award for his research proposal to provide a toolkit for automated testing of the coding language Dafny.
Expertise and dedication to student success set Tufts faculty apart. They connect with students through virtual office hours, one-on-one meetings, and class discussions. Allen believes that not having an undergraduate degree in computer science helps him relate to students, enabling him to “see where things might not be as obvious to students as they are to experts.” Derek Hendriksen, who got his Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Computer Science and is transitioning into the Tufts MSCS, has met with Allen for guidance. He points out, “There are so many different opportunities to meet with professors. Anytime you’re feeling like you might be struggling or you need a little bit of additional support, there’s always somebody that can help you out.” Rogan praised the faculty, saying, “Working with the faculty has been stellar…They care about their students. They care about … the quality of what they’re teaching, which is not what you’re going to get from a pre-recorded course.”
Embracing Challenges and Growth
Graduate school presents challenges, especially when you’re juggling other responsibilities. It’s also a chance to push yourself to grow. Students in the online MSCS and MSDS programs challenge themselves through rigorous coursework and capstone projects that expand their skill sets. Bawgus pursued advanced coursework to develop her technical ability and build expertise in emerging areas while working full time. Lanie Kropp also balanced a full-time job while pursuing an online MSDS to boost her data and computer science skills and connect with others in the field.
In addition to coursework, Rogan’s capstone project allowed her to advance her skills by applying what she had learned in the classroom to build something entirely her own. She encourages others to embrace challenges, saying, “Don’t look at something and think that’s too difficult… because at the end of the day, you’re limiting yourself. Always be willing to give it a try. Push yourself and challenge yourself.”
Looking Ahead: Preparing for the Future of the Field
The Tufts online MSDS and MSCS programs prepare students for versatile careers in a rapidly evolving field. As industries increasingly rely on emerging technologies like AI, students gain the skills to adapt to these advancements and succeed in the modern landscape. Bawgus notes of the knowledge she’s gained, “This is a very versatile and widely applicable skill set… I feel ready to excel not only in my current field but also in others.”
Tufts also offers an online post-baccalaureate certificate in data science and computer science to help students without a strong background develop the skills needed to transition into these fields or continue their education with a Tufts online master’s degree. Hendriksen feels “really well-prepared to start taking these master’s classes. The post-baccalaureate has prepared me super well for what I will ultimately expect to see in the master’s program.”
Pursuing an online graduate degree at the Tufts School of Engineering can transform your career, opening doors to new opportunities by equipping you with in-demand skills and industry connections to take your career to the next level. Connect with an enrollment advisor to find the program that aligns with your goals and take the next step toward success.