But it also has master's degree programs — remote, accessible, and comparatively more affordable routes to what are often the same classes, faculty, and degrees offered to on-campus students.
Below, you'll find 10 popular Coursera master's programs, which range from electrical engineering to public health. Keep in mind that application deadlines span from May 30 to August 31, 2021.
10 popular Coursera online master's programs:
Master of Computer and Information Technology from University of Pennsylvania
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One of the top schools in the world, University of Pennsylvania offers a completely online Master of Computer and Information Technology degree. The MCIT Online program is tailored for non-computer science majors and prepares students for roles in finance, healthcare, education, and government, as well as the core software development industry.
Students come from diverse disciplines (history, chemistry, medicine) and graduates have earned jobs at tech companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google, Bloomberg, and more.
Master of Business Administration from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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The iMBA program gives online students the same MBA degree as on-campus students. Students web conference into live classrooms, conduct team projects, and interact with professors during virtual office hours to complete 18 courses and three capstone projects.
Students hail from more than 90 countries and 48 US states, leading to diverse perspectives and a global network.
Master of Applied Data Science from University of Michigan
Students learn to master core data science concepts (machine learning, natural language processing) and explore timely topics such as privacy, data ethics, and persuasive communication.
Master of Science in Management from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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The iMSM is a nine-course, completely online master's degree in management. The University of Illinois says it gives students the same education from the same faculty as its on-campus students.
The core covers the foundational management classes (leadership and teams, marketing management, strategic management, and more) on top of accounting and finance classes. From there, students can customize their degree with elective courses in global business, business challenges, and data-driven decision-making and communication.
Global Master of Business Administration (GMBA) from Macquarie University
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This intentionally global MBA program builds your expertise in traditional foundation topics — marketing, accounting, and more — as well as developing unique, future-focused skills that will help you stand out and succeed in the future.
Students hone skills in strategy, leadership, analysis, and problem-solving using real-world issues from industry partners who help develop each course.
Please note the following price is in AUD.
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Colorado Boulder
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The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder is completely online and flexible. Students can take an individual course in the program to build a professional skill or a fraction of the courses to earn a graduate certificate.
To earn the full master's degree, students get to complete their choice of 30-credit hours. They can choose from over 30 elective courses in key areas: power electronics, embedded systems, photonics and optics, controls and communications, electromagnetics, and computer engineering.
Admission to the program is based on performance, so no formal application is required to begin. You just need to successfully complete one "Pathway Specialization" in order to be officially admitted into the program. Then, you combine those credits with more courses to reach your 30 credits.
Master of Public Health from University of Michigan
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The University of Michigan, another one of the best global universities, offers its own totally online master's degree in Public Health. Students gain expertise in core public health concepts and customize their education in areas such as precision nutrition, health communication, data analysis, environmental epidemiology, and more.
To prepare for a wide variety of roles, students develop skills in data collection and analysis, intervention strategy, and communication methods over their 42 credits. Each student also gains real-world training through Applied Practice Experiences (APEx).
Master of Science in Population and Health Sciences from University of Michigan
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The fully online Master of Science in Population and Health Sciences teaches students about today's most challenging public health issues and hones their data analysis skills.
Designed by one of the nation's top five public universities, the University of Michigan's program is multidisciplinary and research-intensive. Public health experts show students how to conduct literature reviews, understand research methodologies, analyze and interpret data, compare findings, and prepare scientific writing for publication, among other things.
Global Master of Public Health (GMPH) from Imperial College London
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Imperial College London, one of the top 20 universities in the world, offers an online master's degree program in Public Health and, with it, access to faculty that have helped shape global policy (such as researchers who led the Ebola response). Students learn about biostatistics, epidemiology, health systems, health economics, population health improvement, and more. To sharpen research skills, students also explore public health issues impacting their own community.
The program is completely online, and students are given opportunities to develop work to submit to peer-reviewed journals and build portfolios to launch the next stage of their career.
Online Master of Computer Science from Arizona State University
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Named the most innovative school in the US (US News) for four consecutive years, Arizona State University's fully online Master's combines classroom education and hands-on applied projects in topics such as AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, and big data. Online students receive the same degree as on-campus students and learn from the same faculty.
ASU students also have unique opportunities to work with on-campus organizations — such as its Blockchain Research Laboratory.