Engineering education has seen a significant increase in online offerings over the last decade, with MOOCs (massive open online courses) and online degrees from colleges and universities providing affordable options for continuing education. For example, the Georgia Institute of Technology recently announced a new online master of science degree that will be offered to students at a quarter of the cost of its on-campus equivalent.

The new offering is the online version of Georgia Tech’s existing Master of Science in Analytics degree. Analytics are increasingly essential to engineering across sectors and industries, which makes this course of study useful for many professional engineers.

The course content will be delivered in collaboration with well-known MOOC provider, edX.

An Affordable Degree for a Growing Field

Tuition for the on-campus degree program ranges from USD $36,000 for in-state students to $49,000 for students from out of state. However, the tuition for Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Analytics (OMS Analytics) degree will be available to students for less than $10,000.

Given that student debt is a major concern for many students, having affordable education options is extremely valuable.

“It is a national imperative for universities to offer high-quality degree programs at an affordable price and Georgia Tech has developed a model that delivers the rigor of the campus curriculum to online students world-wide,” said Gary May, dean of the College of Engineering. “OMS Analytics gives professionals access to world-class faculty and instruction at a competitive tuition rate. Learners will benefit from the intersection of technology, leadership, decision-making and innovation, which are highly sought after traits for engineers and business leaders.”

The OMS Analytics program has the capacity to accept 250 students for the first semester, with plans to expand the program over time to scale to meet student demands and needs. Students enrolled full-time can complete the program in one year, and most working professionals pursuing courses part-time can earn the degree in two.

OMS Analytics will launch with two focused tracks, one covering big data and the other analytical tools. A third track on business analytics is planned for the future.

The analytics degree program is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering, College of Computing and Scheller College of Business.

“The degree is among the first truly interdisciplinary graduate programs of its kind,” said Joel Sokol, OMS Analytics program director and associate professor in the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech. “Analytics has quickly become a key facet of business strategy because it ties together new opportunities through computing, advanced quantitative methods and the need for better business intelligence and decision support.”

Following in the Footsteps of Online Success

The OMS Analytics will follow the same model as Georgia Tech’s online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMS CS) program. OMS CS launched in 2014 and currently enrolls nearly 4,000 students.

“The field of data analytics is growing very fast. It is applicable to practically all forms of business, from retail to health,” said Rafael Bras, provost and executive vice president of Academic Affairs.

“We have far more qualified applicants than our residential program can admit. Building on our pioneering and very successful OMS CS program, Georgia Tech will continue to innovate by offering unique access to top-quality education at an affordable price, particularly for working professionals,” Bras added.

Optional MicroMasters for Professional Development

Three foundational courses from the OMS Analytics program will also form the separate MicroMasters program “Analytics: Essential Tools and Methods”, also available on edx.org. MicroMasters credentials are a series of graduate level online courses designed for professional development.

The MicroMasters program will be free for students to enroll and will be open to anyone. Learners who require proof of completion also have the option to earn a MicroMasters certificate as a standalone credential for $1,500.

“With the Analytics: Essential Tools and Methods MicroMasters program, learners around the world will have access to high-quality courses and expertise from Georgia Tech’s top-ranked program,” said Anant Agarwal, edX CEO and MIT professor.

“Our collaboration with Georgia Tech to deliver the MicroMasters program and the OMS Analytics master’s degree will help learners gain in-demand skills to advance their careers in affordable, flexible and accessible ways. We are proud to work with Georgia Tech as we further our mission to increase access to education and improve learners’ lives.”

Applications for the Georgia Tech OMS Analytics degree program are available now.

Additional details on the Georgia Tech OMS Analytics program can be found on Georgia Tech’s website.