<p>What do you think of the new online Master's degree program from Cornell Engineering? Do you think that mixing the Cornell name with the very shady world of online degree programs will hurt the school's reputation? Or do you think the program provides a unique opportunity for many people people to further their education who would otherwise be unable to attend college? Or do you think both are correct and if so, which is more important in your opinion, Cornell's reputation or providing educational opportunities to people who would otherwise not be able to earn a master's degree?</p>
<p>Cornell</a> Chronicle: Systems engineering online degree</p>
<p>IMO I think the program is a good thing, but there are a lot of people who will look down on Cornell for providing this program</p>
<p>Columbia's got CVN, and Harvard has HES. And Columbia and Harvard are still, you guessed it right, Columbia and Harvard.</p>
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Columbia and Harvard are still, you guessed it right, Columbia and Harvard.
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<p>Sadly... I guessed that Harvard and Columbia were now Vanderbilt and Dartmouth. :(</p>
<p>On a more serious note, thats an excellent point. I didn't know that other major universities offered online programs.</p>
<p>Because it for a master's degree, as long as the academic requirements are the same between the online program and the on-campus program, I don't have any problem with it. And the soldier example you provides demonstrate how not all worthy students can afford to spend a year in Ithaca. Does it make a big difference if you are watching lectures in person or watching them over the Internet if most of your interaction with professors is over email anyways?</p>
<p>Coincidentally, it looks like the degree still requires students two spend two intensive one-week sessions on Ithaca campus, working on group projects and such.</p>
<p>For a bachelor's degree, it's different, as I think a significant amount of the value of the degree is grounded in the socialization that occurs on the Ithaca campus. And I don't think Cornell is getting rid of its two year residency requirement for undergrads anytime soon.</p>