Rahul is a recent graduate of the Master of Computer Science (MCS) program from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) on Coursera. With U.S. News and World Report naming Illinois’ Department of Computer Science in the top 5 in 2023, Rahul could confidently pick the MCS. Rahul had also earned his bachelor’s degree from The Department of Computer Science and taken machine learning courses on Coursera, so he was sure he could succeed with an Illinois program on the platform. “I knew the quality of the professors. I also knew the recognition and value of the degree in the market,” he says with conviction.
With the MCS, there are two pathways for different interests and goals. You can either select general computer science or data science as your pathway. For Rahul, the decision was clear. “I wanted to go back because the data science component was attractive,” he reveals, adding, “I wanted to catch up on all the new technologies since my undergrad.” Having been in his computer science career for approximately two decades, including tenures at both small and big companies, he also knew he wanted to gain additional experience in the ever-changing field. Ultimately, he says, “I wanted to land a job that would allow me to build on my previous work experience.”
Rahul earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science on campus at Illinois. However, when he returned for his master’s degree, he knew the online program would be the best fit for his family’s work-life balance. He notes, “The online program is not much different than being on campus. You get the interaction with instructors and peers, and the flexibility worked really well for my schedule.”
In addition to the fact that it supported his lifestyle, Rahul saw other benefits to learning on Coursera. “The tuition wasn’t as expensive, and I wanted that TA support,” he remembers, while also mentioning, “We had a Slack channel. It was a helpful resource to be able to network with other students and also get questions answered. It’s very much a collaborative program.”
Having graduated with his MCS in the spring of 2023, Rahul has now had the opportunity to reflect on his time in the program and appreciate the impact he’s made on his career by earning his master’s degree. He proudly states, “I got a job in Hollywood because of the knowledge I picked up in one of the courses. It very much qualified me for my role.” Rahul also has this advice for others who are considering the MCS: “It’s good to understand your WHY when you’re applying to the program. It’s going to be work, but it’ll also be rewarding.”
Rahul’s story shows us how you can learn on your terms with Coursera and earn a computer science degree with Illinois—whether that’s through the general computer science or data science pathway. If you’re thinking about a career in computer science, check out the Master of Computer Science from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign today and learn more about the two pathways you can take.
Learn more about the Master of Computer Science from the University of Illinois.