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Online Math Degree Programs

Mia Fernandez |
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Are there any real online mathematics (applied math, statistics, ...) degree programs out there?

I'm full-time employed, thus not having the flexibility of attending an on campus program. I also already have a MSc in Computer Science. My motivation for a math degree is that I like learning and am interested in the subject. I've studied through number of OCW courses on my own, but it would be nice if I could actually be able to have my studying count towards something.

I've done my share of Googling for this, but searching for online degrees seems to bring up a lot of institutions that (at least superficially) seem a bit shady (diploma mills?).

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10 Answers

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Original author's note: I am deleting my profile and would appreciate it if someone could maintain this answer going forward.

I know this post is very old but I'd like to contribute my likely-too-late response in case it'll help someone else in the future. Plus I'm in a similar position so I have a few relevant things to say, and I'm sure the landscape has changed significantly since 2010.

First, I see in the comment thread on the question that you were planning on a bachelor's with a potential future interest in a graduate degree. Since you already have the MSc in comp sci and a clear interest in math then I imagine you have at least a decent math background. Getting a bachelor's might not be the best idea, especially if you end up being unable to transfer a lot of previously earned credits. If ultimately you're wanting to pursue a graduate degree then I'd recommend at least trying to start with a graduate program. It's possible you'd need to take some prerequisite courses but surely this would be better than going through an entire bachelor's program again. But if you're thinking a bachelor's is all you want then by all means go for it.

I completely understand the feeling of wanting to pursue a degree rather than just self-studying, because I feel the same way and I'm in the same position as you right now. I do a lot of self-studying and it is certainly enjoyable and fulfilling. But I share the feeling of wanting to have something to show for it, even if that doesn't mean anything to anybody else. At the very least, having that degree is a mark of completion. And with that mark comes that sense of satisfaction from having successfully completed something challenging. And for me, that's all the motivation I need. It shows that you individually put yourself on a difficult path and successfully navigated through it. What would successful completion of an independent study even be? Finish reading the book? Work every problem in the book? Correctly work every problem in the book? Yes, we can all try to do this navigation with independent studying but there's no accountability there and no clear definition of successful completion. If you fail at independently studying something (e.g., gave up halfway through, or finished the book and learned nothing, etc.) then no one ever needs to know you tried. If you fail out of a graduate program then it's quite the blemish on your record and could be difficult/impossible to hide. My opinion is that pursuing an actual degree, especially if it's just for fun, shows a level of dedication higher than independent studying. Some may wonder what's the point of showing this level of dedication, especially if it's a just-for-fun pursuit. I address this in the next paragraph.

As I mentioned, I'm currently in a similar position. I have two bachelor's (math and computer science) and two master's (math and applied math) degrees and I've been tossing around the idea of getting more graduate degrees, possibly in statistics, computer science, electrical engineering, and even more in math. Some may (and some already did) scoff and condescendingly tell me the degrees are useless, I'm wasting my time, etc. Depending on their level of derision, to them I would say something to the effect of, "Cry me a river! I'm not living my life for you and I'm not obligated to make decisions about my life based on what's appropriate for your own personal world view." It really surprises me how many people there are who can't comprehend the idea of another person following pursuits and interests that don't line up with their own. Also, who's to say the degree is completely useless? We don't know what the future holds. Maybe you'll find during your studies that you enjoy it more than you ever thought you would, and you want to make a career change. Maybe you won't want to make a career change but at some point you unexpectedly find yourself in a situation where you need a new job in the same field. Having pursued a graduate degree from a respectable institution (i.e., not a diploma mill and preferably a regionally accredited school if in the U.S.) while holding down a full-time job should look great to any prospective employer. And as long as you left your old job on good terms, why shouldn't it look great? Sure, independently studying while working full time is also challenging and rewarding, but anyone can say they independently studied something, and even if they did we come back to the issue of how to measure success with independent studying.

A more legitimate question I get is, "Why get more math degrees?" And my answer to that is (1) because I love it and I want to, (2) different schools have different programs and curricula, so doing the same degree at different places doesn't mean I'm doing all of the same courses over and over again, and (3) I have been contemplating pursuing a PhD and I believe I've been out of formal academia too long for that to be possible otherwise.

I'll put the soap box away and go get the list of online programs in math that I've found.

Links are valid as of July 9, 2020. In no particular order:

Updating this post to also include statistics programs, again in no particular order. Links are valid as of July 9, 2020.

I haven't looked for statistics programs as thoroughly as I did with math programs so I'm sure there are at least a few others out there that aren't from online-only schools.

I should also point out that a lot of these schools, and many others not listed here, also have certificate programs which usually have more lax entry requirements. Most of these certificate programs don't require letters of recommendation. This is a good way to get back into academia if you've been gone for a while but need letters to get into the program of your choice. A lot of schools (like Texas A&M as of the time I write this) will also allow people to take courses as a non-degree student and you can even transfer a certain amount of credits if you get accepted into a degree program later.

[Added on 14/10/2020(DD/MM/YYYY)]

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For my experience, the Open University is well-respected internationally.

[Note this is different to Open Universities, such as this in Australia, which is a collaboration of several universities.]

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I would recommend against getting a degree from any online-only university. Even if you happen to find one that's not shady, everyone else who hasn't heard of it will assume it is some kind of diploma mill without bothering to do much research. Instead, I think you'd be better off going to a nearby university you're interested in, and ask them if they would be willing to make some kind of special arrangement for you. Many universities allow reduced course loads for students that have families or work full time, and aren't very good about advertising it.

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The University of Washington offers an online masters degree. Their brick-and-mortar programme might make the online diploma more credible.

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The Rochester Institute of Technology offers a MS in applied statistics that is completely online (I think, I'm not enrolled yet.)

It's pretty expensive, since it combines the increased out-of-state tuition with the extra online cost. However an online degree such as this is good for working professionals who

1) Can't take classes during the day and 2) Can get their employer to pay for most of the degree.

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From what I've read, many universities will not make a distinction on the degree stating whether it was earned online or not.

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I don't know if you're still looking, but I found this page in my own search for an online math program.

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Southern New Hampshire Unviersity offers a BA in Math both on campus and online. This is a traditional, not-for-profit university.

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For future readers: If you happen to speak German, by far the best option is the "Fernuniversität in Hagen", which offers a fully accredited mathematics bachelor and masters programme, full or part time. These are both more affordable and more rigorous (at least the bachelor) than comparable programmes offered by American universities and are just as trustworthy and high quality as those offered by any other German university (even more so if you ask me because the quality of the material they provide is excellent).

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'Are there any real online mathematics (applied math, statistics, ...) degree programs out there?' That's real as opposed to imaginary, right? Heh, heh. :)

No, but seriously, I think you should just pursue your interests privately, without worrying about getting more pieces of paper than you need- your MSc is already proof of your academic proficiency and ability to complete challenging assignments correctly.

I reckon most employers, and other people, would be convinced that you take your maths hobby seriously and study it as carefully as you studied for your MSc.

I am also studying mathematics as a solo enthusiast and I just show people some of the proofs I am studying that week, if they are interested in finding out more. I am sure that's what the likes of Ramanujan would have done, so that'll do for me too!

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