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Right Arrow Button IconThis Ivy League is creating its first ever fully online degree program. Here’s how it could help you advance your career in computer engineering

This Ivy League is creating its first ever fully online degree program. Here’s how it could help you advance your career in computer engineering

By
Preston ForePreston Fore
Preston ForePreston Fore
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
By
Preston ForePreston Fore
Preston ForePreston Fore
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
September 14, 2023 at 6:19 PM UTC
Photo illustration of a building on Dartmouth's campus inside the icon of a laptop.
Photo illustration by Fortune; Original photo by Getty Images

For the first time in Dartmouth’s history, the school is set to offer a fully online degree program. 

Beginning next year, a new partnership with Coursera will allow students interested in computer engineering to learn from anywhere—a big leap for the Ivy League school that calls rural New Hampshire home.

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The new Master of Engineering in Computer Engineering degree is aimed toward busy professionals who need more flexibility in their schedules.

“We decided to go all in to be fully online to really allow us to reach an even broader audience. We’re in a lovely part of the world in rural New Hampshire, but at the same time, it’s also challenging to get here,” says Alexis Abramson, dean of Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering.

She says the program will combine elements of the in-person experience, such as hands-on and project-based learning as well as integration into the liberal arts. The engineering school’s same faculty and staff will teach the courses and be resources for students.

The degree may take students between 15 to 27 months to complete—with a total of six years of flexibility in case life gets in the way. And if that isn’t enticing, the program’s affordability might be.

It is far cheaper than an in-person experience, costing $44,100 for the entire program. On campus, students may pay over $63,000 in tuition and fees for just one year at the engineering school.

According to Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer at Coursera, Dartmouth will be the first Ivy League to offer an online master’s degree in computer engineering. 

“We know that an Ivy League education can truly be life changing,” Stein says. “And what I’m personally excited about is to really be able to offer that opportunity to adult working professionals who otherwise would not have it, and really wouldn’t have many options out there on the market of education.”

While applicants will be judged holistically, Abramson notes, those with a background in STEM may be best suited for the program. However, students can take upfront courses at Coursera, for example, to better prepare them for the program.

Growing demand for engineers

Part of the reason for the program’s creation is to help fill the acute workforce shortages that the engineering industry faces as growth continues.

The Semiconductor Industry Association predicts that based on sector growth thanks to the CHIPS Act and current degree completion rates, there may be 67,000 new and unfilled semiconductor jobs by 2030—with 26% of them requiring engineers with master’s degrees or higher. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for computer hardware engineers is continuing to grow faster than the national average. Plus, their salaries are nothing to complain about—with the median yearly pay being about $132,360.

And with thousands more engineers expected to be needed in other sectors, obtaining a master’s level degree from an Ivy League institution may make it easier than ever to secure a new job.

“As (the computer) industry grows to rely more on data analytics, and artificial intelligence, we need more of a development of the hardware and software in order to prepare people who are coming up with solutions, designing solutions, to really address a whole variety of societal needs, that are going to rely more and more on computers, on computation,” Abramson tells Fortune.

Human-centered engineering

One of the focal points of Dartmouth’s engineering school is societal impact. The school’s concentration on human-centered design and needs in the classroom and laboratory are important factors to consider, especially when comparing programs, Stein says.

“It’s not just about solving the differential equation; it’s about understanding, oh, it has to do with crack propagation, which is impacted by climate change, right?” Abramson says. “So it’s that linkage from what you’re learning and that real world societal impact.”

The school also focuses on meeting the needs of its students and integrating them into the overall learning experience.

Participants of the new online degree will have the same access to the school’s career services teams and alumni networks to help students succeed during and after the program.

If you are looking for an online, asynchronous, and highly flexible experience, Abramson says you should consider this computer engineering degree. 

“This is a highly-curated experience, so students really get this very rich educational experience, with the project base and with the real strong interaction that they will have with Dartmouth faculty and staff,” she adds.

Read more

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    About the Contributors

    Preston Fore
    By Preston ForeStaff Writer, Education
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    Preston Fore is a reporter at Fortune, covering education and personal finance for the Success team.

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    Jasmine Suarez
    Reviewed By Jasmine SuarezSenior Staff Editor
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    Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

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