UC Berkeley partners with Coursera to launch a new and highly accessible master’s degree in engineering
Fully online degree from one of the top engineering schools offers unprecedented flexibility for working adults to advance their careers
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera
Today, I am excited to announce a Master of Advanced Study in Engineering (MAS-E) from the University of California, Berkeley, the top-ranked public university in the U.S. and our newest university partner.
This online degree from UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering will upskill engineers and expand access to world-class education. Aligned with UC Berkeley’s strategic goals for equity and inclusion, this program provides a new pathway for those unable to attend in-person programs due to work or family commitments, which is the primary reason students study online.
The degree employs a new customizable program design to best meet the needs of working professionals. Students primarily take one-credit, asynchronous micro-courses that can be completed in five-to-seven weeks rather than the standard 15-week semester. These self-paced micro-courses are complemented by live office hours with Berkeley’s world-renowned faculty.
Key features of the degree:
- Customizable curriculum: Students choose 22 one-unit micro-courses across five themes:
- Infrastructure systems engineering
- Biomedical and biomechanical engineering
- Engineering data analysis
- Advanced manufacturing and materials
- Electrical, power, and autonomous systems.
- Breadth and depth: Students acquire a technical foundation, specialize in one area by taking seven courses, and complete six courses across themes.
- Hands-on learning: The program culminates in a two-credit interdisciplinary capstone project, where students apply new skills and build powerful assets to include in their professional portfolios.
“The new MAS-E program will enable students to tailor their degree path to align with their interests and career goals, helping them stay abreast of technological advances while accelerating their professional development,” said Tsu-Jae King Liu, Dean of Berkeley Engineering. “MAS-E graduates will be better prepared to tackle complex engineering challenges and to pursue new opportunities with the knowledge, skills, and connections gained through our unique online master’s program.”
“Technology is advancing at an accelerating pace – causing many STEM professionals to seek out ‘knowledge upgrades’ that build on what they learned as undergraduates,” said Tarek Zohdi, Faculty Director of Professional Online Master’s Degree Programs and Associate Dean for Research at Berkeley Engineering. “Working professionals need a flexible, industry-responsive program that reflects the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering. We constructed this innovative program to best prepare engineers for the future of work.”
Berkeley’s MAS-E degree will prepare graduates for the nearly one million U.S. engineering jobs* that require or prefer a master’s degree. Additionally, those with a master’s degree in engineering earn almost 20% more than those with a bachelor’s degree. Berkeley Engineering graduates, in particular, are highly sought after and have joined the ranks of leading companies, including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
We are honored to partner with Berkeley on this groundbreaking program. Online education increases access and opportunity for students from all backgrounds, and this program marks a milestone in further advancing educational equity. We look forward to seeing how increased access to this prestigious institution enables learners worldwide to transform their careers and the world at large.
Applications are scheduled to open on September 13, 2023, for the first cohort, which begins in the summer of 2024. To learn more, visit https://www.coursera.org/degrees/mas-engineering-berkeley.
*Source: Lightcast data, Occupation Summary for Engineering; Open jobs denote open positions from June 2023 to June 2022, Total count is 899,000+; Accessed June 22, 2023.
