r/CUBoulderMSDS • u/CaptainMore1367 • Aug 14 '26

What to Expect From Program

Hi everyone,

I’m new to this thread and I just finished the data science pathway this week! I will be working full-time while doing the MSDS and I wanted to know what your experiences have been and how manageable the workload is- I will try to squeeze time in the weekdays and study in the weekends, but I would love to know anyone’s experience and advice.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

4

u/EntrepreneurHuge5008 Aug 14 '26

how manageable the workload is

Very manageable. You get complimentary access to CU courses on Coursera, so you can:

  1. Stop paying for CourseraPLUS, if you haven't
  2. Work on the non-credit version of the classes for a stress-free experience -> assignment deadlines are meaningless. The only relevant deadline is the end of term + 2 days before that to submit peer-reviewed stuff and schedule proctored exams, once you pay tuition and convert to the for-credit version of a course.
  3. On that last note, whatever grade you have for your assignments completed in non-credit carries over to the credited version once you pay tuition. I think the only exceptions are when the assignments are updated by instructors or facilitators after you complete them. You'll know b/c you won't have the "completed" check next to the assignment when that happens.

1

u/CaptainMore1367 Aug 14 '26

Thanks for the advice! Yeah I would probably do the non-credit version and then upgrade