Coursera Bachelor of Science in Computer Science for $4k!

https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-bits

Now Coursera is offering Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from an Indian university for $4k!

The Indian university is 'Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birla_Institute_of_Technology_and_Science,_Pilani

They're ranked top 801-1000th around the world by Times.
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/birla-institute-technology-and-science-pilani

1001-1200th by QS:
https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/birla-institute-technology-science-pilani


Here's their curriculum

Core courses
BCS ZC313 Introduction to Programming
BCS ZC228 Introduction to Computing Systems
BCS ZC216 Computer Systems and Performance
BCS ZC215 Command Line Interfaces and Scripting
BCS ZC311 Data Structures and Algorithms
BCS ZC212 Algorithm Design
BCS ZC316 Object Oriented Programming
BCS ZC317 Relational Databases
BCS ZC234 Programming for Mobile Devices
BCS ZC238 Web Programming
BCS ZC232 Operating Systems
BCS ZC236 Software Design Principles
BCS ZC214 Building Database Applications
BCS ZC211 Software Development Practices
BCS ZC231 Network Programming and Client-Server Programming
BCS ZC222 Formal Languages and Applications

Mathematics Foundation
BCS ZC219 Discrete Mathematics
BCS ZC230 Linear Algebra and Optimization
BCS ZC233 Probability and Statistics
BCS ZC112 Introduction to Logic

Science & Engineering Foundation
BCS ZC223 General Biology*
BSC ZC240 General Physics*
BCS ZC111 Basic Electronics

Humanities Foundation
BCS ZC151 Writing Practice
BCS ZC113 Online Social Media*
BCS ZC114 Video Games - Technology and Social Impacts*

Other Courses
BCS ZC220 Environmental Studies
BCS ZC229 Introduction to Economics*
BCS ZC235 Science, Technology and Modernity*

https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-bits/academics

 

I think it can be a good option for those who want to save $$$ .. but the university is in India.
Some employers may think that's strange...

 

So weird that Israel is in the list of developing countries.
Israel is rich.
Weird that they would only have to pay 4k$.

 

This might sound ridiculous, but it might make more sense to add "Coursera" on your resume if you pursue this degree. This is one of those very few cases where the Coursera brand is more reputable than the university offering the degree (at least in the US). Sorta like those generic grocery brands like Kirkland/Costco are slapped into generic products. At least it will avoid you from having to answer how you ended up in India back in college.

 

Not really, this is how I would phrase it if you are applying to a US company:

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Birla Institute of Technology, completed through Coursera online
https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-computer-science-bits

The link through Coursera makes the degree look instantly legit. A bachelors from Birla Institute is normal if you're originally from India then moved to the US. It is not the norm for Americans to get their bachelors from India.

 

I list MOOCs I have taken on my résumé under a continuing education section. The way I have done it is to list both the university the course is taught by and the platform (Coursera) that the course is taught through i.e. Economics - Harvard via Coursera (non-credit certificate course). Most of the MOOCs I have taken are from big name U.S. universities, so I want to make sure the résumé reader knows that I was learning from a good university. In the OP's scenario, it is almost the opposite in which case being on Coursera can let employers know the university must be well thought of or else they would not be teaching through Coursera. On one hand, I would not normally list platforms such as Blackboard, but then Blackboard does not seem to bee too concerned about which schools they are affiliated with whereas Coursera and EdX seem to have built prestige based on which schools are using them. Anyhow, this might be the beginning model for a solution:

BA Computer Science - Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani via Coursera.com

 

I 100% agree. I think having the Coursera connection / name is a big plus to improving the perception of foreign degrees in the US.

 

BITS Pilani is a well known name in India. They have been running kind of off-campus graduate programs for working professionals for a very long time, but this is the first time I saw an undergraduate program that's open to all.