"Master’s Degrees are the Biggest Scam in Higher Education"

General observation on the value of the LL.M Tax and MST degrees...these two Master's degrees are very similar in course content but they address different needs. The LL.M. gives lawyers some accounting with, you know, actual numbers and math and stuff. Most lawyers hate numbers and math and stuff but you have to have it to practice tax. Similarly, the MST gives accountants exposure to statutes, case law and regulations and the application of those things to actual fact situations. I gather that most accountants hate statutes, case law and regulations.

Either way, both groups make good use of the degree whatever it's called. I wouldn't call these degree programs "scams".

 

That depends on the curriculum of your school.
https://www.quora.com/Is-calculus-3-the-same-as-multivariable-calculus

10 Examples of Linear Algebra in Machine Learning:
https://machinelearningmastery.com/examples-of-linear-algebra-in-machine-learning/

Calculus — Multivariate Calculus And Machine Learning
https://medium.com/fintechexplained/calculus-multivariate-calculus-and-machine-learning-242b9efcb41c

"How essential is multivariable calculus for ML?"
https://www.reddit.com/r/learnmachinelearning/comments/ax8a21/how_essential_is_multivariable_calculus_for_ml/

"The missing courses" are not limited to mathematics. By the time students graduate from top BS in CS programs, they know how to program in C, C++, Java, etc.

 

Yes, machine learning is built on math. No one is disputing that. Are you saying students need Calc III and Linear Algebra courses in their undergrad to be successful Data Scientists? Because there are plenty out there with humanities backgrounds who are doing just fine.

 

It's much better if you study advanced math and learn how to use them in ML...

Check curriculum of BS in DS programs and see what you have missed:
https://catalog.drexel.edu/undergraduate/collegeofcomputingandinformatics/datascience/#degreerequirementstext
https://catalog.northeastern.edu/undergraduate/computer-information-science/data-science/data-science-bs/#programrequirementstext

What I'm saying is that MS programs often miss some important components from BS programs ...

 

Back in my Union days, phenomenology was a commonly used method at Union. A related method is autoethnography. In both, one is describing one's own experiences related to the phenomenon under study.

At Union I did a traditional deductive study using qualitative methods to test an "arm chair" theory. At Leicester, however, I did a very nontraditional inductive study using qualitative methods to create a grounded theory.

For those interested in an overview of quantitative and qualitative methods, I highly recommend Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods by Michael Q. Patton. It is a textbook, but it is terrific at explaining these distinctions. https://www.amazon.com/Qualitative-Research-Evaluation-Methods-Michael/dp/0761919716/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1RT5HN4EF51HI&keywords=michael+quinn+patton&qid=1653611135&s=books&sprefix=michael+quinn+patton%2Cstripbooks%2C111&sr=1-9

For grounded theory, nothing beats Kathy Charmaz in Constructing Grounded Theory: https://www.amazon.com/Constructing-Grounded-Introducing-Qualitative-Methods/dp/0857029142/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TL9J10BWJS41&keywords=kathy+charmaz&qid=1653611241&sprefix=kathy+charmaz%2Caps%2C312&sr=8-1

And if you really want a mind-blower, try Developmental Evaluation (again by Patton), a treatment on how to evaluate unfolding phenomena, processes, projects, etc.: https://www.amazon.com/Developmental-Evaluation-Applying-Complexity-Innovation/dp/1606238728/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RT5HN4EF51HI&keywords=michael+quinn+patton&qid=1653611321&s=books&sprefix=michael+quinn+patton%2Cstripbooks%2C111&sr=1-1

And the best book I've ever read on getting through the dissertation (and demystifying the thing) is How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation by David Sternberg: https://www.amazon.com/How-Complete-Survive-Doctoral-Dissertation-ebook/dp/B00O0F3N46/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1V2P9EMWO73OW&keywords=how+to+complete+and+survive+a+doctoral+dissertation&qid=1653611429&sprefix=how+to+complete+and+survi%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-1

Hmmm. Makes me long for being a student again. Almost.

 

I bought that book before starting my dissertation. I also bought Completing Your Qualitative Dissertation: A Road Map From Beginning to End by Bloomberg & Volpe and Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches by Creswell and Poth.

 

Creswell is a terrific writer on research methods. My favorite: Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches.

 

On a different note, I was unable to send you a "conversation." Is that by design? I wanted to let you know something in private.