Central Connecticut State University — Attraction in New Britain

The Data Science program is a possible scam. I'd like to share my recent experience with the Master of Data Science program at Central Connecticut State University. Without going into too much detail, the first few courses in the program started off well. They were hands on and taught me a lot, including programming languages/procedures with real world applications of Data Science. However the next two courses are where the program took a turn and where I started to see serious problems. The main problem is up to 50% of coursework and assignments in the latter courses started to lack lectures/videos and/or required readings that you'd normally expect from a graduate level education. Instead, we were essentially directed to web/google search and self teach ourselves both the concepts and technical programming procedures as well. For instance, in a required Multivariate Analytics course DATA 514, the course lecture, lesson, required readings etc did not actually teach how to test for Multivariate Normality of a dataset with a large number of variables, and instead the professor directed us to find the answers and teach ourselves the concepts and procedures online. Then, upon asking for clarification and the appropriate procedures, the professor was mostly combative and didn't provide clarification nor the procedures. I was left learning very little. Occasional web searches are fine and inevitable, but when web searches drive half of the assignments and grade on key concepts, and especially on technical data science and statistical procedures in R-Studio we haven't been exposed to, with minimal to no guidance, then I take issue.

Upon complaining to the University that this not up to the level of graduate coursework expected from an accredited degree granting university, costing thousands of dollars each, the University essentially defended the aforementioned practices and gave no indications that they would make any changes.

Anyway, just wanted to share. Again, I would recommend avoiding this Data Science program at Central Connecticut State, and recommend looking elsewhere. There appear to be plenty of Data Science degrees offered elsewhere, and I doubt many of them have a mode of instruction of asking you to web search R-Studio/Python procedures for up to half the coursework...

CCSU is a great school if you are in the engineering, biology/chemistry, or computer science disciplines. My professors are a mix of the good and the bad. My department is great, but some of my general education and cross-over courses have had terrible professors. The opportunity to learn is there if you are willing to put in the effort - most of the professors provide us with valuable resources and tools. The biggest problem I ever had with teachers was with (some of) the tenured professors who do as they please without regard for what students need to learn. They promote the worst from within to positions of leadership, but I guess that is the American way. As far as equipment in labs, we have stuff that is with, or ahead of the curve. While labs are well equipped for engineering, the bio-chem labs are too small, and there are not enough of them. Completing in 5 years is a fight. I have had to spend days upon days writing and re-writing my degree track plan to get out of Central a semester later than I had hoped (10). CCSU seems to lack staffing levels (or organizational ability) to keep the ball rolling and have enough courses open at the right times to get students to fulfill their degree requirements. Ultimately, I believe I will be well trained in my discipline – our program is extremely well fleshed out. It was frustrating I had to put so much work into jumping through hoops - I could have put that effort into learning my...

I am a Full Time Student at Central Connecticut State University and overall by giving my honest review I dislike this college because it is not an welcoming environment I know people experience different things but people don’t simply care about you or it’s hard to meet to new people and make new perspectives of other people if they are just on there phone or anytime when walking pass someone they don’t give you a smile back. This college hurts me mentally when it comes to the community it makes me realize why I am here? I don’t belong here and for people who gave this a good rating I do not know what to say accept be friendly because you are friendly and be friendly to people that are approachable because the people that are more approachable instead of all out there need more attention as we don’t get it.

I want to Thank you for reading this rating and hopefully one day you will see this whoever you...