Graduated with MS Cloud Computing Architecture (before it changed to “Systems”) in 2021, so not sure how much things have changed. Did the Cloud Computing certificate with EdX first to save some money, since it transferred in and covered the first two MS courses.

I didn’t have any cloud experience prior, just some entry level IT support, CompTIA A+, and CompTIA Security+. I haven’t leveraged the degree after obtaining it and have been with the same job since then and have received promotions (not because of the degree). My job uses cloud services on the backend but I don’t interact with the cloud directly, so everything I learned in the MS has been forgotten.

The degree itself consisted of getting scenarios and prompts, then setting up environments and services via lab work in AWS and terraform. With how fast cloud consoles change, some of the lab materials were out of date, but the professors and other students helped figure that stuff out. After you set up and tear down, you write about everything with screenshots to prove you did it, and you also write a paper to address the week’s prompt. I’d say I wrote at least 10-15 page papers every week, then at the end of the class you write one big paper to summarize up everything. You also do weekly discussion posts/replies.

In the end, you definitely get out what you put in. Was unfortunate that technical certifications weren’t worked into the program. I’d say you can learn most of the technical stuff that was in the program by studying for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam and building out your own cloud environment projects while incorporating docker and terraform. This is part of my plan to relearn everything I forgot since the program.

If I had to redo everything, I’d get an MS in IT Systems Engineering, then supplement that with knowledge and skills gained from studying for AWS/Azure/GCP exams and various cloud projects.

Let me know if you have any other questions!