Coursework Masters?

[jino]

What do you guys think about a coursework masters? Are they worth anything? Are they easier to get into than research masters?

[belowthree]

I'd have to go with "mostly worthless."

[zygote]

I did one this year.

I found that the quality of instruction was generally poor.

The opportunities for doing individual projects with profs were very good.

It was also useful as a year to teach myself the things I'll need to know in PhD school.

I was admitted for a PhD by the same institution. This is probably the only really useful aspect of a coursework master's. If you do it at a place you want to get a PhD, you'll have advocates on the admission committee who've seen you work (conversely, if you screw it up, you're definitely not getting in.)