Computer Science Degree - Worth it?

[RZetlin]

I'm thinking about getting a degree in computer science.

I already have a background in programming and computers, though the math in computer science might pose a challenge for me.

For those who are taking Computer Science, how are the courses? Is the math difficult to learn? Do you think your degree will help you with your career? Are you enjoying the course?

My second option is a degree in business or information technology which leans towards more business objectives.

[_E_]

Hell yes, I am enjoying the course. I finished C++ on my first year and now I am moving to my second. As for math, You will take Calculus I and II on your first year, linear algebra and statistics would follow on your second year, ...erm, dunno whats after that :p I am not very good with Maths, but I do manage through it somehow :p

Yours,
-Elly

[cloudvii]

My bst friend is studying CS , and u learn C++ in the first year , in the second u learn Assemply , u study physics and maths as regular , (every year has a course , Year1 with math1 , year2 with math2 ,etc.)
i believe that maths isn't difficult as much it depends on the professor himself .
my opinion , choose the thing u love (so that u don't feel sorry fro it after that) .
choose the best for ya , and know that u'll succeed in it even it was boring for other ppl :)

[RZetlin]

What is the hardest course you had to take?

[cloudvii]

till now , he didn't find any thing as difficult as "assemply language" (he is in the second year , so there are still 2 other years .

[ShadowDancer]

I'm majoring in CS and supposedly with all of these math courses, I'm minoring in Mathematics.

The math classes that I need are Calculus I, Calculus II, Discrete Math Structures, Numerical Analysis I and Linear Algebra.

So far I've completed Calculus I. :(

[FLaRe85]

I'm majoring in CS and supposedly with all of these math courses, I'm minoring in Mathematics.

The math classes that I need are Calculus I, Calculus II, Discrete Math Structures, Numerical Analysis I and Linear Algebra.

So far I've completed Calculus I. :(
oO That's EXACTLY how it is at my university. You end up with an automatic minor in mathematics and are encouraged to take on a double-minor so that you can identify with something outside the field of computers.

Anyway, I was majoring in CS, but as of June, I will have officially transferred to another school and will be pursuing a career in computer networking. Systems administrator sound much more appealing than programmer to me for some reason. I'd rather keep coding in my list of hobbies. I left a much more detailed explination for my switch in my blog, though. :p

[l3illyl3ob]

a carreer in coding is something i thought about doing for a while, but now that i've thought it over more, it's not something i really desire. The hundreds of hours you rack up each month just coding doesn't seem that appealing at all. I'd rather be doing things hardware-wise, and it requires less thinking :p.

[RZetlin]

a carreer in coding is something i thought about doing for a while, but now that i've thought it over more, it's not something i really desire. The hundreds of hours you rack up each month just coding doesn't seem that appealing at all. I'd rather be doing things hardware-wise, and it requires less thinking :p.

The computer hardware in terms of support is easier than programming.

But learning hardware usually leads to help desk support.

[ShadowDancer]

What's the difference between a Bachelor of Science degree compared to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science?

Here's my cirriculum for you to look at if you're interested RZetlin. This is for a Bachelor of Science degree in CS. I'm in a private university that's Catholic so the theology classes won't apply to you if you're going to a public university or non-religious oriented university.

First Semester

Freshman Comp I (English)
US History Part I
Calculus I
Intro to Computer Science
Introduction to Psychology
----------

Total of 16 hours

Second Semester

Freshman Comp II
US History
Calculus II
Adv. Structured Prog
Science: Biology/Physical Science
------------

Total of 17 hours

Third Semester

American Govt I (Federal)
Fundamentals of Speech
Introduction to Philosophy
Another English class like British Literature or something along those lines
Foreign Language
Science: Biology/Physical Science
------------

Total of 18 horus

Fourth Semester

American Govt II (State)
Fine Arts
Science: Biology/Physical Science
And yet another English class
Foreign Language
-------------

Total of 16 hours



Fifth Semester (this is when the real CS classes start)

Object-Oriented Programming
Algorithms
Operating Systems
Theological Foundations (the religious part of going to a private Catholic school)
Math: Discrete Math Structures
Ethics
----------------
Total of 18 hours

Sixth Semster

Introduction to Fine Arts
Object Oriented Programming II
Software Engineering
Math: Numerical Analysis I
Theology 33xx
--------------

Total of 15 hours

Seventh Semester

Survey of Programming Languages
Computer Science Elective
Computer Systems Architecture
Free Electives
---------

Total of 15 hours

Eight and final semester

Senior Project
Data Communications
Files and Data Base
Math: Linear Algebra
Philosophy Advanced
-----

Total of 15 hours

[Squigi63]

I'm in high school and I'm taking A.P Computer Science and its great but this year they switch from C++ to Java. Do you think was a good idea because everyone is still using C++.

[RZetlin]

What's the difference between a Bachelor of Science degree compared to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science?

Here's my cirriculum for you to look at if you're interested RZetlin. This is for a Bachelor of Science degree in CS. I'm in a private university that's Catholic so the theology classes won't apply to you if you're going to a public university or non-religious oriented university.


Why do you have to take courses in US history and Biology.

They don't relate to computers?

[FLaRe85]

Why do you have to take courses in US history and Biology.

They don't relate to computers?
That's part of the reason I'm switching schools. My university has strange requirements like that as well. I would have to take Chemistry and/or Biology as well as an additional 2 years of foreign language on top of what I took in high school. They require 96 credit hours for a degree in CS so they fill it up with all these bogus requirements.

[ShadowDancer]

Why do you have to take courses in US history and Biology.

They don't relate to computers?You have to do this with most universites. They try and build you up with core courses (which these are) so you would be more well rounded, or that's what they want you to believe.

2 years of basics (History, Fine Arts, Government, Math, English, etc) and 2 years of what you're majoring in. This is how 4 year universities work.

Some people may not agree with me but I don't recommend going to a junior college (which is a two year school) and major in something or a technical school like ITT Tech.

You get an associates in a two year school which is less appealing than a Masters if you would go in the four year university way.

Also the price is a lot more in university of course. My tuition a year in the university is around $18,000 a year. Mutiply that by four years and that's a lot of money.

If money is a problem, I recommend going the 2 year junior college way and tell them you're trying to transfer to a university. They have a paper with all the classes that you need to take that the university you're transfering to accepts. Going this route saves a lot of money. I went this route and I'm going to transfer this upcoming fall. I got a scholarship for the university like this.

Then there's the joining the military route as well if you're in need for money.

[RZetlin]

You have to do this with most universites. They try and build you up with core courses (which these are) so you would be more well rounded, or that's what they want you to believe.

2 years of basics (History, Fine Arts, Government, Math, English, etc) and 2 years of what you're majoring in. This is how 4 year universities work.

Some people may not agree with me but I don't recommend going to a junior college (which is a two year school) and major in something or a technical school like ITT Tech.

You get an associates in a two year school which is less appealing than a Masters if you would go in the four year university way.

Also the price is a lot more in university of course. My tuition a year in the university is around $18,000 a year. Mutiply that by four years and that's a lot of money.

If money is a problem, I recommend going the 2 year junior college way and tell them you're trying to transfer to a university. They have a paper with all the classes that you need to take that the university you're transfering to accepts. Going this route saves a lot of money. I went this route and I'm going to transfer this upcoming fall. I got a scholarship for the university like this.

Then there's the joining the military route as well if you're in need for money.

The Computer Science course layout I'm going for doesn't have biology, but they have physics, but they teach electronics in that class. But there are two general courses that has to be taken.

As for college, I already went through that system. When I try out for a programming job, the common response is, "no computer science degree = no job".

That's why I need something a little higher up in terms of education. College doesn't cut it in the computer field anymore.

[Syed Fawad]

Well, I am studying for my BS in Computer Science.

It has for first semester:

Satistics (probability and Permutation/combination)
Calculus I
Gen. Physics.
Computer Science with C language.
English I along with other language subjects.


We have OOP for our second semester, Assembly for third, Java for fourth and I forgot rest.

AFA enjoying is concerned, yes I am having damn fun with it ;)

[kairi00]

The university I graduated from uses the trimester system (3 semesters in a year), so the pace is very quick, but a nice side effect to this is that we get a lot of opportunities to learn so much more than just programming/programming languages.

The first 5 semesters it's all your basic programming courses (intro to OOP, data structures and algorithm, etc) + all your basic math (linear algebra, calculus, statistics). Then the next 4 semesters after that you take introduction courses to various topics in computing science (artificial intelligence, software engineering, computer graphics, information systems/databases, compiler design, etc). Then the remaining time you can choose two topics you really like and explore it deeper (e.g. data mining, computer vision, scientific visualization, etc).

By the time you reach the next half, you're expected to know (and learn if you don't) whatever language they require you to use in the 'advanced' courses. Some courses even give you the flexibility to use whatever language/platform you're most comfortable with.

My advice: if you enjoy tinkering around with computers and enjoy problem solving with computers, go for the degree. If you're only in it for the money, then don't. The money isn't all that great anymore, the hype has certainly died down (which IMO is gooood).

[cloudvii]

Quote by Rzeltien
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Why do you have to take courses in US history and Biology.

They don't relate to computers?
*********************************
at my university (i'm studying civil engineering) , we have some courses like this about history / language / philosophy :huh: and even some gymnastics courses :cry:<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[RPGWizard]

Well, if you go get a degree, you'll also need to get real world experience, and you'll need certification(s) (most likely) in the language you are coding in. If you're coding in an older language, then real world experience will be your greatest supporter, probably/preferably with either a company (of course), or a respected open source project.

I'm currently at a CS University, and what I can tell you is that Calculus I is easy enough, but once you hit Calculus II, it starts getting a bit tricky. Most CS courses aren't too difficult, so long as you can grasp the basics early on. My suggestion is that if you love to program, then go for it, but if you only like coding once in a while, then keep it a hobby and go for networking/computer repair/internet provider/something else/etc.

[kairi00]

Well, if you go get a degree, you'll also need to get real world experience, and you'll need certification(s) (most likely) in the language you are coding in.

Be careful about certifications. They're not your ticket to getting employment. In some cases, they might even hurt you! I know a number of companies that do not put much value on certifications anymore. In fact, some companies go as far as throwing out your resume as soon as they see that you are full of certifications without a CS degree.

I don't blame them, however. I've encountered a large number of the so-called "certified professionals" that do not know jack squat on what they're doing. One major flaw in these certification tests (as is the case with most tests/exams, IMO) is that they only test your ability to study, *NOT* your familiarity with the product.

Not to say that you should avoid them like the plague, however. Besides, you can always choose not to put these certifications on your resume, based on which company you are applying to.

[Kurbster]

How can a master's degree with some certifications thrown on top of it pose as some sort of threat? I can understand how someone can slip by the certification by only memorizing the info, but at least you took the effort to even consider for certification.

I wouldn't have alot of free money for certification anyways. If I go to Worchester Polytechnic...it's easily a 40,000 a year school. If you have a good enough agree from an accredited school, you might not need extra certification

[kairi00]

You probably misread my text: I said the threat comes when you have certifications without a CS degree. :p

[aerith099]

My CS program is like all the others stated above. I hate programming (Huh, I'm failing my first java course, go figure), I'm really more interested in the theoretical concepts and applications of CS.

Word of advice though: Buisiness will make you a lot more money (and probably more freedom, less stress, more contacts, etc) than CS ever will. I'm majoring in CS and minoring in Business. Not to mention that a lot of the programming and networking jobs are filling up with technical school graduates. AND, in the CS field, you have to keep up with the new tech, otherwise you'll be replaced after five years with a new graduate who will work for less money.

Your best bet is probably Management Information Systems, or a computer/business major.

[RPGWizard]

Be careful about certifications. They're not your ticket to getting employment. In some cases, they might even hurt you! I know a number of companies that do not put much value on certifications anymore. In fact, some companies go as far as throwing out your resume as soon as they see that you are full of certifications without a CS degree.

I don't blame them, however. I've encountered a large number of the so-called "certified professionals" that do not know jack squat on what they're doing. One major flaw in these certification tests (as is the case with most tests/exams, IMO) is that they only test your ability to study, *NOT* your familiarity with the product.

Not to say that you should avoid them like the plague, however. Besides, you can always choose not to put these certifications on your resume, based on which company you are applying to.

That's why I said you ALSO need the certifications. ;) Without a real degree, certifications are BS.....

And I agree with aerith099.....Major in CS, but minor or double minor in business.

[kairi00]

aerith099 and RPGWizard brought up a really good point. If you're in CS with the intent of going into the industry, definitely do a double major/joint major/major-minor in business as well.

I think some universities now provide two different kinds of master's degree in CS. One business-oriented degree, the other one a research-oriented degree.

[aerith099]

It wouldn't hurt to take some marketing classes either...that way you know how to sell yourself in interviews/business meetings.

[Quatro]

well myu suggestion is to go for the course that you would REALLY LIKE doing.. since it will be your work when you graduate. Computer Science is a good course, and since your know a lot of it, it would be fine to take... math is always hard but a little perseverance in studying will help you out... coding is what is more with comp sci...

whatever you chose, I bid you god luck ;)