I'll throw in my .02 as I'm in the boat that you're in now. I left
college a long time ago (about 14 years to be exact), for a variety
of reasons, but the primary was I didn't really know what I wanted to
get my degree in.
2 years ago I made the conscious decision that it was time to finish
my degree once and for all and I got the opportunity to work at the
UofA. Of course one of the nice about working at the U is that you
get a nice tuition break, and your employer (most of the departments)
can be flexible with your schedule so you can actually go to class.
What I do find to be inflexible is some of the teachers, they don't
care that you work full-time and sometimes may have to travel (not
all teachers just some) and what they really don't realize is that
someone in my position is going to be a better student, because I
want to be there. Anyways, kindof got of the track there.
Here are some of the things that I like about 4 year programs (and
actually attending a real class):
- I learn other stuff that I might not have gotten an opportunity to
learn (like Japanese literature)
- This helps me approach problems from different points of view
- I tend to get more out of my CS classes now that I have work
experience to back that up
- I get to interact with people from different backgrounds on a
regular basis
Bottom line, I do think that it is good to get a degree (for many of
the reasons listed in other responses), but you should do it because
you want to do it, not because you "should get a degree". By the way
I've met many people who got into programming who were never in CS
and are some of the best programmers I've ever worked with. And I've
met people with CS degrees who I wouldn't let anywhere near a project
I'm working on.
Just my .02
-warner
On Aug 23, 2007, at 6:32 PM, Craig Barber wrote:
Hey All,
I'm going on the 3rd year of my full-time career in software
development now. Probably not unlike many others out there I was
enticed away from completing my undergraduate degree for full-time
work at a software development startup, and now Im looking into
finishing up my degree. Unfortunately I've discovered that the
UofA's CS program isn't really practical for professionals such as
myself, as most of their CS courses are only offered during core
business hours. I was wondering if any of you out there have
experience and/or opinions on the quality of some of the programs
out there tailored for professionals. For example, I've been
researching the University of Phoenix. They have an online program
which offers a BS tailored for software engineering: http://
www.phoenix.edu/online_and_campus_programs/degree_programs/
degree_programs_description.aspx?progversion=5&locationid=-1
For you employers and/or educators out there: Which programs do
you consider reputable and of good quality? Which programs would
you recommend staying away from? How do you measure up a potential
employee who has a degree from a program like this compared to a
traditional university? Any feedback is welcome.
-Craig Barber
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Warner Onstine - Programmer/Author
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