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Poll: Do you have a formal CS or a general computing degree?

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Poll: Do you have a formal CS or a general computing degree?

#1
One recurrent theme, especially when talking about interviews, is the need to display some CS skill set, such as algorithm design.

My degree focussed on programming, simple database design, simple network stuff. It was designed to produce grads for business applications.

I'm curious how many have the specialist knowledge that comes from a CS degree as opposed to some other computing degree.

For the purposes of keeping it simple, let's define CS as algorithms, designing a compiler, designing an OS, the hardcore stuff. We define general computing as designed for business use: basic programming in ,say for example, java and C++ or any other common language, some database knowledge, some networking knowledge. We define other degree as, say, engineering or physics that involves some programming knowledge. The rest are self-explanatory.

Re: Poll: Do you have a formal CS or a general computing degree?

#3
I'll include the interesting details since there's more to this subject than simply being present on HN and having a CompSci degree.

Self-taught and proud.

I can regale you of the set theoretic basis of SQL JOINs, or of n-base arithmetic all you like.

1 decade of MIT OCW and as well as various books goes a long way.

Been programming since I was about 11 years old. 8 if you count AT&T GW-BASIC.

22 years old and working as a dev for the past 4-5 years. Moving to San Francisco for work in 2 days.

My way of becoming a dev is not the easiest or the best. I will do my damndest to get any potential children of mine into a good school. (It wasn't an option for me.)

Re: Poll: Do you have a formal CS or a general computing degree?

#6
post #4

Computer Engineering

That's an interesting one -- sitting very neatly between EE and SE (or CS, if you will). What are your thoughts on it, now having gotten the degree? Happy with it? Would do it over again if given the chance?

I would never under any circumstance go back to college. However young folks definitely should.

Computer Engineering was new 25 years ago, and exactly what I wanted. Circuits, thermo, statistics, CS languages, OS, microprocessors. All useful, got me my 1st job and many afterward.

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