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Master’s Degree in Computer Science

evanp.me

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Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#41

Post by protomyth »

bradlys wrote: post #11

Where would a masters degree in CS help for someone with 20+ years of software experience? Genuinely - I have no clue. I don’t have a masters. I’ll likely never need one. If there was a specific field that required intense learning and was cutting edge (computer vision or something) then I’d understand a masters (or especially a PhD) but for general work…? Don’t get it. You’d certainly be better off financially from…

If you decide to go part time / start teaching at the local community college, then the accreditation agencies are starting to require a Masters to teach undergraduate courses. Experience doesn't seem to matter.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#42

Post by iamsrp »

nitrogen wrote: post #24
iamsrp wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe an English degree would be a good complimentary one? "To whom..." Sorry. Couldn't resist...

Maybe an English degree would be a good complimentary one? Muphry's Law strikes again: compl-e-mentary vs. compl-i-mentary.

Haha, very fair! Hoisted by my own leotard...

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#43

Post by [deleted] »

stblack wrote: post #23

OP may already possess a master's degree, school-of-life alumnus. But I "get" it. I've thought of doing this too. I would add one criteria: I get to do the whole master's degree using Rust. I'm sure this would narrow the field of schools. I want a master's from a school that recognizes that it's effectively over for C++ and Java. At least it's completely over in my own mind. There's no way in hell I'm doing a master'…

[deleted]

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#44

Post by allanbreyes »

sthatipamala wrote: post #5
driscoll42 wrote: post #2

I'm personally in the Georgia Tech Online Master's in Computer Science (OMSCS) program right now and can't say enough good things about it. The coursework is rigorous, deep, and varied, you really do learn quite a bit through the program and more than just random learning on your own, you get a degree out of it. Plus you get the opportunity to do some research and publish papers.

I'm also a proud OMSCS alum! But "the opportunity to do some research and publish papers" is certainly not the default. Can you describe how you were able to do that?

Check out https://lucylabs.gatech.edu! David Joyner started it to help foster this opportunity for students and alumni, alike.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#45

Post by travisjungroth »

arvinsim wrote: post #14
bradlys wrote: post #11

Where would a masters degree in CS help for someone with 20+ years of software experience? Genuinely - I have no clue. I don’t have a masters. I’ll likely never need one. If there was a specific field that required intense learning and was cutting edge (computer vision or something) then I’d understand a masters (or especially a PhD) but for general work…? Don’t get it. You’d certainly be better off financially from…

If I had to get a masters, I would take one unrelated to software development. Marrying software development knowledge with another non-tech domain expertise would make one valuable.

The problem is most Masters programs don’t give you much expertise. Ever tried depending on someone’s skill in a topic they have a Masters in? Real crapshoot.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#46

Post by sthatipamala »

wirthjason wrote: post #27
driscoll42 wrote: post #2

I'm personally in the Georgia Tech Online Master's in Computer Science (OMSCS) program right now and can't say enough good things about it. The coursework is rigorous, deep, and varied, you really do learn quite a bit through the program and more than just random learning on your own, you get a degree out of it. Plus you get the opportunity to do some research and publish papers.

I have a more mixed experience with the OMSCS. Overall it's a good program, and if the choice is between Udemy or OMSCS then it wins hands down. For me the central issue is online vs. in-person. Education is an interactive experience, the value of a good professor and classmates is helping to identify issues when you are stuck and nudge you just enough for you to connect the dots. As an undergraduate I liked attendin…

If lack of peer interaction was your main hangup, I think it has been addressed. The OMSCS Slack workspace has become a kind of 24/7 office hours, study group environment.

But there is still little to no interaction with the professors.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#48

Post by knicholes »

wirthjason wrote: post #27
driscoll42 wrote: post #2

I'm personally in the Georgia Tech Online Master's in Computer Science (OMSCS) program right now and can't say enough good things about it. The coursework is rigorous, deep, and varied, you really do learn quite a bit through the program and more than just random learning on your own, you get a degree out of it. Plus you get the opportunity to do some research and publish papers.

I have a more mixed experience with the OMSCS. Overall it's a good program, and if the choice is between Udemy or OMSCS then it wins hands down. For me the central issue is online vs. in-person. Education is an interactive experience, the value of a good professor and classmates is helping to identify issues when you are stuck and nudge you just enough for you to connect the dots. As an undergraduate I liked attendin…

I was in the second or third cohorts, and I dropped out during the first course because the assignment was to write their registration system for them for free. They had specific requirements for Java, MySQL, etc. If I'm going to work, I'm sure as hell not going to be paying to do it.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#49

Post by davidrupp »

bradlys wrote: post #11

Where would a masters degree in CS help for someone with 20+ years of software experience? Genuinely - I have no clue. I don’t have a masters. I’ll likely never need one. If there was a specific field that required intense learning and was cutting edge (computer vision or something) then I’d understand a masters (or especially a PhD) but for general work…? Don’t get it. You’d certainly be better off financially from…

I did my MS in CS roughly twenty years after my BS. I can’t prove causality, but my pay went up about 25% with my first job after graduating, and it’s only gone up since. I found that the coursework re-kindled an abiding interest in the “science” in “computer science”, which may not always have direct application in my day job (Sr. SDE at Amazon; opinions my own, etc.), but is gratifying nonetheless.

Re: Master’s Degree in Computer Science

#50

Post by skwirl »

As someone who has a MS in CS (I did a combined BS/MS program) and who interviews lots of people, I don't think a MS in CS has much value as a credential (if any). If you enjoy taking classes and get a lot out of them, that's primarily where the value will be. It definitely helps a ton to have a undergraduate degree. CS is great, but if you have been working in the industry for a while, most people do not really care what your undergraduate degree was in, either.

Is it a cure for imposter syndrome for those who think it's due to not having a CS degree? I don't know. It's a very expensive cure (in time and money) if so.

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