Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#11

Post by jackowayed » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 3:49 PM UTC

jsonscripter wrote: post #6

jeremymcanally wrote: post #2

I'm working full-time, so I've had to look into something like this, too. Troy University has a great one online that I'm taking: http://www.troy.edu/ecampus/ The most attractive part to me is that it's not "Troy University -- ONLINE CAMPUS ZOMG" on your degree; it's just a straight degree from the university that you earn from an online campus. A lot of other ones I looked at were very obnoxious about it being from…

It takes thousands of hours to get a computer science degree and people are worried about the wording of the piece of paper they get at the end. I find that chilling. It also kind of shows you how useless that piece of paper really is. Just to be clear, I believe a degree is extremely valuable but only because of the knowledge and skills you gain from the process. The end result isn't nearly as important.

It's not nearly as important to you as a programmer, but it's plenty important to you as a job-seeker.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#12

Post by learninglisp » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 3:49 PM UTC

JeremyChase wrote: post #8

If you have extensive experience programing why not go for an MS in CS? The number of required courses is only 10 or 11, and would give you the CS pedigree you desire with the benefit of being an advanced degree. What area are you in? Are there any schools that have part-time programs?

That's exactly what I'm thinking.

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.cs.illinois.edu/online/programs.php

I don't know if my work experience will make up for having no compsci bachelors courses on my transcript.

The prices are crazy steep, though! Wah! It's online, though.... A friend of mine says that this program has a really good name, though... not that the entrepreneurs here would care about that. ;)

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#13

Post by learninglisp » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 3:51 PM UTC

learninglisp wrote: post #12

JeremyChase wrote: post #8

If you have extensive experience programing why not go for an MS in CS? The number of required courses is only 10 or 11, and would give you the CS pedigree you desire with the benefit of being an advanced degree. What area are you in? Are there any schools that have part-time programs?

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I'm looking at this one: http://www.cs.illinois.edu/online/programs.php I don't know if my work experience will make up for having no compsci bachelors courses on my transcript. The prices are crazy steep, though! Wah! It's online, though.... A friend of mine says that this program has a really good name, though... not that the entrepreneurs here would care about that. ;)

Oh... and that's a Software Engineering certificate that can turn into a Master's if you decide to later.

(Baby steps to the class... baby steps to the bank... baby steps to the bank...)

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#14

Post by qeorge » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 3:54 PM UTC

djafaricom wrote: post #5

A BS from a well-respected CS program indicates a certain level of knowledge and understanding that helps potential employers sift through resumes more easily. It's not perfect, but it is to be expected. As long as we are faced with going through HR departments, that slip of paper has big value. I would try to go to a legitimately quality school even if it is not a top-tier one like Stanford or MIT. A decent school w…

Great advice. I'd like to add that some (most?) distance ed programs will allow you to take exams and finals locally. They can coordinate with a local university or testing center to ID you and proctor the exam on their behalf. So you've probably got a lot more options than you might think.

I attended NCSU in person, but they have a great distance ed program: http://distance.ncsu.edu. Worth checking out.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#15

Post by walesmd » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 3:57 PM UTC

learninglisp wrote: post #13

learninglisp wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I'm looking at this one: http://www.cs.illinois.edu/online/programs.php I don't know if my work experience will make up for having no compsci bachelors courses on my transcript. The prices are crazy steep, though! Wah! It's online, though.... A friend of mine says that this program has a really good name, though... not that the entrepreneurs here would care about that. ;)

Oh... and that's a Software Engineering certificate that can turn into a Master's if you decide to later. (Baby steps to the class... baby steps to the bank... baby steps to the bank...)

No way - don't go that route. Insanely expensive - their prices are on par with the UoP ripoff and you aren't even getting a degree at that rate. Just stepping stones to the degree.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#16

Post by brown9-2 » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 4:02 PM UTC

JeremyChase wrote: post #8

If you have extensive experience programing why not go for an MS in CS? The number of required courses is only 10 or 11, and would give you the CS pedigree you desire with the benefit of being an advanced degree. What area are you in? Are there any schools that have part-time programs?

I agree - I don't understand the purpose in getting a second bachelors. Sounds like you absolutely have the background experience necessary to start a Masters.

A BS in Comp Sci would basically put you on par - from the perspective of those only looking at what degrees you have - on the same level as a new college grad. And you're close to a decade beyond that.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#17

Post by edw519 » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 4:12 PM UTC

The word that jumps off the page is "messing". I don't know what this means.

Have you written mission critical apps that people can depend upon? Have you delivered "real world" value? Are you a doer or a poser?

Only you can answer these questions. If the answer is yes, then you probably already have the equivalent of a BS in Comp Sci. If the answer is no, it sounds like you are in a great position to turn that no into a yes.

Either way IMHO, you do not need any more formal education. You already have a BA degree and 10 years experience. In our field, on the job experience almost always trumps education.

Unless you really want to go to school for the sake of going, I'd suggest finding ways on continuing you computer science education in the same trenches that many of us have.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#18

Post by stonemetal » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 4:17 PM UTC

Have you looked at regular colleges that have online programs? Purdue, Harvard, University of California all non joke schools that offer degrees online. Have you looked at alternative programs? The University of Texas offers a masters degree that is one weekend a month for 2 years. I want to say they call it a Masters of Engineering in Software Engineering but I am not sure. There are others just look for options.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#19

Post by Retric » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 4:29 PM UTC

learninglisp wrote: post #12

JeremyChase wrote: post #8

If you have extensive experience programing why not go for an MS in CS? The number of required courses is only 10 or 11, and would give you the CS pedigree you desire with the benefit of being an advanced degree. What area are you in? Are there any schools that have part-time programs?

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I'm looking at this one: http://www.cs.illinois.edu/online/programs.php I don't know if my work experience will make up for having no compsci bachelors courses on my transcript. The prices are crazy steep, though! Wah! It's online, though.... A friend of mine says that this program has a really good name, though... not that the entrepreneurs here would care about that. ;)

James Madison has a well respeced computer securty, InfoSec, online masters program. http://www.infosec.jmu.edu/ (It's got the NSA's seal of aproval.)

IMO, look for a respeced program that happens to be online vs. an online school that happens to have your masters program.

PS: While James Madison has a fairly large campus they only offer this program online.

Re: Ask Hacker News: Online BS in Comp Sci?

#20

Post by tptacek » Tue, Jun 09, 2009, 4:37 PM UTC

I've worked as a network admin (managing a default-free BGP peering relationship among other things), a researcher producing academic security work that has an actual cite record, a full-time software developer inside and outside computer security, a product manager, and for the past several years as a consultant to companies doing all of those things.

I don't have a degree at all, and --- except for very brief intervals of conversations with Wall Street companies --- the subject has never come up.

If you're motivated enough to establish a track record for yourself in industry, either with roles with increasing responsibility, or with key contributions to open source code, I wouldn't waste time with the degree.