Hellobee Boards

In my experience, CS degrees are more about coding and developing programs than algebra or statistics. It's learning the language(s) and then applying the theory to solve a problem. I don't know if it matters the length of the schooling (although a masters may be difficult without having done CS as undergrad), as long as he has exposure to some marketable skills. Maybe check out job listings for an idea of the skills they are looking for, and focus on whatever school provides coursework along those lines. Some experience/an internship will be key, so I would focus on the type of companies each school works with for those opportunities and look at where they've had previous students intern. A lot of CS study can be self-directed, but you do need the minimal requirements to apply for jobs.

Can he shadow some computer scientists to see what they do all day?........one of my friends does proposal work for Lockheed Martin now!

I work in a technical field that employs a lot of CS majors and computer engineers. Our world is moving towards the masters, hands down.

I was an electrical engineering major, pretty much the same thing but computer engineering, but EE had to take 2 different classes, and almost a computer science minor. There are a lot of possibilities with "computer science" degrees depending on your concentration all of which don't really require algebra/statistics/"math" per se, except to pass course work. If he want to be a programmer, then you just have to have to be good with logic imo. Once you learn to concept of coding, learning different languages is just syntax. Or he could get into networking and IT, or database administration, or web design/programming. I do think that most tech companies these days are looking for a professional hire want at least a 4 year Bachelors.

Where are you located, would you be interested in moving and what does your husband have his BA in?

If he wants to be a programmer there are many options to get the experience you need without investing 2-4 years plus thousands in a formal diploma degree.

There are many non-accredited schools which do programming boot camps which will teach you job relevant skills in 2-3 months. The skills which I see are in high demand are ruby, python, SQL, objective C, php. There are many types of programming jobs. Most people do not know everything. Different skills are higher in demand than others.

Generally, I would say "web technology" jobs which you can learn from these boot camps are easier to get, require less training (aka many employers don't care about your degree and you need less time to get to proficiency than Java/C++) but these jobs may have a ceiling in earning potential (though depending on locale could still be $100k+)

Feel free to wall me with more questions. Also keep in mind that I have only 1 POV wrt to tech jobs. I live in a software start up centric part of the country. Defense contractors, govt, etc all require tech professionals and their requirements are going to look very different.

It really depends on what kind of employer you're looking to work for! In Silicon Valley, someone's college background almost never comes up when hiring a software engineer (in my experience). It's all about skills and experience, and if the person has good references. The same is true for me when I'm hiring freelancers to work on my own projects.

But if you're looking for a job at a big stable org, then maybe they'd be looking for a degree! The one thing I'd say is that if you're looking to get into website or app development, a lot of CS programs that I know about (and have hired from in the past) don't always emphasize it. Usually there's a significant delta between traditional CS (which focuses on algorithms and efficiency) and practical software dev (which is more like a trade profession, where nothing beats experience).

Good luck to your husband!!

@lizzywiz: Sandia National Labs is in New Mexico. In my line of work (aerospace/defense), companies like that are the ones I think of. You need to be well educated and you need a clearance....so it's local folks only. Good job security, etc.

Electrical Engineering is in huge demand, too, like @Adira: said. We have the hardest time finding people to design cable boxes with electrical wiring and pick connectors and that sort of stuff. If that interests him. Pick a big technical company and do some shadowing....talk to program managers, talk to people in IT and engineering, also data management....

Someone here with a BS in Computer Engineering and an MS in Software Engineering.

I wanted to second a few things.

1. Job shadowing - definitely to know what he's getting himself into.

2. Going for the Masters since he has a BA - a few of my co-workers did undergrads in various things and did their masters in Software and they were fine.

3. Sunny is right there is no need to go through formal training because people hire software people from boot camp type things that are normally 10 weeks to 3 months to 6 months and maybe a year. These camps are pricey but not as pricey as going to college formally. I feel like for college you are paying mostly for the experience so if you are already settled you don't need that.

I'm actually very good at math and science and so software came somewhat easy for me since it's kind of a type of thinking. I'm very horrible at writing which has bitten me in the butt a few times.

Good luck!