https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:07:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1870346 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 13:33:05 +0000 Raindrop 1870346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Someone here with a BS in Computer Engineering and an MS in Software Engineering. </p> <p>I wanted to second a few things.</p> <p>1. Job shadowing - definitely to know what he's getting himself into.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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. :)</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1870159 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:50:53 +0000 Adira 1870159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Mine is the same. Getting in defense, you don't have to worry about your job being outsourced! But you do need a clearance usually which requires an extensive background check. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1870151 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:47:51 +0000 blackbird 1870151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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.</p> <p>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.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1870004 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:25:40 +0000 Adira 1870004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have both a bachelor's and master's in Computer Science and am a Principal Software Engineer for a defense contractor.</p> <p>I was always fairly decent at math, but not amazing. At my school, we needed Calc 1 and Calc 2 and then Proofs and Statistics. I had to take Physics for Engineers, but I was terrible at it. And I can honestly say that now, I use very little math.</p> <p>Since your husband already has a Bachelor's, I would definitely lean towards the Master's. Being able to program is definitely more about logic than it is about math. And if you can understand one programming language, learning another isn't that hard.</p> <p>Is your husband interested in computer hardware at all? If so, he might want to lean more towards Computer Engineering, which will allow him to do both programming and electrical engineering (at least, that's my basic understanding).</p> <p>Good luck! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1870000 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:24:22 +0000 lizzywiz 1870000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @mrbee: great, practical info- thanks!<br /> @looch: he definitely want to be marketable, so thanks for that different POV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869994 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:22:26 +0000 lizzywiz 1869994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: @sunny: We live in New Mexico and won't be moving ( I gotta keep my current job to put this guy through, lol). And we are just looking at public universities and trade schools. Nothing fancy.<br /> Bottom line is that he wants to make a living with a job he doesn't hate and he thinks this could be it. But we have no illusions (maybe a wee bit of misguided hope, though, lol) that he is going to be top in the industry or anything.<br /> Everyone is bringing up great points.<br /> I am going to encourage him to think more about the exact area of the field he wants to end up in before we move forward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869988 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:19:50 +0000 mrbee 1869988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.</p> <p>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).</p> <p>Good luck to your husband!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869977 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:15:19 +0000 looch 1869977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I have a totally different view, maybe because I don't work specifically in a technical industry...the thing is that a lot of the programming jobs around here (northeast) are being offshored/outsourced. Being a developer isn't really where anyone wants to be, it seems like people want to be either business analysts (writing the requirements for the code) or IT project managers (managing the coding and delivery of technology).</p> <p>If I were making a career change, I would not learn coding with the intent to develop, I would learn it with the intent to become an IT project manager. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869971 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:09:36 +0000 sunny 1869971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where are you located, would you be interested in moving and what does your husband have his BA in?</p> <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> <p>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+)</p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869961 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:04:20 +0000 lizzywiz 1869961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: that is exactly the kind of inside info I wanted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869960 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:04:00 +0000 lizzywiz 1869960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, all those responses when I was writing the above- sweet!</p> <p>Great advise! I think he is more interested in programming than say, being a IT guy for a company.<br /> @brownie: He is making a mid-life career switch from social work. He does not have a passion but has always been interested in the field. He also feels like it is something he could do for the next 20 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869954 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:59:43 +0000 kick641 1869954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think everyone else gave better advice than my rambling post, so I'll just edit this to say I agree with it all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869946 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:55:41 +0000 lizzywiz 1869946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shannon: Thanks! Looking at some job advertisements is a good idea (and honestly (embarrassingly) something that never occurred to us).<br /> The masters would be a year of prereqs, then the masters. Each program we visit says something along the lines of, "Since you already have a BA, all you really need is an associates to break into the field' or conversely, "To really be marketable, you are going to want the masters." Looking at the education requirements on job-listing is exactly what I need to do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869942 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:54:48 +0000 mrs. wagon 1869942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiger: oh wow I have the same story! Except I didn't do the grad school! I'm a web producer now so I work with developers. After the kids are in elementary school I'm thinking about doing a year or two of school to become a front end developer too!</p> <p>My advice would be the same-- decide what he wants to do with his skills, and then choose a program that will provide him everything he needs. My undergrad program's CS major was ONLY for software programming, and I didn't want to do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869941 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:54:39 +0000 PurplePumps 1869941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869937 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:53:06 +0000 brownie 1869937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a masters in computer science (my husband does as well) and a bachelors in computer information systems. Computer science isn't the only hot commodity job around (although I love it and work to encourage kids into it). </p> <p>What is his BA in? For a computer science degree you need the high level maths (through at least calc 2 and probably calc 3 based on the program) to get through the physics courses. The coding is fun and not very mathematical.</p> <p>There are many options for going into computers right now. With a bachelors already I would recommend a masters program or an associates. A masters is going to take as long because he will have undergrad prerequisites. So he may want to start for an associates to get those out of the way.</p> <p>He also may want to investigate computer information systems and web development programs (Asu online has a bachelors in this area). Web programming is very very hot right now. Even with a CS degree to get a job you need web development skills and languages. Information systems is fun because you can go the tech route and physically work with equipment or the more web/database path. Typically the math requirements are less stringent. </p> <p>What does your husband want to do? Why is he considering computer science right now? What schools/programs are you looking at? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869931 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:50:48 +0000 blackbird 1869931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can he shadow some computer scientists to see what they do all day?........one of my friends does proposal work for Lockheed Martin now! </p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869924 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:49:02 +0000 HappyBaker 1869924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does he have an idea of what type of jobs he would want in the end? </p> <p>I started off as a computer science major in undergrad but ended up switching to communications because I could not wrap my head around the languages they were teaching / I couldn't see myself using them and liking it ha.</p> <p>I then went to grad school full time for a year, for web development specifically, and now am a front end web developer. The year in the grad school program prepared me for me job way better than my 4 years of undergrad did. </p> <p>I think if he can figure out what types of comp sci jobs he is interested in, whether it be software, web, whatever, and then look for a program that focuses specifically on that, it would be the best use of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869904 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:36:32 +0000 shabang 1869904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-computer-science-degree-tell-me-more#post-1869858 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 09:18:21 +0000 lizzywiz 1869858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is going back to school. My husband and I have spoken to several department advisors, but they are all just trying to sell us, so I thought I would ask people who have done it:</p> <p>For an adult with a BA going back to school with the priority of being a hot commodity on the job market when he is done, would you recommend a 2 year program, a 4 year program or a masters?<br /> (all 3 programs have told us theirs is the one you need to be hire-able :silly: )</p> <p>Also, what is your opinion of how smart and/or math literate do you need to be to make it through school? .My husband did the basic college algebra and statistics is undergrad with no problem, but it wasn't like it came especially easy to him. Definitely a B student. All of the programs say it shouldn't be a problem but...</p> <p>He isn't 100% committed to a computer science degree, yet, and we want to be as realistic and practical as possible. We know two people in the field but both are literally geniuses. One went to Harvard and one to MIT. One of them does complex math for fun after dinner every night....not exactly a comparable sample, ha! </p>