Importance of a Degree

What is the level of importance of having a A.A.S. or BA in IT vs. just have certs?

I am currently on a training course for MCSA:SEC MCSE:SEC Sec+ CCNA. I am nudging my way into the IT field got some interviews and potential entry lvl jobs lined up. I should have a job in the IT field in a month or so. My training ends in December. I was wondering if getting an A.A.S. in Networking/Security Administation would be a good thing to get into next year. Im looking to move into the security field as my career progresses, probably leaning on Cisco security.

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ajs1976

Most employers want the combination of a degree, certs, and experience.

Tesl

Having degree's also open up extra doors for people that they may not even realise, for things maybe they don't want to do now but may want to do in the future. As an example, I work in Japan now, but Japanese Immigration would not have allowed me to live here without having a degree, as many people who would love to live here have later found out.

Of course, I'm not suggesting you should move to Japan, but things like this exist everywhere. The same thing with particular jobs that may require a degree due to some bad company policy. Or if you ever wanted to leave the IT industry, having a degree in anything will open more doors for you (it can be hard to change into another industry if you only have IT certifications)

taktsoi

the sooner you earn your bachelor degree, the lesser the worry you will run into, altho there are exceptional..but..........

i m the one who only has A.A.S and realize the powerful of bachelor + cert + experience could open more doors.

this is why i try to get some certs first.. this may find me a little bit better job..then finish my bachelor

you know what...just today..i just submitted the application form...i will go back to school for my bachelor in Fall.... altho finishing the bachelor may take me few years (mm..more than 2 years..no doubt...) and alot of efforts and time......hey...its worth it after i got the bachelor... now. i m finding a better job than the one i have now that is able to help survive in this GRACE PERIOD.......

adding "completed B.A degree, 20XX" in this line is a POWERFUL candy in your resume....

the bachelor also helps you if you wanna change the field as well....

i m at 29 now..

royal

I cannot stress this enough. Get your Bachelors degree! It opens up so many doors for you that would have otherwised been closed. Take me for example. I only had 70-270 done when I entered my new job. They required me to have a Bachelors degree. Because I had my degree, they took me in and trained me. I now have my MCSE and experience to go with it. I'll say it again, get your Bachelors!

nel

def get your degree! its probably more valuable than certs in terms of opening doors and in longitivity because certs expire and are dedicated to a specific area whereas degrees concentrate on a broader range and are for life.
i originally undertook my degree as im not sure if i want to stay on the technical side all my life and maybe venture into management and project management!
but you never know what you want to do by then. but its v important to have the certs aswell. each go side by side in this comppetitive world of ours. i truely believe it disguinishes ppl.
to be honest i would love to go for a masters but its the time it takes to do it part time and the ££££'s it costs.

NinjaBoy

Being an IT manager (technical), a person who sits on the interview panel and personal thought, I believe that having the "Triad" is the best way to go: Degree, Professional Certs and experience.

-Ken

oldbarney

MY BS required 3 years of attending class 2-4 nights per week and $10,000 for books/tuition beyond an AA. I also hold an IT-related AAS. In my case, the difference in earnings between an AAS and a BS equals around $22,000+ per year. For me, the Return On Investment (ROI) after the first year has certainly been worth both time and money.

sir_creamy_

I'm told that holding a degree allows for the immediate acquisition of loose women, as well as copious amounts of Franklins.

Myrdyn98

Im looking at a technology college atm. They offer a classroom based A.A.S. program in IT/Network and security Admin. Its ECPI. They have a BA program but it isnt included at the campus I would be going to, but I can take it online. I was also told that I can get the A.A.S. through the classroom (since classroom based college is better than online in my opinion) and the use that degree to cut half of the credit hours off of the B.A. online program. So would that that be a good idea? Take Classroom based A.A.S. and tack on the online B.A. later on. I personally would prefer it that way so I get at least 2 yrs hands on experience in the classroom.

felicia barnes

I wanted my bachelors degree in IT so badly I entered a business college in a small town and received an associates in computer applications and systems administration. The school did not have a bachelors program. I relocated to another city here in Florida and wanted to continue my career and later found out my credits would not transfer to a regional accredited school. My degree was from a national accredited school. I was so angry. I also have an associates in accounting. I'm now working on my A+ certification after my company downsized and I loss my job of six years as an auditor. I've always loved the technology industry but found mainly helpdesk positions here in florida. I'm happy that I do have two degrees although they are not bachelors. I'm forty years old now and had to do what I could to try and finish school and raise a family. I have three sons. At least now it's easier to go back to school since my youngest is 16. When I got my first degree in the 90s' they were much younger. Sometimes I still wish I had that bachelors. Here in florida I think both certifications and degrees are important. I've definitely seen IT jobs listing a degree as requirement whether A.S. or B.S.

Sorry for misspellings or capitalization misuse. I'm tired from studying all day.

The Prize Is Lobster

I maintain that its less what you know and who you know.

I worked alongside a Systems Admin that got a 1 year certificate from a community college in Network Admin. Six figure income off little time/money invested in school. His manager also did not have a bachelors.

Ive also worked alongside tier 1 help desk lifers who had bachelors degrees in Computer Science/MIS/etc. They couldnt find anything else, so they started (and pretty much had to stay) at the bottom of the totem pole with $20k in student loans to boot.

it completely varies depending on what your goals are. For me, I love IT but Im pretty transient. If it gets old...I'll do something else, and for that reason just certs and elbow rubbing works better.

blargoe

To go far, you need some combination of the following:

Experience
Certs
College Education
Contacts

The network of contacts will grow as you move from job to job, the rest you can influence yourself. If I had it to do over again I would do the following:

Seek AAS degree while seeking free or paid internship work
Seek BS while holding a part time job, work on entry level certs
Graduate with 1-2 years of work experience and be well positioned for a decent support job and future promotions.
Don't burn any bridges, you never know when you may need someone's help in the future.

binarysoul

You can never say a degree is not useful, but when it comes to IT labor market, the term "IT" literally means "certification and/or experience". If you don't have either, you may do something else, e. g. try to aim for a Grammy or Oscar award