WGU IT Degree+Future Work Question

Raidersfan81

I'm currently in my first term at WGU and it started July 1st. I'm currently doing the the IT-Software path.

I'm not sure at ALL which way I want to go for my future line of work between Networking and Programming.

My question is... Which degree would be better to pursue for now that would be an easy shift into the other line of work? Would it be better for me to stay with Software degree and slide into Networking with some networking certs or vice versa??

I'm about equally skilled in both fields as of right now, and I would say I have about a entry level skill set for both.

I currently work in a help-desk role for a Casino as well right now, so I got some experience rolling as I'm waiting to finish whichever degree I decide to go with.

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

erpadmin

Answer these questions:

What do you think you enjoy doing between Networking and Programming? Why?

Do you think you could do either one well? Why? Why Not?


Only you can (in addition to preventing forest fires) determine what you want to do in IT. I can tell you that systems admin is better than programming. A programmer can tell you the opposite. I can do programming and read code (I have to), but I don't enjoy coding all day.

Also, keep in mind that regardless of what degree you earn, it isn't going to trump experience. If programming is what you want to do, then find some websites on the web that is geared toward the object-oriented language you want to deal with (though I'll tell you that learning Java or C will put you on the right track for any HOT OOL that you want to learn). If it's networking, spend sometime reading Network+ topics (yes, Network+). In addition, get your subnetting skills up.

I just don't want you to get your hopes up in that a degree will get you a very high salary.....the $$$ comes with experience and time put in, as well as moves you make in your career. You definitely seem like you're on the right path now.....but now you reaching the "know thyself" time.

Raidersfan81

Thank you for the input, very appreciated.

I must clarify that I'm not hoping or looking for big $$$ after I graduate. I also don't think people will throw jobs at me when I'm done with college either. I understand it's experience that is going to get me the job, but if I'm paying my hard earned money for a college degree I would like to be taking the IT path that I'm going to be doing in the long run.

Couple more things I forgot to mention in my first post....

I live in the Valley in California, just below Fresno. So it's not exactly the tech mecca of the state. Programming jobs are scarce because of the area, but I see a lot more Networking positions all around my area. I'm not willing to relocate to the Bay or anywhere else, because of my Daughter.

So with my Helpdesk job as of now, I'm starting to think maybe I should be in the Networking IT path instead of the Software path I started in July....


Thoughts?

veritas_libertas

briandy81 wrote: »

Thank you for the input, very appreciated.

I must clarify that I'm not hoping or looking for big $$$ after I graduate. I also don't think people will throw jobs at me when I'm done with college either. I understand it's experience that is going to get me the job, but if I'm paying my hard earned money for a college degree I would like to be taking the IT path that I'm going to be doing in the long run.

Couple more things I forgot to mention in my first post....

I live in the Valley in California, just below Fresno. So it's not exactly the tech mecca of the state. Programming jobs are scarce because of the area, but I see a lot more Networking positions all around my area. I'm not willing to relocate to the Bay or anywhere else, because of my Daughter.

So with my Helpdesk job as of now, I'm starting to think maybe I should be in the Networking IT path instead of the Software path I started in July....


Thoughts?

Here is a suggestion, do the plain-vanilla BS and do the certifications on your own afterwards. Also, with the plain-vanilla you could change your mind down the road and shift to having an emphasis.

Psoasman

I work at a Casino, doing Help Desk type work. You'll probably get much more exposure and experience working on the networking side, than programming.