What type of degrees do you hold?

Bl8ckr0uter

So I am thinking about what I am going to do when I am done with my two year degree. I know I want to go to law school at some point but for my undergrad I am thinking about History or Political Science with a possible major in Computer Science or MIS. This got me thinking, I wonder how many people on TE do have CS/IT/CIS/MIS degrees and how many don't. So if you don't mind, fill out the pool and chat a bit about which degrees you have any why.

UnixGuy

you should add engineering degrees

cxzar20

I also once considered law school. Be aware of the massive costs associated with it. Also, unlike almost every other degree a JD is looked down upon in most non-law careers. You are sure to get the "so, why aren't you practicing law?" question.

Be informed about the other side: http://lawschoolscam.blogspot.com/

Bl8ckr0uter

I am ok with the stigma since I would like to go into public service/legal work at some point.

rwmidl

I have a BA in Poli Sci. My dad was the business manager for a pretty prestigous law firm for a while, and I too was thinking about law school (before I got in to IT). This is what he told me (and he got this from some of the lawyers he worked with); "If you are going to go to law school, go to the best one you can get in, not one of the 'run of the mill' law schools".

Bl8ckr0uter

PM sent

Version4

I absolutely love education and have a double major in Computer Science and Networking from a B&M. When I first started, I didn't plan to run a dual degree, but it happened that a few years before the end of my first degree, a new program popped up that I was interested in (Networking). Rather than switch degrees, I took about 7 more classes and secured the extra degree.

If I had to do it all over again, I don't think I would change much, maybe I would have went straight into college from High School instead of wondering around for a year or two. Although I appreciate the convenience that online courses offer, I prefer the face-to-face environment when it comes to attending a class. Out of 52 or so classes that I sat for, 2 or 3 were distance learning/online. I didn't particularly like them that well. The only exception to that rule would be certification classes, in which case I prefer self study anyway.

I'm eagerly awaiting the opportunity to go back for my Masters. I can't wait to get back to the education environment, but I feel that there are some issues of character that I have to resolve first before I take that plunge. My dream schools for Masters at this point in time are FIT and NOVA. Both are in equal running. I've visited NOVA and love the campus. Have to take a run over to FIT sometime...

Thanks for the topic, now I'm excited to go back

Psoasman

I just got my AAS in networking in June and am now in the process of applying for WGU - hopefully starting on Dec 1. I had certs before getting my degree, but thought it would be wise to add a degree to round out my resume.

erpadmin

Bl8ckr0uter wrote: »

I am ok with the stigma since I would like to go into public service/legal work at some point.

Have you looked at a Public Administration degree? Sounds more like what you want more than a law degree (and, I imagine much cheaper.)

Edit: BTW, I won't be answering this poll until at least 2 months.....the second I am a MCITP:EA is the second I earn my WGU BS and can say I have a Bachelors in IT.

Because I'm so close, I'm not gonna bother saying "None." lol.

filkenjitsu

B.S in Telecommunications Technology, Currently finishing a Master in Networking and Communications Management. Will be done in March. Will take R to D more classes for a Master in Information Systems Management.

the_Grinch

BS in Computing and Security Technology and will be getting a Masters at some point. I don't know yet in what, but it is definitely a goal of mine. I always found it amazing how many people work in this field with degrees in other areas. When I interviewed at a local hospital, they were excited to have someone with an IT degree as most of the staff had degrees in other areas. NJIT actually has an IT degree with a history focus, which I found interesting. If I were to make a suggestion, have you looked at Philosophy as a possible major? I can't seem to find the article, but it broke down how logic taught in philosophy is perfect for programmers. Also (since law school is a possible goal) philosophy will prepare you perfectly for forming solid arguments and philosophy majors tend to do very well on graduate level entry tests. Good luck!

erpadmin

the_Grinch wrote: »

BS in Computing and Security Technology and will be getting a Masters at some point. I don't know yet in what, but it is definitely a goal of mine. I always found it amazing how many people work in this field with degrees in other areas. When I interviewed at a local hospital, they were excited to have someone with an IT degree as most of the staff had degrees in other areas. NJIT actually has an IT degree with a history focus, which I found interesting.

I had no idea you were from the Jersey area. I actually am in the process of applying to NJIT for their MS in IS program. While I can do their entire program online, I'm gonna see if it's feasible for me to show up inside a classroom.

the_Grinch wrote: »

If I were to make a suggestion, have you looked at Philosophy as a possible major? I can't seem to find the article, but it broke down how logic taught in philosophy is perfect for programmers. Also (since law school is a possible goal) philosophy will prepare you perfectly for forming solid arguments and philosophy majors tend to do very well on graduate level entry tests. Good luck!

I'm friends with a Philosophy major. While teasing him about philosophy being a basketweaving degree, he made a couple of good points about the major. His understanding of philosophy is that it's basically math with words. A lot of logic is involved with the degree and that aspect is important for programming. He's also trying to get into law school, and a lot of law schools would prefer a philosophy major, as opposed to pre-law or political science. History helps too, because there is a lot of paper writing and reading to be done for that major. While history would help with the research aspect of law, it doesn't necessarily help with the logic.

Bl8ckr0uter

erpadmin wrote: »

Have you looked at a Public Administration degree? Sounds more like what you want more than a law degree (and, I imagine much cheaper.)

I have but since I want to be a judge, political science/jd may be the better route.

the_Grinch wrote: »

If I were to make a suggestion, have you looked at Philosophy as a possible major? I can't seem to find the article, but it broke down how logic taught in philosophy is perfect for programmers. Also (since law school is a possible goal) philosophy will prepare you perfectly for forming solid arguments and philosophy majors tend to do very well on graduate level entry tests. Good luck!

erpadmin wrote: »

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I'm friends with a Philosophy major. While teasing him about philosophy being a basketweaving degree, he made a couple of good points about the major. His understanding of philosophy is that it's basically math with words. A lot of logic is involved with the degree and that aspect is important for programming. He's also trying to get into law school, and a lot of law schools would prefer a philosophy major, as opposed to pre-law or political science. History helps too, because there is a lot of paper writing and reading to be done for that major. While history would help with the research aspect of law, it doesn't necessarily help with the logic.

I thought about philosophy a while back, but then I decided I didn't want to be homeless....

No seriously I would like to take a few classes when I do end up going to a 4 year school. We will see. What ever I do, I wonder if it will be worth while to double major with a Comp Sci degree, just to have a degree in my field of work. I probably will be in IT for several more years (10+) .

ColbyG

<-- none

the_Grinch

erpadmin wrote: »

I had no idea you were from the Jersey area. I actually am in the process of applying to NJIT for their MS in IS program. While I can do their entire program online, I'm gonna see if it's feasible for me to show up inside a classroom.



I'm friends with a Philosophy major. While teasing him about philosophy being a basketweaving degree, he made a couple of good points about the major. His understanding of philosophy is that it's basically math with words. A lot of logic is involved with the degree and that aspect is important for programming. He's also trying to get into law school, and a lot of law schools would prefer a philosophy major, as opposed to pre-law or political science. History helps too, because there is a lot of paper writing and reading to be done for that major. While history would help with the research aspect of law, it doesn't necessarily help with the logic.

Yup, I am in Southern NJ about 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia and about 50 minutes from Atlantic City. I was very close to going to NJIT (I visited and loved it), but I got accepted to Drexel and couldn't pass up on going. NJIT has some pretty solid Masters programs and it seems that if they offer a course on campus you shouldn't have an issue taking it. As for Philosophy, I've been thinking about going back to another undergrad degree in it. The topics are very interesting and I feel it would allow me to better articulate arguments for various changes needed in IT. Plus, all the topics you cover could make for excellent pick up lines, conversation starters, or keeping the conversation going

erpadmin

the_Grinch wrote: »

Yup, I am in Southern NJ about 40 minutes outside of Philadelphia and about 50 minutes from Atlantic City. I was very close to going to NJIT (I visited and loved it), but I got accepted to Drexel and couldn't pass up on going. NJIT has some pretty solid Masters programs and it seems that if they offer a course on campus you shouldn't have an issue taking it. As for Philosophy, I've been thinking about going back to another undergrad degree in it. The topics are very interesting and I feel it would allow me to better articulate arguments for various changes needed in IT. Plus, all the topics you cover could make for excellent pick up lines, conversation starters, or keeping the conversation going

Yea...quoting Ayn Rand has always gotten me lots of success with the ladies.....[end facetious statement]

Really though, there is usefulness to a philosophy degree...I have to admit though that when I took intro to Philosophy at Kean I was bored to tears...but if I had to do again, I think I would have take it a bit more seriously. Reading Walden and the Fountainhead was interesting though and the discussion about both weren't terrible.

As for Drexel vs. NJIT, I can see why the former won out....Drexel is pretty much closer to Ivy Leauge than NJIT. Though both are very well respected schools. (Though I concede that Drexel wins that fight, easily.)

universalfrost

for me,

I have an Associate of Applied Science in Avionics Systems Technology, a Bachelors of Science in Technical Management with a major in business Information Systems, and a Masters of Science in Information Systems Engineering.

if I had to do it over I would have gotten a Computer Science or Computer Engineering bachelors degree or an information security / information assurance degree and then got a masters in information assurance or and MBA....


that would be great... ummm k.... don't foreget to put the new cover sheet on the TPS report!!

badrottie

erpadmin wrote: »

I'm friends with a Philosophy major. While teasing him about philosophy being a basketweaving degree, he made a couple of good points about the major. His understanding of philosophy is that it's basically math with words. A lot of logic is involved with the degree and that aspect is important for programming. He's also trying to get into law school, and a lot of law schools would prefer a philosophy major, as opposed to pre-law or political science. History helps too, because there is a lot of paper writing and reading to be done for that major. While history would help with the research aspect of law, it doesn't necessarily help with the logic.

One of the best programmers I have ever met graduated with a Philosophy degree. His code is nothing short of amazing. Regarding the legal profession, I cannot begin to count the number of my friends that graduated with a B.A. in History and then went on to obtain their J.D. (All of my law friends now work at Inveigle, Wheedle and Obfuscate, LLC.).

the_Grinch

I'm with badrottie in thinking that Philosophy or History is probably the best way to go. Both require that you do research, analyze both sides of an argument, and to write a lot. In law school you will be doing research, arguing (you'll have to research what arguments the other side will use so you can retort), and writing. I assume that since the goal is to become a judge that you will probably clerk for one and writing up the decision is a huge part of that. Good luck man, law school is a beast!

the_Grinch

I know of a number of reasons people get a degree not in the field they work in (I believe there is a pretty high percentage of people who have a degree in a field that they do not work in). In no certain order:

1. Couldn't get a job in that field
2. Computers were a hobby, the figured they'd get a career in something else (I changed my major a couple of times from various business related ones, as computers were a hobby that I wanted to keep as a hobby)
3. Was too late to change (I had a professor who's undergrad was in Biochem because he thought he wanted to be a Doctor, by the time he figured out it was too late to change majors)

The other thing I see a lot is people with music degrees (and this plays to point 1). They majored in Music Theory and not that they thought they would be a huge star, but thought they would do something in music. Didn't pan out so they entered IT and some of the best programmers I know were Music Theory majors. I am sure there are more reasons, but those are the common ones I've found.

SteveLord

No degree. Just a diploma from a technical school. Might do the WGU route sometime in the future. But I am far too busy to squeeze it in right now.

NinjaBoy

I hold a BSc in Computing. Originally it was suppose to be a BSc in Computing specialising in Software Engineering, but after the first year there were alot of drop-outs and instead of cancelling the degree course and the BA in Computing Something. Everyone that was left agreed to carry on under the general degree: BSc Computing.

Why the BSc Computing? See above, added to that the BA version didn't really interest me. Those were the only two Computing/IT degrees that were on offer for part-time students (I worked and still work full time), the other more interesting Computing/IT degree programs were for full-time students.

What to do next? I'm thinking of trying to get either my Graduateship Diploma in Management (the FE equivalent of a HE degree) or the Certificate of Business Studies which is 60 points of a business degree. But I'll have to see due to the rising costs of FE & HE education in the UK.

lsud00d

Bachelors in General Studies...the degree was unimportant at the time as I already had a job lined up, and after that first job the only thing that matters is experience...so I'm good

JoJoCal19

Working on my Bachelors in Business Administration and then onto my MBA. I'm working in InfoSec and getting my CISSP right now and then moving onto CISA and CISM, among others. I want to move up to a technology management position, preferably in security. My end goal is to be a CIO/CTO.

Zartanasaurus

genderdude wrote: »

jesus i would rather live in a cave

This dovetails rather nicely with our discussion about Philosophy degrees.

jibbajabba

Degree in Electronics Engineering and work in IT for 15+ years now - go figure ...

idr0p

B.S. in Network Sec and Sys Admin
Currently Doing: M.S. Computer Info Systems.
Future: Ph.D in Comp Sci.

1 Year in IT, 2 years in InfoSec. EXP

snokerpoker

Just finished my BS in IT last month.

Anonymouse

Going back to school this spring for Computer Science degree 'cause programming has interested me for forever. Will be going to a local community college and then transfer to a 4 year. Tuition reimbursement is good.