IT Degree worth?

Hey guys,

I have been a long time reader of this forum, so I finally decided to register and start contributing to the discussions. So i have no industry certs as of yet, but i have finished some college diplomas and certificates. I am currently enrolled at a University, and doing my Bachelor of Science, Networking degree. The other day, i was in one of my classes, and i spoke to one of the students in my class about IT in general. I asked him what his IT background was, and he told me he already has a Bsc CS degree, and that he did it some 10 years ago, but wanted to renew his skills, and strenghten his resume even more. This made me think, is it really worth it getting a CS/Networking degree, since in 10-15 years time, half of it will be out dated and irrelevant?

Loving the forum btw, keep up the good work

Cheers

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Comments

dubhubb

I like you have been reading here for a awhile, and just recently registered. But yes, a degree is worth it. Although the technology you have learned about may be outdated in 10-15 years, its still a good starting point and a way to help you get your foot in the door with a company. At the very least it tells an employer that you a person who has the determination to start something lengthy and challenging and was able to finish it.

nel

Not entirely true but in most cases the technology maybe outdated.

I would def go for a degree - a minimum of Bsc Honours level (4 year degree). A degree proves you can work to a certain academic level aswell as many other things. Its pretty much a de facto in education these days. Its not the golden ticket though as many think.

Do it!

phantasm

College is worth it to me. However these hybrid degrees offered by DeVry and the like; well I'm not sold on them. I graduated from DeVry with by B.S. and all my interviews have been because of my CCNA, not my education.

If you can do a CS degree, do it. It'll look better to employers.

filkenjitsu

If you want the best degree that will earn the most money and provide long term staying skill, the below list accomplishes this. All bachelor degrees are useful, but these degrees below provide the best return on investment for technology workers:

1. BS Electrical Engineering

2. BS Computer Engineering

3. BS Mechanical Engineering

4. BS Computer Science

5. BS IT (From top 20 School)

6. Everything else BS + Technology (all very useful and a good return on investment)

Honestly, you cannot do any better in technology for pay and achievement than ee and ce engineering degrees. The insane amount of math (if you can pass it) will bring you far in life past many others and your understanding of computers and networks down to the electron level will never pass away as old material.

filkenjitsu

When I say engineering, I don't mean engineering technology, I mean Calculous 4, Differential Equations 2, thermo dynamics, etc. Type level of engineering studies from a ABET certified school where you need to take state licensing tests like the 8 hour PE exam to be able to practice in your field in a state.

[Deleted User]

filkenjitsu wrote: »

When I say engineering, I don't mean engineering technology, I mean Calculous 4, Differential Equations 2, thermo dynamics, etc. Type level of engineering studies from a ABET certified school where you need to take state licensing tests like the 8 hour PE exam to be able to practice in your field in a state.

Why? I don't want to be a Mechanical Engineer.. I want to work in IT. I say go for the BS in IT because if you have no experience you will pick up on some of the terms in IT and gain some knowledge/certs while doing your degree. I can understand Comp Sci but I don't really get the idea of getting an Engineering degree.

Bl8ckr0uter

xmalachi wrote: »

Why? I don't want to be a Mechanical Engineer.. I want to work in IT. I say go for the BS in IT because if you have no experience you will pick up on some of the terms in IT and gain some knowledge/certs while doing your degree. I can understand Comp Sci but I don't really get the idea of getting an Engineering degree.

If you want to work as a Data Center Engineer or if you want to design computers (not assemble them) then I can understand an Engineering degree.

lincis_aus

I have been avoiding degrees such as Computer Engineering and Engineering in general because of my lack of maths and physics skills, and tbh i hate them to death

[Deleted User]

knwminus wrote: »

If you want to work as a Data Center Engineer or if you want to design computers (not assemble them) then I can understand an Engineering degree.

I guess that makes sense. I guess when I heard Mechanical Engineer I didn't really think of computer parts.

Bl8ckr0uter

xmalachi wrote: »

I guess that makes sense. I guess when I heard Mechanical Engineer I didn't really think of computer parts.

A few DC Engineers I was worked with had EE degrees.

filkenjitsu

Mechanical engineering is a very diverse degree, from HVAC Design to Auto and Airplane design, Mechanical engineering teaches you all about the matter around us and its properties.

If you get an electrical engineering degree, you understand how everything in a computer or network operate down to the smallest component. These are the guys the BUILD and DESIGN Cisco routers and other networking equipment, not just run show commands and configure interfaces.

Much longer lasting skills. Regardless, I am not able to complete degrees such as these and probably never will be able to

CCIE for me instead!

BradleyHU

dude is wildin for goin back to school for a bach in networking when he already has a cs degree. the principles of what dude learned 10 yrs ago have not really changed. i think thats just a waste of money to get a second bachelors degree when the first degree he has is more than sufficient. its not like he's trying to become a child psychologist or something totally on the opposite end, then i could understand goin back for the second bachelors. but i think all dude needs to do is, get some books & software and do some personal projects just to renew up on his skills....and there's always certifications also.

earweed

BradleyHU wrote: »

dude is wildin for goin back to school for a bach in networking when he already has a cs degree. the principles of what dude learned 10 yrs ago have not really changed. i think thats just a waste of money to get a second bachelors degree when the first degree he has is more than sufficient. its not like he's trying to become a child psychologist or something totally on the opposite end, then i could understand goin back for the second bachelors. but i think all dude needs to do is, get some books & software and do some personal projects just to renew up on his skills....and there's always certifications also.

He may be one of those people who just like to learn in a more structured environment. He may also just like going to school. We don't know if we don't know him personally. Some people just don't operate the same as others but I do see your point. It would be cheaper and probably faster for him to get up to/ keep up to speed just getting certs and doing individual projects.

[Deleted User]

filkenjitsu wrote: »

Mechanical engineering is a very diverse degree, from HVAC Design to Auto and Airplane design, Mechanical engineering teaches you all about the matter around us and its properties.

If you get an electrical engineering degree, you understand how everything in a computer or network operate down to the smallest component. These are the guys the BUILD and DESIGN Cisco routers and other networking equipment, not just run show commands and configure interfaces.

Much longer lasting skills. Regardless, I am not able to complete degrees such as these and probably never will be able to

CCIE for me instead!

Thanks for the clarification. When I think of Mechanical engineering, I think of what my brother-in-law does and he does nothing close to IT

I could definitely see an EE degree being helpful but I definitely don't want to be that guy. I could never do the math involved with those degrees.

earweed

xmalachi wrote: »

Thanks for the clarification. When I think of Mechanical engineering, I think of what my brother-in-law does and he does nothing close to IT I could definitely see an EE degree being helpful but I definitely don't want to be that guy. I could never do the math involved with those degrees.

I did the math and Physics for the EE degree and didn't think it was so bad. I just got tripped up on the higher level EE courses and dropped out. I probably should have been a math, physics, or computer science major back then.

garv221

filkenjitsu wrote: »

If you want the best degree that will earn the most money and provide long term staying skill, the below list accomplishes this. All bachelor degrees are useful, but these degrees below provide the best return on investment for technology workers:

1. BS Electrical Engineering

2. BS Computer Engineering

3. BS Mechanical Engineering

4. BS Computer Science

5. BS IT (From top 20 School)

6. Everything else BS + Technology (all very useful and a good return on investment)

Honestly, you cannot do any better in technology for pay and achievement than ee and ce engineering degrees. The insane amount of math (if you can pass it) will bring you far in life past many others and your understanding of computers and networks down to the electron level will never pass away as old material.

I agree.

College is a building block for ones future. History changes everyday, does this make a History graduate from 92' out of date? No.

it_consultant

I wish I had a bachelor's degree. I earn a good salary in the field without one but I still feel like, if for any other reason, I should be a good example to my future children and earn a degree.

Having said that, I will not study anything IT based, its not worth learning the same stuff I already know. I am thinking...Biology, BFA in Photography, maybe a BFA in writing, or ancient history, Latin...whatever.

The nice thing about IT is that you can earn your keep based on your proven skill. Then you can study anything that interests you in college without having to worry about whether that degree will get you a job.

erpadmin

it_consultant wrote: »

I wish I had a bachelor's degree. I earn a good salary in the field without one but I still feel like, if for any other reason, I should be a good example to my future children and earn a degree.

Having said that, I will not study anything IT based, its not worth learning the same stuff I already know. I am thinking...Biology, BFA in Photography, maybe a BFA in writing, or ancient history, Latin...whatever.

The nice thing about IT is that you can earn your keep based on your proven skill. Then you can study anything that interests you in college without having to worry about whether that degree will get you a job.

Itc, I felt the same way you did, about studying anything IT based because it was stuff I already knew. The degree I wanted that had nothing to do with IT was in History or Political Science. (I wanted to be a lawyer).

Keeping your job based on proven skill is one thing, but it is extremely difficult (nowhere near impossible, but DIFFICULT) to get an interview today without a degree. It is mainly used as an excuse not to hire/interview you. That's why I figured I'd go back to school, get the degree in a couple of years, and grab that six figure salary sooner rather than later thanks to mandatory union raises (which will get taken away at some point).

You should definitely reconsider going back to school at some point, even if it is in IT, just to get something on sheepskin. Even if it's a BS in goatherding...as long as your school is regionally accredited and you got your edumacation.

tearofs

I agree, as long as you have a 4yrs degree (it really doesn't matter what major you are), you do NOT need another one in IT. Getting experinces and certs (CCNA, MCSE etc etc) are much more realistic.

shednik

What do you really want to do in IT would be the first question I'd ask you...

To answer your question though Yes a degree will always help you in the field and never hinder you, if you have the time and can afford the tuition.

I know my company will very rarely even higher anyone w/o a BS and if they did they were a consultant for a long time and became an employee after awhile. I would go for a BS in Comp Sci personally because there is a lot of room to specialize from there, if you want to get into management a minor in business would be helpful and then possible an MBA down the line. Technical track a CS degree will leverage you to practically any track you desire because it gives a solid base knowledge, good problem solving skills, and a good understanding of how computers/networks actually work.

Config

I've got a degree in computer networks, and how I regret wasting 3 years of my life, I should have studied something more practical or went straight to work after college. My biggest gripe with my degree was most of the stuff I studied isn't relevant to what I would be doing a job either because it's theory or legacy, and what little Cisco I did I could have taught myself and would have been better off/more knowledgeable. I learned more in the months after leaving university than I learned in my 3 years, had I just started looking for work after college, I would have been more experienced and more knowledgeable. Maybe I'm just bitter, but that's just my experience.

Zartanasaurus

lincis_aus wrote: »

Hey guys,

I have been a long time reader of this forum, so I finally decided to register and start contributing to the discussions. So i have no industry certs as of yet, but i have finished some college diplomas and certificates. I am currently enrolled at a University, and doing my Bachelor of Science, Networking degree. The other day, i was in one of my classes, and i spoke to one of the students in my class about IT in general. I asked him what his IT background was, and he told me he already has a Bsc CS degree, and that he did it some 10 years ago, but wanted to renew his skills, and strenghten his resume even more. This made me think, is it really worth it getting a CS/Networking degree, since in 10-15 years time, half of it will be out dated and irrelevant?

Loving the forum btw, keep up the good work

Cheers

10 years from now, your degree will be irrelevant b/c it will be your experience that matters. 0 years from now, your degree gets you in the door so you can get that 10 years of experience.

earweed

Zartanasaurus wrote: »

10 years from now, your degree will be irrelevant b/c it will be your experience that matters. 0 years from now, your degree gets you in the door so you can get that 10 years of experience.

10 years from now that degree may be what gets you that management position

it_consultant

erpadmin wrote: »

Itc, I felt the same way you did, about studying anything IT based because it was stuff I already knew. The degree I wanted that had nothing to do with IT was in History or Political Science. (I wanted to be a lawyer).

Keeping your job based on proven skill is one thing, but it is extremely difficult (nowhere near impossible, but DIFFICULT) to get an interview today without a degree. It is mainly used as an excuse not to hire/interview you. That's why I figured I'd go back to school, get the degree in a couple of years, and grab that six figure salary sooner rather than later thanks to mandatory union raises (which will get taken away at some point).

You should definitely reconsider going back to school at some point, even if it is in IT, just to get something on sheepskin. Even if it's a BS in goatherding...as long as your school is regionally accredited and you got your edumacation.

Your right, its embarrassing that I don't have one. I am getting to the point where my non-IT peers have MBAs or other masters degrees; these are the people that I have to work with and I have to talk with authority regarding IT matters. If / when they realize I only have an associates degree they are a little taken aback.

tpatt100

My former employer called me last week for some new security positions that opened up.

I emailed my former group of coworkers to see if anybody else was called.

Out of 10 of us only 2 were called. What got two of us selected for even a call?

Bachelors and CISSP. The requirement sheet they were given had a bunch of stuff listed but the degree and CISSP were required to even be considered.

A degree can only get you so far but it does help in the keyword search and getting past the HR "firewall". Now if your a moron with a degree you might get interviews but your chances drop considerably.

filkenjitsu

I think there are many practical degrees out there that people can study for that apply well to IT of just life in general.

One that comes to mind is finance. If you study for a degree in finance, you are learning the art of making and investing money. You are learning how money flows across the globe and what all the different markets are and what they mean.

To me, if you take a degree program about money, it can never hurt!

Most people have no idea what to do with money except spend it on stuff irresponsibly. Knowing money can help you when you get that first 10 dollar an hour job and it can help you change your entire lifestyle for the rest of your life when you land that 6 figure job.

filkenjitsu

The management, corporate culture, and accounting classes I have taken so far in my Masters program have been so valuable. I am learning things I never knew about before and they have given me new perspectives on many things about business and industries.

When I take my technology classes they are kind of boring because they are not growing me very much when it comes to how I think or act in my professional environment.