[olug] [OT] IT degrees

[Sam Tetherow]

Someone had asked earlier (sorry been hectic and didn't save the email) 
what class(es) I would recommend.  It has been 15 years since I got my 
degree so I'm sure it has all changed, but when I was there the two that 
stuck out were Graphics (476?) and Network Operating Systems (452?).  It 
wasn't the subjects of these two classes but that the assignments gave 
me a taste for working on real problems.  Graphics was about evolving 
requirements but I know that they changed it shortly after I took the 
class.  NOS was about working on a longer term project with a team.

Really though for me it was the atmosphere, the people I met and hung 
out with and the environment.  This tied in with the classes really made 
a difference for me.  Would it for others?  Not sure, but I know I would 
never have met the people, had the opportunities (ACM programming 
contest, job, late nights in the lab) if I had not went to the 
university.  While the classes did teach me theory I don't think I would 
have gotten from certs or assoc degree, the environment is what made me 
a much better programmer.  I would say computer scientist but I have 
never considered myself one after listening to Juris Hartmanis and 
Richard Stearns accept the ACM Turning award in '93.

    Sam Tetherow
    Sandhills Wireless

Christopher Cashell wrote:
> On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 5:46 PM, Sam Tetherow <tetherow at shwisp.net> wrote:
>   
>> Finding someone who can program beyond simple hacks who does not have
>> some formal education in CS though it a rarity. If you are looking at
>> less than 10000 lines of code sure you can get by, but if your looking
>> at a project of any size you really do need all that 'theory crap'.
>>     
>
> I would agree with this.
>
> Additionally, I think a big issue that shows up a *lot* these days is
> the lumping of non-Computer Science IT degrees in with "Computer
> Science".  Almost everyone I know who has an actual Computer Science
> degree is a very competent programmer.  Where you run into problems is
> with the MIS degrees and the dozens of other Information
> Science/Technology degrees that are *not* Computer Science.  Most of
> these degrees have very little in the way of programming requirements,
> and many (most?) of the people coming out of school with them are very
> poor (or even worthless) programmers.
>
> Unfortunately, because these MIS/IS/IT degrees require significantly
> less math and computer science course work, they're much easier.  And
> they're also a *lot* more popular.  It seems to be getting harder to
> find real Computer Science graduates by comparison.  In fact, most
> programming job postings no longer specify a requirement for a
> Computer Science degree.  Instead you see a job posting that lists
> "Computer Science or related degree" as a required/desired attribute,
> and that contributes to the diluted standing of Computer Science.
>
> Personally, when I'm reviewing resumes or interviewing someone, seeing
> a Computer Science (or Electrical Engineering, or Computer
> Engineering) degree counts for something.  Seeing MIS/IS/IT/etc counts
> for significantly less.
>
>   
>> Sam Tetherow
>>     
>
>