degree help

[Cvdasfg]

I'm looking to start college in the spring and have some questions.

First off I'd like to be a software engineer. They make great money in my area, and have plenty of job openings.

 

I have a school near me called I.T.T. and they have both degrees that are called software development. 

 

 

 

 

 

BUT these aren't technically " software engineer degrees".

 

 

 

 

A few major universities in my area have bachelor degrees in computer science that have "computer science/software engineering" on them. Are these the same type of degrees? If not which one is better? 

 

 

 

Suggestions? 

[Slyhawk]

First this is a big choice to make and i would take what anyone says here with a grain of salt, also maybe talk to the universities about those courses and if they would lead to where you wanna go. just make sure your talking to people who know their shit.

[KraftDinner]

First this is a big choice to make and i would take what anyone says here with a grain of salt, also maybe talk to the universities about those courses and if they would lead to where you wanna go. just make sure your talking to people who know their shit.

^^ I second this

[GER_T4IGA]

First off I'd like to be a software engineer. They make great money in my area, and have plenty of job openings.

I am not really allowed to judge something like this and I am unable to speak from experience but at least from waht my common sense tells me, this is not a good reason to study something.

[Cvdasfg]

First this is a big choice to make and i would take what anyone says here with a grain of salt, also maybe talk to the universities about those courses and if they would lead to where you wanna go. just make sure your talking to people who know their shit.

I plan to do so anyway, But I'd like opinions from everyone including people from various websites. While universities are great to talk to, they tend to make there school look better and give biased answers.

 

^^ I second this

noted

 

I am not really allowed to judge something like this and I am unable to speak from experience but at least from waht my common sense tells me, this is not a good reason to study something.

Its also that I enjoy programming and working with software. I like creating things and "engineering" how to do them.

[Slyhawk]

I am not really allowed to judge something like this and I am unable to speak from experience but at least from waht my common sense tells me, this is not a good reason to study something.

personally i think its great to do what you want but the problem sometimes is that you have to make money that's just the way it is or maybe you aren't talented enough, unfortunately some people will start to hate what they love if it becomes their job.

[Cvdasfg]

personally i think its great to do what you want but the problem sometimes is that you have to make money that's just the way it is or maybe you aren't talented enough, unfortunately some people will start to hate what they love if it becomes their job.

this. Software engineering is one of the only things i've found that I actually enjoy while still making money.  Would i rather build computers all day, or do custom builds for people? yeah i would. Would i make 100grand a year? nope. not even close.

[Samfisher]

Take Com Science, get programming certs, you're good to go.  Don't go specialised until you get a general degree.  You'll end up a better rounded worker with a more complete skill set.

[matt_the_d0ct0r]

Take Com Science, get programming certs, you're good to go.  Don't go specialised until you get a general degree.  You'll end up a better rounded worker with a more complete skill set.

Second this.

I have close friends who went the typical route of, 4 year university and specialized degree but are no having a hard time getting jobs. (note, it doesn't help to be in the area they live in) While other friends took Computer Science at a community college, got programming certifications AND an A.S. Degree, transferred to a university,who took all their credits, to specialize and get a B.S. while programming on the side to make some cash while in school. Then they went on to get the bigger better jobs having the degrees and experience!!! which companies love! Managers always want to see you pushing yourself and standing out from the crowd.

[Cvdasfg]

Second this.

I have close friends who went the typical route of, 4 year university and specialized degree but are no having a hard time getting jobs. (note, it doesn't help to be in the area they live in) While other friends took Computer Science at a community college, got programming certifications AND an A.S. Degree, transferred to a university,who took all their credits, to specialize and get a B.S. while programming on the side to make some cash while in school. Then they went on to get the bigger better jobs having the degrees and experience!!! which companies love! Managers always want to see you pushing yourself and standing out from the crowd.

There are zero community colleges that offer computer science in my area  

[Cvdasfg]

Second this.

I have close friends who went the typical route of, 4 year university and specialized degree but are no having a hard time getting jobs. (note, it doesn't help to be in the area they live in) While other friends took Computer Science at a community college, got programming certifications AND an A.S. Degree, transferred to a university,who took all their credits, to specialize and get a B.S. while programming on the side to make some cash while in school. Then they went on to get the bigger better jobs having the degrees and experience!!! which companies love! Managers always want to see you pushing yourself and standing out from the crowd.

Also out of curiosity what country? U.S.A. or a different country? I know Canada/Europe is a lot different. What do you mean "programming certifications"? Could you give examples of programming certifications? are these taken at college or online? Haven't seen programming certifications pop up anywhere in my searches for colleges.

[matt_the_d0ct0r]

Also out of curiosity what country? U.S.A. or a different country? I know Canada/Europe is a lot different. What do you mean "programming certifications"? Could you give examples of programming certifications? are these taken at college or online? Haven't seen programming certifications pop up anywhere in my searches for colleges.

Ah dang, sorry to hear no community colleges near you offer computer programming degrees. I'm speaking in USA terms. By programming certs, I mean become certified in multiple languages (C, C+, C++, HTML, java (that's a great one to do!) that sort of thing). Actually there a lot of places online where you can do this on your own time. Here's something straight from Oracle, I don't know how helpful this will be I haven't looked deeply into it. http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=458&get_params=p_track_id:JSE7PROG

[Cvdasfg]

Ah dang, sorry to hear no community colleges near you offer computer programming degrees. I'm speaking in USA terms. By programming certs, I mean become certified in multiple languages (C, C+, C++, HTML, java (that's a great one to do!) that sort of thing). Actually there a lot of places online where you can do this on your own time. Here's something straight from Oracle, I don't know how helpful this will be I haven't looked deeply into it. http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=458&get_params=p_track_id:JSE7PROG

Thank you very much I will certainly look into that.

[EChondo]

Just curious, have you done your General Ed? If not you could save money doing your General Ed in community colleges and then transfer those credits over to Uni, right?

 

Also colleges usually have counselors you could talk to, might help to make an appointment now and go ask about it with an actual school official and you can plan your path a bit more clearly.

 

Just giving information. Best of luck!

[Cvdasfg]

Just curious, have you done your General Ed? If not you could save money doing your General Ed in community colleges and then transfer those credits over to Uni, right?

 

Also colleges usually have counselors you could talk to, might help to make an appointment now and go ask about it with an actual school official and you can plan your path a bit more clearly.

 

Just giving information. Best of luck!

Thanks . I have as of now completed zero college courses. 

[EChondo]

Thanks . I have as of now completed zero college courses. 

Yeah, you'd probably want to do your general ed in community colleges then, so you'll be paying hundreds instead of thousands a class. No point doing them in Uni when you can do them cheaper somewhere else.

 

Also, not sure if your Uni would accept your outside credits(never heard of them not doing it, but can never be too sure), so yeah I'd go make an appointment and get that cleared up first.

 

I just think college is way too expensive so I'm trying to save you as much money as possible haha. I'm not going to college(at least not for a couple years), I think it's way too expensive and my career path(IT/Networking) doesn't need degrees only certifications/experience, so I can skip it for now.

 

Hopefully you can work something out and you end up enjoying it! I've been slowly teaching myself Python, more for hobby purposes, it's been fun and interesting so far.

[GER_T4IGA]

I plan to do so anyway, But I'd like opinions from everyone including people from various websites. While universities are great to talk to, they tend to make there school look better and give biased answers.

 

noted

 

Its also that I enjoy programming and working with software. I like creating things and "engineering" how to do them.

Then I feel sorry about misunderstanding you good sir.

[Cvdasfg]

Yeah, you'd probably want to do your general ed in community colleges then, so you'll be paying hundreds instead of thousands a class. No point doing them in Uni when you can do them cheaper somewhere else.

 

Also, not sure if your Uni would accept your outside credits(never heard of them not doing it, but can never be too sure), so yeah I'd go make an appointment and get that cleared up first.

 

I just think college is way too expensive so I'm trying to save you as much money as possible haha. I'm not going to college(at least not for a couple years), I think it's way too expensive and my career path(IT/Networking) doesn't need degrees only certifications/experience, so I can skip it for now.

 

Hopefully you can work something out and you end up enjoying it! I've been slowly teaching myself Python, more for hobby purposes, it's been fun and interesting so far.

Yes agreed. I wish I didn't have to go to college, but i'd rather go now (18) while im not married, have a lot of responsibilities, then go later or struggle all my life. Goodluck to you

[Cvdasfg]

Then I feel sorry about misunderstanding you good sir.

No problem I should have been more clear .

[GoodBytes]

Ah! Same post as your PM. Well I answered it there.

Now I see your images that were missing in your PM.

 

 

Well to sum up, forget "Software Development", if you can get a Bachelor degree, GET a Bachelor degree.

From what I can see from the courses of "Software Development" degree, it is missing core important classes. What I see listed as classes  is what is refered as a technical degree where I am, or certification if you prefer. This is good if you want to be a basic programmer, or in insulted way: code monkey. This is only good to compliment a degree, say IT. Or say you have a bachelor in mathematics, and you want to add software development to it.

 

I don't know what this combo "Computer Science /  Software Engineering" degree is, and you should check with the academic advisor for the details. But both programs are extremely close, so it could be part of a merging, that the university/college is doing, or tries to kick-start.

 

Here are some courses you normally have in a computer science and software engineering degree that is important:

 -> Data structures and algorithm (the most important course)

 -> Principal of programming languages (not really important, but teaches you to adapt to different programming languages)

 -> Computer architecture (how a CPU/GPU works. No I don't mean: "It has an ALU, and xx registers, etc... I am talking about pipelines, loop unrolling, exception handling, hazards, etc.)

 -> Software Engineering (this one has different names, but essentially, this is a course where you learn about different work system applied: like Agile, or Extreme programming, and what else is in fashion these days or the coming days when you get there). It usually involved doing a bug class project

 -> Databases

 -> Operating System

 -> Probability and Statistics

 -> Automaton class (different names, but you learn how to design automatons. It has nothing to do with programming, and reflects automaton design. The idea is to help you design things in your head)

 

I am probably missing 1-2 classes, but it isn't coming to mind at the moment, but these critical courses are clearly missing from "Software Development", beside OS, and I don't know what it involves: How to use Windows? OR actually how an OS works.