9 replies to this topic

[chris2010]

What degree should I get for a career in software engineering? I was thinking about getting my masters degree in software engineering, but I'm not sure if it is actually called "software engineering". So any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

[John]

Computer science.

[Gigia]

Don't care about degrees, just study, work and so on. Experience is everything in software development not degrees and so on, trust..

[WingedPanther]

Unfortunately, a lot of people want a degree if you don't have experience.

[John]

Unfortunately, a lot of people want experience AND a degree. It seems like every where I look you need a Computer Science degree and 3-5 years of related experience.

[fayyazlodhi]

More important to me is when you say i want a career in software engineering, what exactly does that mean?

When i was in college and it is pretty much the norm in my country that people are driven by the market value of a profession i.e. MBA should be good because i would be able to make hell lot of money. So Software engineering was a choice for many.

So when those people got into it, and found that they don't have the interest to be able to program. Just before they were either about to move to some thing else may be Network management only, Database (I mean domains which involve no or at least very little programming), they found an opportunity in the course of Software engineering.

It was unfortunately all theory and taught people that they could actually do SE without being an actual developer for a good length of time.

So the norm was, every one who is not a programmer thinks he would be a software engineer. Unfortunately, no such thing exists in the professional world.

My advice is, be clear about that first or just try out computer science first to see if it is what you will enjoy doing the rest of your life. Else you wouldn't be able to make a great career. You should discover something in you that you enjoy doing.

All the best.

[lethalwire]

Gigia said:

Don't care about degrees, just study, work and so on. Experience is everything in software development not degrees and so on, trust..

This is surely not true. Many jobs require a degree and experience.
If you lack the degree, jobs will require many years of experience.

AND THEN, if you do by chance get laid off, you still don't have your degree and other companies might not acknowledge your experience.

[lor]

I'd wish someone goodluck in finding a full time programming job without a degree, I know that it would be extremely hard to find in New Zealand.

Obviously a lot of companies want experience but some actually understand that a graduate needs to start somewhere. Guess you just need to keep looking.

PS. I just finished my majoring papers in Software Engineering, so yes it can be called that, guess it just depends where you go..

[fayyazlodhi]

I agree and know that a basic Bachelors degree in relevant field is the first formal requirement every where in the world. Though it is the most trivial requirement to meet, but very hard to by pass any where.

I presume when ever it is said 'don't care about the degree', it is more relevant to actual learning and exploring rather than just studying to pass an exam. It is like suggesting to go beyond merely having a paper degree.

[lor]

And not only does studying towards a degree give you formal recognition and what not but it also gives you an opportunity to meet people in the industry, to me, having connections is one of the most important aspects in trying to find a decent job.