Northface University - Computer Science in Half the Time?

prostoalex writes "Associated Press runs a nationwide story on Northface University. The school, founded by a pair of venture capitalists and former technology chief found a niche with its highly intensive curriculum and corporate software development specialization. For example, a BSCS degree can be completed in a little over 2 years, and it comes with IBM's WebSphere and Microsoft's MCSD certification. Northface is also promoting its corporate partnerships, which allow current students to feel more secure about future employment. Grady Booch from IBM is quoted to be 'jazzed up' about the program, although there are many who oppose such approaches to college education."

Comments

Re:Everything will be half

[Shadow Wrought]

Half the money

At $60,000 for 2 years, it certainly doesn't sound like half the money. A four year degree from the Art Institute of Portland in game programming or game art is $64,000 for four years. Although the extra couple of years might seem like fluff there is alot to be said for the knowledge and thinking skills that can be obtained during that time.

But that's my $.02

Re:this is just a damn shame

[GileadGreene]

Perhaps Im wrong and this cariculum will teach excelent data structure usage, and algorithim analysis and AI and compiler design and low level architecture. But at this point i kind of doubt it.

Looking at their curriculum course descriptions, I'd say that your doubts are well founded. Looks like a trade school with a few classes in logic and discrete math thrown in. I don't see much on software engineering (aside from lip service to "the complete software life cycle"), let alone any actual computer science.

Re:Everything will be half

[AuMatar]

I used calculus just yeasterday- I needed to code a program, and there were two answers- an n time solution, or take the derivative on paper, and plug into the resulting equation in constant time.

Physics- daily. Of course I work in an embedded field, so I deal with physical hardware every day.