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Computer Job w/ No Computer Degree?

Posted by Cliff on from the you-gotta-start-somewhere dept.

Peterus7 asks: "I posted here a few years back, complaining that I couldn't code worth beans, but I wanted to get into computer science. Well, I'm back- with a psychology degree. However, I hear there's still hope since a lot of system admins and the like have liberal arts degrees. In the mean time, I've been working as a Macintosh digital media tutor, freelance tech support, and an assistant system admin at the campus library. Now that I've graduated, I want to find a job that will accept someone who knows a fair amount about computers, but is pretty much self-taught. Where should I start? Are there any classes I should take?"

2 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. There's Hope! by graznar · · Score: 3, Informative

    I started a CS degree and quit about 9 credit hours into it. I suck at math, but I've been programming since I was 12. I've had about 4 jobs doing computer/sysadmin work (two of them at large colleges), have programmed freelance for some time, and I'm now writing a book for Manning Publications on programming (along with a self-published book also).



    All while getting a degree in Theology. :)



    Don't fret about the degree; you just need the skills and mindset to do it.

    --
    [ check out my ruby book @ http://ww
  2. Rule Number One... by cyranoVR · · Score: 4, Informative

    Rule number one is to never apologize for not having a Comp Sci degree in an interview.

    (Rule number two is that you don't want to work anywhere that strictly requires it)

    I have a Liberals Arts degree and I'm a completely self-taught, working Java developer. The only thing I did do to help my job search was get a Sun Certified Java Programmer certification. Almost no experienced developers give any merit to the thing, but during my job search it was useful to "prove" to the skeptical that I really do know Java.