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Ask Slashdot: CS Degree Without Gen-Ed Requirements?
davidjbeveridge writes "I'm interested in getting a CS degree. I've been programming since I was 13, and like many of us, taught myself. I am familiar with a number of languages, understand procedural, functional, and object-oriented paradigms; I'm familiar with common design patterns and am a decent engineer. I learn quickly. I work 2 jobs and I have a life. I want to get a CS degree from an accredited school (a BS, that is), but I have no interest in wasting any of my precious time taking classes in English, Philosophy, History, Art and the like. While these fields are useful and perhaps enriching, they will not contribute to making me better at my job. Moreover, I attended an excellent high school that covered these fields of study in great detail, and I feel no need or desire to spend more time studying these things. I want a BS in Computer Science with no general education requirements. Any suggestions?"
Furthermore, if he knows programming already does that make him a CS? As far as I know, there's more to that, such as algorithms and proper techniques. If he things he knows all he should try to explore new areas as well. Let's say, electrical engineering and learn some circuit design as well.
I'm not CS, but somewhat feel like people that know programming they should get an immediate degree without learning the basics. Programming is probably only one course of the degree and to me, it's not all you need to know to become a CS.
Yes, it's expensive to go to school, but some people really underestimate what they can learn in school.
Dan Bricklin didn't become super rich, but he literally changed the world. I saw a documentary once in which an accountant or some type of professional said that the first time he saw a computerized spreadsheet, he cried, because it took out so much drudgery it could make his work fun again.
If Bricklin had not been getting an MBA, would he have gotten the idea? I'm guessing he looked at hours of paper and pencil boredom recalculating cells, and realized that there was a better way to do it because of his computer background.
Moral: Bricklin's background in computer-science when coupled with exposure to an unrelated area, showed him a need and in the process, he changed the world.
Alternate Moral: If accountants and MBAs had stepped outside their study area and looked at computer-science, they could have changed the world themselves
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
As someone who works at a large international company which works with many people from around the world, some of the least "educated" / skilled people I've worked with, have been American. When put next to, british, australian, french, and german engineers and accountants, even the ones who've come from fancy american universities, seem almost retarded in comparison. (I said engineers and accountants as they're the ones I primarily come into contact with)
While I wouldn't say everyone, but it's become a bit of a joke at our various head offices. We get candidates who have studied for 4-6 years (sometimes more), and yet it's almost like they've only done introductory courses.
Perhaps you should focus less on Gen-Ed, and more on your specialization, at university. Gen-Ed is to be done on top of your specialization, not as part of it.
Me thinks you're mistaking correlation for causation.
This is my footer. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
This illustrate a problem: People think that CS degree is a degree training programmers - they are simply wrong.
Which also illustrates an ongoing problem in many parts of the world. The believe that a degree, any degree, is necessary and an absolute requirement for a non-doctorate field.
Not to say that it is worthless, but why would a programmer need a degree? So they can start out life tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars in debt?
I was raised on the command line, bitch
"Nemo me impune lacesset"