I'm currently a C# .Net developer at a large ecommerce company (mainly work with WCF, MVC, ASP.NET - Web forms and SQL and understand OOD and n tier architecture very well), I have been in this roll for just over two years now and I'm thinking of moving. The question I have is that all my knowledge has been self thought and I notice that most companies are looking for people with BSc Degrees (I currently have a diploma in a different line of study, unrelated to Computer Science). How big of a disadvantage is it to me, not having a BSc Degree? Keep in mind that in the last 2 years I have jumped from junior developer to mid/senior and work on large projects independently. My colleagues that have degrees tell me that it's not that important and that I need not worry about it but looking at job listings I am starting to think otherwise.
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
BSc Degree?
- Thread starter Wookied
- Start date
-
- Tags
- bsc degree
DominionZA
Executive Member
Most listings specify degree or related diploma.
I have a 3 year diploma that I got in 1992. Managed perfectly fine so far.
I would say as a young person in today's world, a degree could be an advantage though.
I have a 3 year diploma that I got in 1992. Managed perfectly fine so far.
I would say as a young person in today's world, a degree could be an advantage though.
Thanks Mike, but keep in mind that my diploma doesnt have anything to do with computer science.
DominionZA
Executive Member
Ah, that could be a problem then man.
If you're good at what you do, a bit of experience will speak volumes to future employers. No formal qualifications may hamper promotions though.
A BSc will be a big advantage to you. Many of the best IT firms only hire programmers with BSc and honours. Perhaps you could do it part time, so you don't even have to stop working?
Thanks Bryn, I have the funding for it but I'm in my late late 20's so I'll only have that once I'm in my 30's. Maybe I should just see what bites on my CV and rely on the interview to determine my skills.
A BSc just feels like a very lengthy proses, but has the potential for me to never worry about the problem I face right now.
But my prioritys leans more toward a new/better job.
The years spend doing a BSc will fly past before you know it. As someone with work experience it probably won't even be very time consuming, as much of it will be elementary for you.
Don't forget what a huge advantage it would be if you decided to emigrate.
It really depends on the company doing the hiring. I know in our company, we'd rather have somebody who can do the job, irrespective of the degree they have. But, having a BSc on your CV does help it. In larger companies, without a BSc, you probably won't even make it past the first filtering stage (could be wrong).
Many companies set up stalls at my university's annual IT Careers Fair, and not one of them hired programmers without a BSc in either computer science or information systems and honours in computer science.
semaphore
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2007
- Messages
- 18,634
- Reaction score
- 9,720
Rubbish. There is only so much experience will teach you, if you want to specialise in a complex computer science field you will be at a sever disadvantage.
etienne_marais
Honorary Master
I 'have' an unfinished B.Sc. Computer Science, actually more subjects than what is needed for a degree, but the syllabus changed while I tried to complete the degree after an 'intermission'. Not having the degree definitely put me back a lot.
In the past it would have been fine to be without a degree in IT but now competition is much higher. It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Also with BSc you stand a better chance of progressing to managerial positions. I don't know why but most large companies require IT managers to have one at least.
Also with BSc you stand a better chance of progressing to managerial positions. I don't know why but most large companies require IT managers to have one at least.
semaphore
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2007
- Messages
- 18,634
- Reaction score
- 9,720
Its a fallacy that managers should be paid more than engineers. And why should the ultimate goal be to become a manager, you are more lucrative if you keep at being a developer and specialise. I managed a team for a bit, worst experience in my life.
Hamster
Resident Rodent
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2006
- Messages
- 45,908
- Reaction score
- 18,407
Who's talking about "specialized complex computer science". 80% of devs out there don't need it (but it is a benefit).
animal531
Expert Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
- Messages
- 4,645
- Reaction score
- 2,657
When starting out in your career it counts for a lot. But the more experience you build up the less it will count for (although having said that, all employers are different, some people will only employ those with degrees etc)
Quality requirements for code are very strict in university though. Without a formal education you may end up as the sort of programmer who submits code that's inefficient, difficult to understand, difficult to update, poorly formatted, poorly documented, bloated with comments etc.
Imo, the vast majority of all software is very poorly made. I'm not saying all uneducated programmers suck, but I do wish many more programmers went to university.
Hamster
Resident Rodent
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2006
- Messages
- 45,908
- Reaction score
- 18,407
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a formal education. Where semaphore and I differ (over numerous threads) is the requirement for that education to be a BSc (or better) specifically. IMO a three year NDip from a university is just as good. But us mere mortals who never did advanced mathematics don't stand a chance according to some
^^vampire^^
Expert Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2009
- Messages
- 3,912
- Reaction score
- 648
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a formal education. Where semaphore and I differ (over numerous threads) is the requirement for that education to be a BSc (or better) specifically. IMO a three year NDip from a university is just as good. But us mere mortals who never did advanced mathematics don't stand a chance according to some
I would tend to agree that some sort of formal training/education as a developer is definitely beneficial, however employers looking for people only with BSc degrees is a bit short sited on their part. I worked with an amazing developer who had no degree. When this guy handed in his resignation the CEO came down personally to try and convince him otherwise (big international corporate company). He managed to move jobs, didn't enjoy the environment at the place he moved to and got another job the next month. Yes, a piece of paper can open the doorway a little wider, but if you are a quality developer, as shown in the above example, you will have absolutely zero issues getting a new job.
I've got a BSc Honours degree in Computer Science from a prestigious university, and it did not teach me good code.
Sure, it taught me about OO principles and programming. It taught me about networking, computer graphics, operating systems, artificial intelligence, distributed programming, etc etc. But not really software engineering. That I had to learn on the job.
Maybe a course oriented towards the theory more than the practical would have covered more engineering type topics, but BScs are quite theoretical.