I currently have a liberal arts degree that does not pay the bills. I want to get a degree in computers so I can make a lot of money and I am wondering what the best route would be. I heard computer engineering degrees are the best in terms of making good money and want to go that route. The problem is that the graduate school in computer engineering won’t accept me with my current undergrad degree and said I would need to get a 2nd BS. However, there is a masters degree in computer science I would be eligible for if I take 3 prereq classes. Which should I do, the masters in computer science or the 2nd bachelor’s in computer engineering?
bs is 120 credits, masters is 33 semester hours (bs is in computer engineering as opposed to masters which is comp science)/ Of the 120 credits for the bs, there are almost no electives (maybe 3 to 6)–you pretty much have to take everything they say and with my degree, about the only thing that transfers is English (so i probably will have to do almost all of the 120 credits)
Go for the Master’s! It’s harder, and in my opinion, more impressive.
MASTER’S all the way! Once you have a master’s, they don’t much care what you have a bachelor’s in. Plus, master’s are easier to get (b/c they’re not out to flunk and weed you out) and take half the time.
go to grad school
second bachelors
um you should make up your won mind instead of asking strangers.
In addition to the 3 prereqs, how many courses will you have to take to get the master of compsci?
How many to get the BS?
If all you have to do is take 3 pre-reqs to get into a masters program, do that. It will cost you more money and more time to get another bachelors (4 years) than it would for you to get a masters (2 years).
However, without a foundation in computers or math or science you may have a hard time at the masters program.
If you get a 2nd bachelor’s degree you may still need to get a masters. If you get a Masters in computer science you may be able to get work where you could learn computer engineering on the job. You may even be able to get reimbursement for courses from your company.
Try getting in touch with some computer engineers or go to schools with Masters degrees & ask to speak to people who would give you some additional guidance.
Best of Luck to you.
I’m surprised that no one told you this prior to college. You are correct in that liberal arts majors are not in great demand. But to have any degree at all (yep, even basket weaving) will be impressive on a job application or resume. Yes, the pay is not all that great. But you need to get in their and do your best, show them what you got, etc. You will be better off for it.
It’s sad that a young man starting off as a helper in one of the crafts of the construction industry will often get higher wages than a beginning college graduate with a bachelors degree. But the college graduate doesn’t have to go home without pay when it rains. Also the helper will probably get laid off due to a reduction of force when that job (building, road, plant, factory, etc.) is completed and, there may or may not be something available for him elsewhere when he does.
But my suggestion to you is to do this. Make yourself available as a volunteer (without pay) at the place where you would like to work, if you can afford it. Eventually they are going to appreciate your talents and capabilties and offer you a paying position when one is available. I have seen this done on several occasions.
Jobs pay the bills, not degrees. That being said go for the master’s degree. No question.
Gotta be honest though. It’s your first job in the business where you’ll get your real education. You don’t really need a college degree to work successfully in IT.
Programming is manual labor, and you don’t really learn all that much about practical networking or system administration in school. Really depends on what you want to do in the business.
I just moved from hands on technical to managerial after 23 years of the former. I’ve got degrees in psychology and human resources – the novelty of which is a big help when interviewing.
Will the master’s degree get your foot in the door for the engineering school?
Going deeper into a course of study that isn’t paying bills in the first place seems rather unwise, unless there is an opportunity available at that level.
Go on to grad. school. It helps on the resume. It will pay in the long run. This is from a teacher who received her inital certification in grad.school and now a Master of Arts in Special education. $$$$$