So what's a computer science degree worth nowadays?

what's google and microsoft worth nowadays?

 

$45-50k/yr starting... in Houston, at least.

Software Engineer positions are growing, too. I hope you actually know what computer science entails, though. Many who enter the subject don't.

(FWIW, I'm a software engineer and have a bachelor's in CS)

 

Software Engineer is the fancy title for programmer. No, I didn't take any engineering courses. I had a few options for some electives, and some engineering courses were in them, but I took more database-oriented courses instead (because I love me some SQL).

And yes, the majority of your coursework will be algorithm and theory based. A lot of kids go in thinking they'll just be doing programming, scripting, etc. but that's far, far, FAR from the truth. They often drop out.

A great practice I wish I had done in college would be to pick a language you like (e.g., Java for me) and just code up every algorithm you learn in class. Not only would you hone your programming skill, but you'd understand that algorithm backwards and forwards. You'll probably get a lot of assignments to do this anyway, but often you won't.

Then again, you might be too busy partying or playing games. That's OK too.

 

They are only worth what you learn on your own, like all technology related degrees. In the technology world, what you learn from books can never and will never compare to what you learn in the real world. Do you want to program, be a systems administrator or manage? Whichever one you want to do, your education needs to start now, even if you aren't in school.

Entry level programming jobs can be had for about $40k per year, but start NOW on getting your portfolio together and learning your language(s) of choice. I've been in systems administration for 12 years and am now trying to make a bit of a switch the the programming side... you really need to figure out what you're going to want to specialize in. A degree can be helpful but the IT world is one of the few places where four years of experience may be more worthwhile than four years of schooling.

If I had it to do all over again when I graduated high school (1997) I would have enrolled in a junior college computer science program and started learning PHP, while also working on basic certifications (A+, Network+, MCP, etc). I would have gotten a $15-$20/hour job to get me through as I either got a degree or came up with an idea and fully released it. Now, I have 12 years of experience in the Microsoft world and certifications I'm moving to diversify myself by learning programming.

The bottom line is with virtualization and cloud computing systems administration is becoming more automated... or at least much easier to outsource. If you know programming you can become a millionaire overnight working on a mobile app or game, or by creating apps to sell on places like Code Canyon. If you can program, and you have in imagination, the sky is the limit. If you are in systems administration, unless you go in to upper level management or open your own business, about $120k per year is the limit.

 

There are a lot of people sitting around without a job or taking lower-paying jobs nowadays that have comp sci degrees. You may want to ask around. Things are picking up a bit, but they're nothing like they were the past decade or so.

 

comp sci is equivalent to engineering, as a study. It's not always theory, although the measurement of speed, size and data access/database design can get theoretical, and then you have the fuzzy people. Algorithms are the heart and soul. Math can really come into play depending on your path, but discrete math/algebra can get you a long way.

My main advice would be to do what you like, and not fret about picking a major prior to your sophmore year. If you are talking about picking a college based on what you want, you still might be overthinking, prematurely. If you like engineering, just do the big three classes freshman year. Accounting is something that wouldn't really start until 2nd year as well.

 

This is a good site to see career descriptions, salary and job growth projections.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos304.htm (Computer Scientists profile)

 

Watch the tv series, outsourcing.

 

I think you mean Outsourced. It has nothing to do with CS or Programming.

You are the worst poster.

 

Call Benson and Stabler, cuz you're about to get repped.

 

not at all trying to be a douchebag or anything, but i was taught that its against the law in US n canada to call urself an engineer (or ur company to title u as one) if u dont actually have an engineering degree and has been approved by an engineering board after a few years of working under someone.

by the way i had to take some software engineering courses for my EE degree, did not enjoy those. takes a certain skillset and attitude to do programming. alot of ppl dropped out of the CS n soft. engr where i went to school.

 

I believe you're referring to the title of "professional engineer" which does require the stated.

 

I just graduated high school last year. I decided to go with Information Technology. That might be something you can look into

 

i mean a bachelor in Computer Science, does not equal a Software Engineer title.
and professional engineer title is of course someone who has an engineering degree who has been approved by an engineering board after so many years.

 

This is what I'm currently doing. Do what makes you happy and what you know you're good at. I started out pretending I could be a science major when science wasn't really my thing. Now that I switched majors, I'm happy with the classes I take, and most importantly that I'm going to have a career in a field in which I enjoy doing.

 

I have a degree in both software engineering and computer science. Computer Science is more geared towards algorithms, design patterns and data structures. Software Engineering is geared towards SDLC, team dynamics, development methodology (agile, waterfall etc), and project planning (estimation, budget etc).

Currently I have a well paying job considering I came out of college in Dec 2008. After college I've been working as a consultant in Dallas, consulting is great for getting exposure but I can be stressful. Pay wise, out of college in December 2008 i was making about 52k, Nov 09 I got a bump to 65k. Last month I switched jobs and now I'm making 90k. I currently work as a Team Lead at my client, and still do development pretty heavily. The max you can make in consulting and still write code is around 120k. After that you can make up to 180k, if you're doing accounting management for different clients and etc.

There is a still money to be made in this field, but you can't just be a programmer. Having skills in SE helped tremendously, because I can do estimates, planning stuff for client and do development for them as well. My current client is a semi-conductor manufacturing company where I program their manufacturing robot, so this is where my CS degree kicks in. Hopefully this helps man.

 

I'm finishing my degree in IT with a minor in Business at University of Massachusetts. Comp Sci isn't the only alternative for a 'geek' degree these days.