Need advice on degree, BA or BS? - Page 2

I totally agree with this, I just finished my B.A.S and am now working on my Masters.

A+, Network + and Security + are trash certs that don't even merit the space on a resume, unless you are padding high school only education. Don't go out of your way for those, a BS will overshadow all three, if they fall in your lap take them otherwise they aren't worth the time or money. Apologies for any hurt feelings, but these certs are not even considered in the interview process from my organization for entry level jobs. Although they do tend to ask why you have that cert, it is only to see if you took the target of opportunity or if you did little enough research to think they were needed.

If you like programming go CS.
If you are more interested in the mechanical side of things go Engineering.


Either way go BS then MS if you have it in you. A masters will not hurt you as long as you get it in the proper time frame. You can honestly probably find a career then work on your masters while your employer pays part or all of the degree program. Every class I take is paid for as long as I get at least a B.

Neither major is a pigeon hole either, you can bounce back and forth. Chances are that your first job will be loosely related to your degree, at best. I have many friends with AS, BS, BA, MS, MA. it doesn't matter. The third best security guy I know is a music major from Berklee who went on to get his M.S. in Computer Science. The best is high school educated and teaches for the SANS institute. Its all in what you can wrap your head around. Mike, the latter example, is an exception to the rule, but don't stress on what major as much as completing your coursework and getting into the field. Chances are that you will roll through quite a few different types of job before you settle.

In today's economy if you can manage getting the MS quickly while adding all the certifications you can then that is the route I would choose. Now as far as a BS or BA generally job wise IMO it won't make to big of a difference. Where it will make a difference is in moving on towards a MS or further. (There are those that will think the BA doesn't carry the same pedigree as the BS but most employers will be more interested in the work you've done and can do.)

If you do decide to do the MS route. Here is a tip for you. Find a professor with a project that you are interested in and work with them. Reasons why:

1. You'll get funding in some fashion. (I have a BS, MS, Multiple Certificates and working on my Ph.D. and I have never paid for school. In fact I've always been paid to.)
2. You can turn that project into your thesis. This will save you time because your work is your research.
3. You will have more time and opportunities to meet industry and academic people in your field and form networking relationships.

I think a BS is more useful on the outside to be honest. I got my BS in EE, and will be going back for my MS stating summer 2013. I make good money doing what I do, and enjoy it as there is far more to it than I ever thought possible. There is not a day that goes by that I don't learn something new.

I would vote for going towards the CE degree. It seems like you would be able to do a job that is more closely related to a CS major but it really would work the other way around. That is assuming that CE is a lot like an EE. Im not really sure. Im an ME that has to take a lot of EE classes and I do know that CS and EE are two completely different worlds.

I would also wait on the masters either way you go. It has the possibility to help your job search out of college but also hinder it. In some cases employers wouldnt consider you for a position that requires a BS or BA because your education would mean higher salary. Not to mention, once you find a company where you fit in they will more than likely have a program for you to further your education with their financial help.

One option, you could start as a CE major or undeclared, and if you end up not liking your ECE classes switch over to CS. It will depend on your school as to how much transfers, but I managed to do that jump 4 semesters in without losing any course time due to the overlap, before the really big shift to ECE courses.

Course requirements will vary per school though, assuming it offers both, so you should really check before trying that. I did not actually plan it, it just happened to work out for me.

BS, but be sure to take some time off to do some internships and stuff....

How are you in your junior year and have not decided CE or CS yet?

CE generally require at least 2 years of sequential classes for the electrical side.

CE is MUCH harder than CS.... You have to learn circuit design and electrical components.

If you are dead set on CS, go for the BS/MS.

 

I just left CS to go for BA in Astrophysics though hah.

Edited by RagingCain - 5/9/12 at 7:14pm

This. Physics/Engineering here. Getting an internship or REU over the summer will be the most beneficial thing you will do during your college career. You might not learn anything new, but the idea behind it is that you know how to work. I'm a few days away from my first full year as an intern (my work is right across the highway from my school). The amount of experience I have gotten is unparalleled to the classes I have taken. Being able to apply what you have learned is a major advantage to any job applicant. Plus, if the company likes you, they will hire you when you graduate (saves them from training a new person).