Recently I’ve been interested in pursuing education in Computer Science/IT field, however I’d like to do so online. At first I thought online would be a bit intimidating but I think if whatever program I enrolled in had good teachers I’d be ok. Currently, I have no Computer Science or IT experience but have an AA in Liberal Arts.
From what I’ve researched, it seems to me that most people recommend pursuing Computer Science over IT Degrees. What are your thoughts?
Also, has anyone on these forums earned any computer degrees online? Any school recommendations?
I’m thinking I need to find a college/university that offers associates programs and bachelor programs.
Originally I would have gone into computers straight out of high school but the program I wanted into at my local community college was full. Now they’ve lost their two main teachers, so they no longer have the full programs they used to.
Any information would help, I’d like to get into the field and learn as much as I can! I’m confident I could learn the material myself online without a college/university but in order to begin in the working field obviously education has become a necessity.
Please share your thoughts!
Thank you.
P.S. As for what I’d like to do, I’d like to be able to develop software and perhaps even take part in game development (possibly programming). Mainly, I’d like the skills to be able to transform any ideas I’ve had into real software.
Computer science generally has subject like compiler design etc…boils down to internal workings of a machine.
“IT” is more of application oriented. animation,security etc…
On Thu, 16 May 2013 12:36:01 +0000, Genkakuzai wrote:
> What are your thoughts?
Depends on what you want. IT and CS are two different but related
fields. IT focuses on infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance,
and support. CS focuses on software design and development.
> Also, has anyone on these forums earned any computer degrees online? Any
> school recommendations?
A good starting point might be the Open Courseware consortium. That’s a
place to get free materials used at schools like MIT. You can’t get your
degree through OCW, but the course materials might give you some insight
into the program contents and help you decide which path you want to look
at.
Yes, I’d like to be able to develop software and programs. I’ve been researching different online schools and am considering going to Baker College online for the Associates of Applied Science: Computer Programming.
Then from there I still have to decide where to earn my Bachelors but I think their Associates program looks better than most. From what I’ve heard it’s important to find a nonprofit/not-for-profit school, as they are more apt to give quality education rather than just being a “diploma mill.” I’d like to be able to take a program online and fully understand everything learned after completion.
I purchased C++ Primer Plus (6th Edition) to begin learning that language. Haven’t found the time to get too deep into it yet but it seems to be thorough.
Also, thank you for the links you have all sent. I’m willing to learn as much as possible.
If there is anyone else in my position, I’ve found YouTube to be a great help. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has uploaded videos of classrooms for various courses such as Introduction to Computer Science and Programming. If only all online learning was as “in-classroom” as their videos are.
I’ve taken several online classes with my community college so I’m well aware of the drawbacks but if you put the time and effort into your learning you can succeed.
Any other tips anyone may have, please share!
Thanks again.
P.S. I’m also interested to know if anyone is willing to share, what experiences you have in the field and if you enjoy what you do?
There is never anything wrong with getting an education. Be warned book learning only gets your feet wet. Every business and IT shop where ever they may be will have their own way and of doing things and have proprietary systems in place that are specific to the way they do business. Having your feet held to the fire in different environments with different demands with will go far in preparing you for a world where the acronym “IT” is more analogous to a meat grinder then computers.
Always keep in mind that in all most all cases the roll of supporting a business is the roll of IT, and will be viewed as a cost of doing business. Come to work everyday with the thought in mind, “how can I make my employer more efficient and save them a buck” and you will have the proper attitude. Technology for the sake of technology is worthless unless you’re in R&D or development which is a great place to be. Good luck!
Georgia Institute of Technology did make the top 25 list of non-profit online schools but it’s a bit spendy! Sucks having to be practical!
I had a feeling that book learning would still leave someone somewhat empty until jumping into the working world. From my current position it seems a bit intimidating.
I’d like to be able to develop my own software, websites, etc. I also enjoy graphic arts, so I’m kind of all over the place.
Ideally, if I’m not able to work for myself I’d like to get into the gaming industry. Not to sound like a complete loser but I’ve played games my entire life and have always enjoyed watching the “Developer Diaries”. I like to create things and would like to have all the skills necessary to be able to put any ideas into action. Whether it be general software for whatever purpose (an app on an iPad, program for pc,etc.) or bigger projects such as video games or other entertainment software.
Sometimes I think my ideas might be unrealistic but I also have no basis to judge myself just yet, since I don’t have the education!
But from everything I’ve learned so far, programmers/developers are challenged with obstacles to overcome everyday. That aspect doesn’t scare me but gives me more motivation. In theory it sounds great; going to work and accomplishing something, all the while getting paid!
I suppose we all accomplish something no matter what work we do but being in a field of your choice has a lot more meaning!
I’m still interested in any personal experiences if anyone is willing to share. About all I see are videos of people talking about how great it is (obviously trying to lure you into different programs for Universities) without any real details.
Check out Bellevue College. It’s a state community college in WA with a large program for distance ed, including CS transfer courses. Tuition will be higher for out-of-state students, but still affordable.
Do you want to get the Bachelor degree or do you want to get knowledge in IT and CT on a university level?
I know only the Open Universtity and the WaldenUniversity for the Bachelor degree in English.
Since last year we get MOOCs more and more on the world. You can write a test after the course and you can get a certificate.
Most of the openHPI-courses are in German. But they make that sometimes in English, too. But these ones are more for student in higher semesters or for people with experience. That was very interesting. You can see people from USA, GB, Egypt, … in the forum and discuss with them about the videos.
The problem for me: MOOCs won`t be accepted as a graded evidence of achievement by German universities.
I have changed to the FernUniversität in Hagen ( Profile of the University - English - FernUniversit ) in Germany. You can study all over the world. You need only a Goethe-Institute for tests in your country. Papers are in German!
At the end you would have a German Bachelor degree.
Thank you! This will help me out a lot. I’ve watched videos of courses taught at MIT but wished their were courses like these. Can’t wait for them to offer more courses in the future…! Unfortunately I do not know German, a small bit of Spanish from High School otherwise English is all I’ve got. rotfl!
Gaining experience is what you need to do, and that is something easer said than done. We all have core interests that we hope we can leverage and get paid for, again finding that job is the conundrum. You may find that your interests change as you gain knowledge and develop expertise particular positions demand. My personal experience in IT has taught me a couple things.
When looking for work if at all possible taking a job with a smaller company many times will yield a richer IT experience due to the fact you will be forced to wear many different hats because the IT staff is small or you many be the only one supporting the entire group. The big companies tend to pigeon hole you into a particular task, and there you stay fighting your way up through the fiefdoms.
Knowledge in terms of computer systems is something you must parse and understand that tomorrow all that knowledge you gained the day before may be obsolete, however, some things remain constant. Understanding what is constant, which ain’t much is what you hang onto and file all the other stuff in your experience file.
You mentioned you enjoyed graphics, programming and web based apps. The first thing that comes to mind is transactional environments. Learning how to handle data is always valuable, and from my experience the only thing that really matters. It’s one thing to design a pretty web site and an other to design an elegant site that transacts millions of records / second.
The other thing that comes to mind is something all business owners, CEO’s and management need in regards to data, fast accurate metrics. Figure out how to provide what your employer needs to run their business and you will be a hero for at least a moment in time.
Understand how to lower the cost of a workflow used by any business. This is a constant struggle all business grapple with, how to leverage current technology so it has a positive effect on their bottom line.
If your not already become bilingual and include profanity as a major language because you will without a doubt visit that linguist dialect many times a day in the IT world.
These are a few points I can share with you, I’m sure others will have a varied range of advice based on completely different experiences. Again Good Luck!
I can say only the same like DaveES. Experience is the most important thing you need.
IT is very big. At first you have to know, what you want to do. You wrote that you want to develop software. You should begin with programming than.
I have spoken with my colleagues this week, what would be the best language for programming starters. We have got different meanings:
At most German universities you begin with Java. You can begin with basics and small programs like “Hello World”. After that you can change to the OOP very easy without changing the language. You need some help and the knowledge of others, when you need the first “headers”.
Others said, C would be the right language. I can only say: “That was my first programming language, too!” We didn`t learn OOP in our first year at the vocational school and you can understand all the basics after that. I like Java more.
Python is a Scripting Language. You can learn programming with step by step there. It isn`t very difficult to understand. Our Linux Software Engineers are using Python, too.
I think, our openSUSE developers can say more about that.
After getting the knowledge, you have to look after a job, where you can use it. DaveEs said, you should take a small company. It is right, that you can work in many different areas there.
But that can have the other side, too. Perhaps a small company would be specialized on anything and you can`t learn very much there. The best thing for a jobstarter would be getting colleagues with a big knowledge. They can help you making the first steps in the IT-job and becoming a professional.
I have got my German education in a small company. We were only 2 people in the IT. The educator hasnt got a very big knowledge and he didn´t like to educate me, too. I have learned online with tutorials and in communities. I have got luck, that our teachers have been very good, too. I have seen in my class, what the others have learned in the company. I did that at home. After 3 years of education I changed the company. I didnt like to get such a chief again and I looked after the knowledge of all future colleagues. I went to a global internet company. I work in the team “Monitoring & Reporting” now. We are all general administrators and I can do the same things and more than in the education company, which was small.
I say: “It is different, whether you can learn more in a small or in a global company.”
You have to know, that I am a system administrator and not a software developer! We need the knowledge about development, too. If you would have any questions about that, you can write me a PM.
On Fri, 17 May 2013 12:26:04 +0000, Genkakuzai wrote:
> I purchased C++ Primer Plus (6th Edition) to begin learning that
> language.
> Haven’t found the time to get too deep into it yet but it seems to be
> thorough.
Having a language to work with is good, but don’t forget to focus on
structured programming techniques. Learning the syntax of a language is
one thing; learning to write good code is an entirely different thing
(and a good degree program will make the distinction). If you learn good
programming practices at the outset, then your skills will port to other
languages and you’ll be able to pick them up relatively easily.
But if you focus just on C++ syntax, you’ll lock yourself into a language
and your skills will be much more limited.
Thanks for the tip! I think that’s something similar to what an MIT instructor was saying during his Intro to Comp Science & Programming class. They were using Python but he said this course isn’t so much about that language but more about the theories behind computing/programming.
Again, thank you all for your insight. I agree that it’d probably be best from an experience standpoint to be able to wear many hats under a smaller company than just one at a large corporation.
I’m definitely going to try out all the MOOC’s I can. Wish I would have posted on these forums sooner!
We’ll see where the road ahead takes me. Right now I’m just pinning down which school(s) that I think will offer the best quality for a reasonable price…!
On Tue, 21 May 2013 12:46:03 +0000, Genkakuzai wrote:
> Thanks for the tip! I think that’s something similar to what an MIT
> instructor was saying during his Intro to Comp Science & Programming
> class. They were using Python but he said this course isn’t so much
> about that language but more about the theories behind
> computing/programming.
Glad to help out. BTW, Python is a pretty good language to use as a
starting language. I have a background in programming myself (I was a CS
student years ago, but ran out of money before I ran out of courses).
I had a project I was working on last year and I had to do some XML file
manipulation, and it struck me as being something that would better be
done programmaticly rather than by hand (I was restructuring 1300 pages
of documentation), and I asked one of the developers I was working with
what language he’d use, and he said python. I picked enough of it up over
a weekend to write code that did what I needed.
It’s a pretty easy language syntactically, and its extensibility is
pretty impressive. I’ve written an RSS parser that I use in a cron job
and a script that logs into dyn.com once a day (they changed things so
that a client update doesn’t count as a login any more). Lots of
flexibility and pretty easy to use.
> Again, thank you all for your insight. I agree that it’d probably be
> best from an experience standpoint to be able to wear many hats under a
> smaller company than just one at a large corporation.
>
> I’m definitely going to try out all the MOOC’s I can. Wish I would have
> posted on these forums sooner!
>
> We’ll see where the road ahead takes me. Right now I’m just pinning down
> which school(s) that I think will offer the best quality for a
> reasonable price…!
