DBA and PhD in IT

[artem]

I would like to learn about the current situation in the USA and Canada regarding careers in software development. Is it important to have a DBA or PhD for a software developer role? Are industry certifications valuable? Or is a Master's degree sufficient? How significant are experience and skills compared to formal education? Is successfully passing an interview enough, or are degrees also necessary?

[maxxor6868]

I would like to learn about the current situation in the USA and Canada regarding careers in software development. Is it important to have a DBA or PhD for a software developer role? Are industry certifications valuable? Or is a Master's degree sufficient? How significant are experience and skills compared to formal education? Is successfully passing an interview enough, or are degrees also necessary?

BACS. MBA. DBA

Working on my PMP certification right now.

Will it help you land a job as a software engineer? Maybe. I got my first gig and my master thought it was neat that I already had a masters degree. Not everyoone cares. It you alot more in fed roles or older industries than say a FAANG job. DBA or Phd will help you in later roles. If you want to be a high level engineer and never move around, than no it will never help you. Companies will pay you more for experience regardless unless you maybe had a masters in AI or whatever hot new thing that is out. If you want to move into the mgmt side of things that is where the big help will come in. That been my experience anyways. I would not go for a higher degree though unless your org pays for it. That is a benefit that not everyone takes advantage of and it a great benefit to utilize.

[Tomas]

check Reddit sw job groups they are full of stories and advices

in general, experience and skill is what rules and degree is what helps to get an interview
(DBA would be IMHO pretty strange degree to have for a sw developer role, isn't DBA what one gets after some time in business career to move up in management structure?)

[maxxor6868]

check Reddit sw job groups they are full of stories and advices

in general, experience and skill is what rules and degree is what helps to get an interview
(DBA would be IMHO pretty strange degree to have for a sw developer role, isn't DBA what one gets after some time in business career to move up in management structure?)

Those subs imao are pretty useless. They were saying just a few years ago no one needs a degree and you can get a job with a bootcamp and outside of California tech hubs that was never the case. MBA and above are extremely common in higher tier jobs. Problem is those subs are very regional base with strong focus on tech hubs. If that what you are aiming towards, great. If not than the rules for education, experience, networking, etc all still apply. There are not 15 tiers of software engineering in most companies. You will find multiple levels of management.

[artem]

check Reddit sw job groups they are full of stories and advices

in general, experience and skill is what rules and degree is what helps to get an interview
(DBA would be IMHO pretty strange degree to have for a sw developer role, isn't DBA what one gets after some time in business career to move up in management structure?)

In general yes, but I found programs in web development and AI. The difference with a PhD is that it is more practical than theoretical. The dissertation is shorter and there are more practical courses.

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Those subs imao are pretty useless. They were saying just a few years ago no one needs a degree and you can get a job with a bootcamp and outside of California tech hubs that was never the case. MBA and above are extremely common in higher tier jobs. Problem is those subs are very regional base with strong focus on tech hubs. If that what you are aiming towards, great. If not than the rules for education, experience, networking, etc all still apply. There are not 15 tiers of software engineering in most companies. You will find multiple levels of management.

I understand that management is more promising as a career development, but I am not a native english speaker. The language will be a serious barrier to growth. Working as an engineer will be easier.


I was recently accepted to Walsh College, where I have the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in AI and a Doctor of Business Administration in AI and ML within three years. Of course, if I write and defend a thesis.

However, I also discovered an online Master's degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech, which offers a master's degree for half the price of the doctorate from Walsh College.

Considering my career in the U.S., which would be more beneficial: a master's degree from a reputable university like Georgia Tech or a doctorate from a lesser-known institution like Walsh College?

I also have the opportunity to get a master's degree from an unknown European university for free. If the prestige of the university is not important, then I will go this way. Although I am ready to pay extra for a well-known, reputable university.

[Pikachu]

A PhD/DBA is useless for a software role anywhere in the world. AI/ML is not software development.

MS in CS from GeorgiaTech would be 1000x more valuable than a doctorate.

[bjcheung77]

A DBA will work for those who are looking at upper management, the PhD for those who would like more research on an IT emphasis or focus on advancement in that domain. It really depends on the student and what their ultimate education goal is, be it leading to management, teaching, or personal growth, research, etc... It boils down to variables (what the student needs and wants)...

[maxxor6868]

A PhD/DBA is useless for a software role anywhere in the world. AI/ML is not software development.

MS in CS from GeorgiaTech would be 1000x more valuable than a doctorate.

I kinda disagree. The Masters from Georgia Tech will be useful to be a senior dev but mgmt an MBA or DBA (really senior roles). It only useless depending on your goal. Want to be a developer forever? You don't even need a masters just kepe working. Want to move up? Have to have more knowledge that other education can offer. OP hasn't said what their enndgoal is so it hard for us to offer advice.