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+--- Thread: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation (/Thread-CS-degree-or-not-Data-Analytics-For-my-work-situation)
CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Ideas - 01-27-2022
I'm interested in doing a Masters in CS, a Masters in Data Analytics (WGU has this), or a Masters in IT with Data Analytics concentration/emphasis (NAU, Purdue Global, or other).
The IT degree seems easier but not by a lot, and the courses seem less interesting. I haven't found a CS degree that is quicker yet, but I assume one is out there which I could do in 12 months or less. I don't think I am willing to do one that takes longer because I would just do WGU or PurdueG instead. I would probably do CS at a state school. CS degrees tend to have some required courses that I dislike, but I think that some have a decent curriculum especially if they offer a Data Analytics concentration.
I'm a little less interested in WGU (compared to the other schools because of their marketing), but it seems like some employers might be impressed with the degree being so focused. I feel like it looks great on a resume for Data jobs compared to having the emphasis/concentration.
Part of my confusion is that I get bored with fields/subjects. So while I'm currently feeling up to studying Data Analytics for a year, and working in the field, I feel like in the future I also want the option to work non-Data IT jobs that pay less and are less stressful, more predictable, etc? What I mean is I wonder if the WGU degree would be bad for me later because of the WGU degree being so specialized. (Due to my health, I will likely need a lot of my future work to be freelance/flexible and/or remote and I had read a post by someone in the Data field who said their job had short deadlines, overtime, and always new problems. But I guess there are plenty of jobs not like that one.)
I know that things like internship / completed projects will matter a lot too, but I hope to hear input on the degree choice. (I feel like most schools will have some built-in project, and one said you create a whole portfolio, but some don't and I might need that to show prospective employers.)
Also, would my undergrad not really matter once I had one of these Masters? Because I've finished the BACS credits at TESU but I'm starting to think of not graduating with it (so I can do something else that is basically a bucket list item). OTOH, I can't imagine not having one degree with "Computer Science" in the name after working toward that for so long now, but I already have my other major slot filled at TESU and they won't allow a third.
Edit: Found another MS Data Analytics which says you can complete in 12 months. Not self-paced. Haven't found a CS program which is fast and has a curriculum I like.
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Pats20 - 01-27-2022
If you have the credits to graduate with cs I would do that. I wouldn’t switch degree paths now just because You want to pursue masters in it. If anything it will help get into a masters program and help get thru it. Cs degrees are employable across all industries even if you decide you don’t want to be in IT or tech. Also Mscs will probably take more than a year unless you can dedicate full time.
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Flelm - 01-27-2022
I know you said you don't want a MS CS in longer than one year, but if you're concerned about marketability at all, the UT Austin MS CS is supposedly doable in 1.5 years: https://www.edx.org/masters/online-master-science-computer-science-utaustinx
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - bluebooger - 01-27-2022
harvard extension school has some graduate certificates if you might want to go that way
https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/programs/data-science-graduate-certificate/
https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/programs/data-analytics-certificate/
con is its about the same cost as a masters at the other schools mentioned
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - allvia - 01-27-2022
How about an MS in Data Science from Eastern U, there are a few posts here and some very detailed ones on the sister board. The courses themselves are self paced, and the price is very good. - https://www.eastern.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-data-science
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Ideas - 01-27-2022
(01-27-2022, 09:18 AM)Pats20 Wrote: If you have the credits to graduate with cs I would do that. I wouldn’t switch degree paths now just because You want to pursue masters in it. If anything it will help get into a masters program and help get thru it. Cs degrees are employable across all industries even if you decide you don’t want to be in IT or tech. Also Mscs will probably take more than a year unless you can dedicate full time.
Yeah, I feel the same way, but I wondered if BA whatever + MS Data Analytics/Sci would be as employable as BACS + MS data Analytics/Sci. I think it would be for Data jobs but not for the non-Data Tech jobs.
Then personally I think that BA whatever + MSCS would be as employable (compared to BACS+MSCS) for most Tech jobs but not for Data-heavy jobs. But it would be nice if I'm wrong.
Now I don't know if I would do a MCIT/MSIT. Since I see there are so many Data Analytics/Sci programs that are quick. The only reason to do that degree is if I think I won't finish the MSCS or MSDA. A lot of the MSCS seem to have courses that I don't like as much so motivation could be harder.
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Pats20 - 01-27-2022
IMO. Nothing outside of maybe nursing ,medical school, and some trades is going to be more employable than stem.
Plus you never know what the future holds. You may never get a a masters for some reason Or another. Plus good luck getting into Mscs without a cs Math or engineering degree
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Ideas - 01-27-2022
(01-27-2022, 10:55 AM)allvia Wrote: How about an MS in Data Science from Eastern U, there are a few posts here and some very detailed ones on the sister board. The courses themselves are self paced, and the price is very good. - https://www.eastern.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-data-science
Thanks for suggesting this. Looks amazing. 10 months if you do 2 courses per short term! Although I may need to go a little slower than that, it still would be 1 year. If I do Data Analytics/Sci, this may be the one.
I am not sure if I prefer a CS degree w/concentration. Hoping to get some thoughts on that. Does the CS degree give more options for moving around in the field? Surely it does? For example, I think if I were trying to just tutor, adjunct/assist, or help design/improve courses, it seems like I could work on a lot more courses with the CS degree than the DA degree.
I know that maybe I should pin down what I want to do, but I'm not sure I can do that even after reading a lot about different tech jobs. I think I need to I understand better what Data Sci work is like. I have a little bit of real-world experience with it, but perhaps not enough.
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - FrHaseKopf - 01-27-2022
GSW has a CS master with $257 per credit, total < $10,000. 30 Credits, if you are fast you can finish <1.5 years.
https://www.gsw.edu/college-of-business-and-computing/mscs
URV (Spain) has a Master in Computational Engineering and Math or Master in Computer Vision for about €3,700, One year online. But pay attention to some prerequisites.
https://www.urv.cat/en/studies/master/courses/computational-engineering/
RE: CS degree or not? Data Analytics? For my work situation - Ideas - 01-27-2022
I've also considered doing a BSCS, but I'd need 8-10 more courses (that are not self-paced) because I'm avoiding programs with certain requirements (more math, etc). However, it seems like doing 10 graduate courses would not be too much harder. Also the BSCS I like seems to not be ABET-accredited.
(I have an unrelated Masters already, but am not totally sure if a grad level CS course would be harder than I'm up to handling. Undergrad CS are kind of challenging for me.)