Boston University MET Master of Science in Software Development

[Merlin]

Well, I will say that I agree with @armstrongsubero in that a pure Computer Science degree is not the same as a degree in Software Development. A CS degree will better prepare someone for the more esoteric aspects of computer science and hard sciences like computer engineering.

However, the caveat there is that very few people go into CS for the pure science route. Most are doing it to become software developers because that is what most employers are looking for. So in that sense, they are equivalent. If you want to develop websites or build mobile applications or develop computer games, then a degree in software development and a CS degree will do the same thing for you. In fact, the software development degree may be superior since you will spend less time learning about theory and more time learning how to build software. In many ways, software development is more about art than science anyway.

I also agree that you don't need any degree to become successful as a software developer. It is a trade like any other and can be learned on the job. But that can also be said of just about any job. Back in the day, people use to learn through apprenticeship and never cracked a book in their lives. Luckily, in IT (which includes software development), most employers are more interested in what you can do than having a piece of paper. So there are a ton of software developers out there who don't have a degree, nor are they interested in ever attaining one.

I always say the best way to learn how to be a programmer is to start writing code. That really is the only way. A programming course can teach you the theory but until you apply it across a number of different types of problems, you don't really learn how it works. Plus, you learn more through failure than you ever do through success.

If you want a job as a software developer, then learn how to code and start developing applications that you can add to your portfolio. If you want to develop websites, then start doing that for friends and family until you're good enough to offer your services to others. Then when its time to interview, you can show people the websites you built and show them the code you wrote as a means to demonstrate competency and skill. You can use the same analogy for mobile development, or whatnot.

In any case, back to the OP. A masters degree in CS is great if you're looking for a hard science/engineering or research-focused career or you already have experience and are looking to move up into higher levels of management in a technical organization. However, if you're just doing it because you love to write software and think it will help you get a job, I think you'd be wasting your money. Yes, it would be helpful as a tie-breaker between two candidates who are otherwise equal, but most hiring managers would prefer to hire a candidate with a great resume and portfolio of accomplishments over a candidate with high academic credentials and little experience or few accomplishments.