Do Employers Care About Computer Science Degrees From Liberal Arts Colleges

		Ask HN: Do employers care whether my Computer Science caste is a B.A. or B.Southward?
		8 points by ISloop on April 6, 2012 | hibernate | past | favorite | xx comments
		Yeah, it's a serious question. I'm a community higher student who is applying this fall to transfer into a University of California. Although most universities offer CS as a B.S. degree, some offer it in BOTH B.S. and B.A. The B.S. degree would crave me to stay an actress twelvemonth to stop a math course and the physics series, however I've been in CC for too long and would like to transfer equally soon every bit possible. I was thinking of going for the B.A. caste, but I would like to know if that would put me at a disadvantage afterward when I'thou applying for jobs. Thanks.

I don't think whatsoever of the bosses I've e'er had would realize that there'southward a difference. Perhaps one in 100 would fifty-fifty think to find out why the letter is dissimilar. I would probably find and at that place'south a slim chance I'd enquire what's different about it out of marvel but information technology wouldn't make much of a divergence to me. The fact that you're the kind of person that fifty-fifty knows the difference would exist more than important to me.

Many employers practice not even care if you have a caste. I remember when I applied for my beginning full-time, non-freelancing chore. I practise non have a degree (I had been in the field for long enough to feel that I had significant experience), so I would non bother looking at postings that requested one. Therefore, I did not carp submitting my resume to my that employer. Instead, a headhunter institute my resume, the company interviewed me and they concluded up hiring me. I was adequately close with the person responsible for hiring me, and he stated that the caste never crossed his heed. Instead, they looked at the source code for one of my free software projects at the time and idea that I would exist fit for the position. I was later actively involved in the interviewing procedure for new candidates, and a caste was the final thing on any of most our minds. In fact, when asking for code samples, we found that many with degrees had but elementary knowledge because they only completed what was necessary for the course, but did not apply themselves any further. That said, these were the opinions of my employer; others may non feel the same way. If y'all are able to provide extensive examples of your work to your employer (e.1000. source code if you are applying for a programming position), that is probable to be more than representative of your ability than a degree that only says "Yes, (s)he completed this course."

You tin can ever take the math and physics at UC after you are admitted. Universities tend to be pretty flexible near such things. You could also take them at a customs college or other institution over a summer after you are admitted. The beginning large thing is to get your assembly and become to the university. Good luck.

Thanks. Unfortunately admissions are extremely competitive, and I hear only the people with loftier GPA + all finished pre-reqs get in. I figure if I go accustomed somewhere, I'd rather focus on the CS/programming cloth than finishing classes that are irrelevant to my major.

What I am suggesting is that information technology is non likely to exist specially difficult to get faculty back up to switch from a BA to a BS once y'all are in the department.

My experience from other science fields suggests that the difference between a BA and a BS may be as much about the school every bit the bookish program. I went to MIT, which gives BS for music and other humanities. My wife went to Middlebury, which gave her a BA in chemistry, as they practise in all the sciences. A available's caste - BA or BS - is more nigh your particular courses and program of study than anything about the letters. I'chiliad nevertheless in academia - at a liberal arts college, marlboro.edu - and don't have much experience with what employers want. But my CS students - most with BA'south - seem to be doing fine.

Some employers say they desire a BS. But it normally just means they didn't consider that CS BA degrees exist. Hardly any employers e'er actually verify you lot have a degree at all. Usually the ones that split hairs over this stuff are places you don't want to work at, because it boils down to: this hypothetical employer cares whether you took another ii classes. Case in point: when I applied to grad school it did seem to be a large deal that I have a BA and not a BS. I took this (among other things) as a sign I didn't actually desire to go to that school...

I perhaps incorrect simply I believe it depends on what y'all desire to do with your degree. If you desire to do video game programming I would retrieve that the core physics coursework would be a definite prerequisite. I'm pretty sure more hardware related firms might as well look into your science coursework as well. This will probably be less of import if you lot want to pursue web programming or something more than high level.

I don't care if you even accept a degree. Your interview may not even involve schoolwork, unless you bring up a projection. We're hiring at our startup, Sococo. Bank check it out, now or when you graduate.

Thanks for the feedback. Although I'yard not experienced enough in programming to exist valuable anywhere, I volition definitely look into your startup when I significantly improve my skills. I take some other question. I see y'all're located in Mountain View. I'1000 assuming you lot receive a lot of applications from summit tier universities such as Stanford and Berkeley. Is the caste withal not that important? Assuming you go two applicants of equal ability, one is from a top tier college and the other from...let's say a CSU college. Would y'all exist biased towards the more elite bidder? Pitiful if these questions are lightheaded. I'm really interested in the recruiter'southward perspective though.

All of our applications are from references or cold calls. We don't filter annihilation, at least as far as I know. I'k from a state U. Our chief Architect completed his degree decades after leaving college. Our VP of Eng. has no degree. Humility aside, all are top-knotch professionals with years of experience. Of course we also have PhD's and Stanford graduates. Because they stone. Merely other people rock too. Nosotros'v hired unknown people based on personal references, and we take a great squad. Enthusiasm, smarts, a willingness to jump into a chaotic environment and swim like mad to stay adrift are all more than important than technical credits.

How does a degree in computer science exist anything but a B.Due south.? It would seem a bit contradictory the other way, or in the least a misnomer...

I have a friend who got her BA in CS at Yale. She's now in police school and unable to employ for the patent bar because of it, which isn't a big deal since she'll exist a patent litigator, but it is an odd wrinkle in the system.

No. Find something interesting to work on while y'all're in schoolhouse. You lot'll proceeds experience and have something to talk about in job interviews.

I have a ba in figurer science from cornell and it hasn't been a problem. Initially wanted to be a philosophy major.

And so did your curriculum involve a decent corporeality of liberal arts classes mixed with CS classes? Do y'all recollect your understanding of computer science is as solid as the people who did the B.South. program?

Considering that a lot of employers state that they desire a CS Caste OR equivalent experience y'all should exist fine.

rocksockell.blogspot.com

Source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3808095

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