[nfbcs] Computer science major college question

Mon Jul 4 16:07:01 UTC 2016

I have a degree in linguistics, and a certificate in programming.  I think
several of my coworkers don't have CS degrees either, but we are older
workers.  I think the young folks do have CS degrees of some sort.  I'm not
convinced they actually know any more than those of us with other degrees;
it just makes HR and non-programming managers happy to see some kind of
formal credentials.

My brother does have a CS degree, but he has been unemployed a lot more than
I have.  I got lucky and got a steady job, while he has gotten contract jobs
that dry up after a year or two.  So the degree isn't necessarily a ticket
to a good career, IMO.  But, if that's what employers want ...

I strongly believe that what made the certificate program I attended
successful was its ties to prospective employers.  Also, it was a special
program for disabled people, so, when one of the employers connected to the
program offered me an interview, he wasn't surprised when a blind person
showed up. But I was lucky to find the program when it was good; shortly
afterwords it fell apart.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Taylor Arndt via
nfbcs
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2016 11:22 AM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Cc: Taylor Arndt
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question

What kind degrees they have

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 4, 2016, at 10:14 AM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> 
> There are many, many programmers who do not have Computer Science degrees.
I'm willing to bet most of them at my firm do not have such degrees.
> 
> Greg
> 
>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:58 AM, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>> 
>> Well, I want to be able to program.
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:58 AM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>> 
>>> You will definitely need calculus for a computer science degree. Most
schools will also require a language. That said I have heard of a few school
that accept computer languages (C, Fortran, Python, etc.) for this
requirement but such schools are, I suspect, very, very rare.
>>> 
>>> As a dyslexic I was told to steer well clear of formal foreign language
instruction and so ended up taking American Sign Language to fill my
university's language requirement. The advantage was that ASL has no written
form and as such I was never required to learn to read, write or spell in
it.
>>> 
>>> When I went to school the disabled student's office provided far less
support than many of them do today. What support they gave was welcome
however, they could, for example, insure that once I had signed up for a
class and the recorded book were ordered that the class would be offered no
matter what.
>>> 
>>> I would also point out here that there are many paths to a career in
technology and no all of them lead through a computer science degree. Today
I hold the professional title of engineer at a major silicon valley company,
yet my degree is in fine arts with graduate work in American Studies. I
never once had any formal computer science or engineering training but I did
avail myself of some programming classes that filled the math requirements
in college.
>>> 
>>> Many of the people I work with directly have degrees in music and others
in fields as wide ranging as philosophy and history and came to computer
science after the fact. Indeed my company often tells people they should
ignore the education requirements section of job posting and apply if they
feel they can do the work. My supervisor never set foot on a college campus
but came out of the military.
>>> 
>>> Greg Kearney
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 11:40 PM, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Really? I thought if you went into the sciences you didn't have to have
one wow that stinks
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 10:18 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 1. I had to take calculus. Why? When you start getting into database
cross products, intersections, and unions/set theory, having an
understanding of these from a math point of view helps. Finally, during week
1 of one of my programming classes starting tomorrow, we have to write a
program that solves a 4-line algebra problem.
>>>>> 2. The DS offices did not do much for me in my undergrad degree.
>>>>> 3. Almost all schools require a foreign language credit(s). Mine did
not because I took classes online.
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
Guyette via nfbcs
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, July 3, 2016 9:34 PM
>>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Cc: Robert Guyette <rags215 at comcast.net>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yes you have to take calculus bedside you will use it in computer
science classes.  The more the math the better.  I did  not rely on the
disabled students services.  
>>>>> 
>>>>> Get Outlook for iOS
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 6:27 PM -0700, "Taylor Arndt via nfbcs"
<nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hi, so I am doing some research for colleges. I know that I want to
major in computer science but I have few questions One. Do you have to take
calculus in college?
>>>>> If so why is this?
>>>>> Two. Did the disability services at your college help you in anyway
for your computer science major?
>>>>> Three. Did you have to take a foreign language class in order to
graduate?
>>>>> Thanks, and I'd appreciate any input
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>>>>> 
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