What do employers think of self 'designed' degrees?

[ViviTheMage]

I do not like the curriculum for a lot of the courses for the degrees I want at the U of Minnesota - Twin Cities. So I was going to try for a Inter-College B.S.

https://webapps-prd.oit.umn.edu/pro...gram.do?programID=1052&strm=1109&campus=UMNTC


Do employers not like these? I don't really need to go back to school, i've got my associates, and it's been enough to get me where a 4 year would get me. If things go the way I hope they do...I shouldn't need to use it, but as a back up, i'd like to have myself set up a little bit.

What do you guys think about degrees like this?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

To me, it seems like an excuse to be lazy.

Curriculum are designed to give you the education needed to enter a field, to completely skirt that strikes me as dumb.

"ICP is most appropriate for self-directed students whose educational backgrounds and career and intellectual interests require both a clear personal focus and a flexible interdisciplinary approach."

Are you kidding me?

 

[vi edit]

That link doesn't look all that different than a typical degree from a liberal arts college. Yeh I have technically a BS in Computer Science but in reality I've only got about 40 of my 120 hours in real, actual CS related subjects. All the rest were liberal arts/non CS related things.

As far as what employers care for? If you are are fresh out of school then an industry specific degree is much more desirable. If you have been in the work force and just need the paperwork and letters behind the name, it's not as big of an issue.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As far as what employers care for? If you are are fresh out of school then an industry specific degree is much more desirable. If you have been in the work force and just need the paperwork and letters behind the name, it's not as big of an issue.

This. IIRC OP, you're in IT. Is that correct? My experience in IT at various companies is exactly what vi edit mentioned above. The hiring managers didn't care who your degree was from or even what your major was, as long as 1) You had a 4 year degree and 2) You had experience to do the job and could prove it in our interview.

 

[ViviTheMage]

That is the thing, I am not fresh out of school anymore, i've held a network admin job for 4 years now....with most 4 year degrees, you'd expect to be Level1 help desk for a few years, then move around. I am well beyond that, LOL.

I am trying to see the benefit into get a 4 year degree now, and i'd need to take at least 4-5 other pre-reqs for most of the degrees I want, which is time/money I don't feel like I need to spend on more math/structure courses...I want to get into core courses.

 

[Illusio]

From my experience, once you've had your first job, your second one won't care about your degree as long as you have one.

 

[mmntech]

From my experience, once you've had your first job, your second one won't care about your degree as long as you have one.

This. Hell, even in my experience looking for my first industry job, a degree from a world class university doesn't seem to mean much. :hmm:

A degree is basically like a high school diploma these days.

 

[ViviTheMage]

From my experience, once you've had your first job, your second one won't care about your degree as long as you have one.

But later on ... if I wanted to hit an exec position/supervisor should I have my 4 year? Even if it's something like this degree? I am good at the office politics game.


HRrmmm, invest time/money for the 4 year paper or not. I honestly don't think i'll learn squat, haha.

This. Hell, even in my experience looking for my first industry job, a degree from a world class university doesn't seem to mean much. :hmm:

A degree is basically like a high school diploma these days.

good info, leaning towards not going.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

But later on ... if I wanted to hit an exec position/supervisor should I have my 4 year? Even if it's something like this degree? I am good at the office politics game.

Absolutely. The lack of a four-year degree will limit you. In many cases, that isn't even enough. You might be in the right place at the right time to move into a management position without a BS or BA, but the odds aren't as good as just getting the degree.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Absolutely. The lack of a four-year degree will limit you. In many cases, that isn't even enough. You might be in the right place at the right time to move into a management position without a BS or BA, but the odds aren't as good as just getting the degree.

If that is the case, then would this degree help that you think?

 

[Uhtrinity]

You could always look into something like http://wgu.edu
They have a full IT college and are great with transfers from accredited schools.

There is a lot of information from tech types at http://www.techexams.net/forums/

On the topic of designer degrees, I tried something similar in the late 90's to convert my AAS to BAT (Bachelor of Applied Technlogy). I ended up being so heavy in core classes from Math, Physics, and CS that scheduling became a major issue and I never finished. In the end I still don't know what I would have been qualified to do. Since then I completed a BS in IT from WGU and continued with a M.ed in Learning & Technology.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I always figured online unni's sucked...and where laughed at?

 

[Uhtrinity]

I always figured online unni's sucked...and where laughed at?

The for profit online universities have unfortunately left people with the misconception that all online schools are bad. WGU for the record is only non-profit online school and is fully accredited.

In 2008 I went through FBI interviews prior to completing my IT degree and they had no issues with WGU. In fact I received an offer which I ended up declining. That would have been a help desk job.

Like you I also have prior work experience and a current job, but simply needed the 4 year degree and the additional certifications. WGU fit and continues to fit that role well.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If that is the case, then would this degree help that you think?

It would definitely help over not having one. If you're in a job that has tuition reimbursement, take full advantage of it. I am thinking about doing an MBA at some point even though I personally feel it is of questionable value.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I always figured online unni's sucked...and where laughed at?

Many state schools have online degrees as well -- if you go that route, go through one of those. Don't do something like UoP -- it is way too expensive and has a bad reputation.

 

[ViviTheMage]

The for profit online universities have unfortunately left people with the misconception that all online schools are bad. WGU for the record is only non-profit online school and is fully accredited.

In 2008 I went through FBI interviews prior to completing my IT degree and they had no issues with WGU. In fact I received an offer which I ended up declining. That would have been a help desk job.

Like you I also have prior work experience and a current job, but simply needed the 4 year degree and the additional certifications. WGU fit and continues to fit that role well.

Interesting to know, and that is kind of the route i'd like to take if things do not work out. FBI/CIA/NSA/GOV job in IT. I've had a few interviews already, but it's a slow process from what i've been told.

I'd really have to look into WGU more, and see what sort of things people say about it. Still makes me feel weary.

What'd it cost you to complete your 4 year, after your associates? How long? Feel like you learned anything useful?

 

[Beev]

From my experience, once you've had your first job, your second one won't care about your degree as long as you have one.

Why?

WHY?

If I have the experience, and can prove it in an interview, why does a shitty little overpriced piece of paper mean a damn thing?

"Wow, you did a great job demonstrating your skills and qualifications for this job, but you don't have a degree and Joebob the redneck retard does, so we're going to hire him. Sorry."

 

[BurnItDwn]

Meh, degrees may help you get the foot in the door, but experience counts.
Eventually you'll probably hit a wall, but probably not until like the director or VP level ...

 

[ViviTheMage]

Many state schools have online degrees as well -- if you go that route, go through one of those. Don't do something like UoP -- it is way too expensive and has a bad reputation.

LOL, UoP is the one I always hear shit about.

I'd really like to go to the U of M - Twin Cities, I already got accepted, I just need to figure out what I want to do there. A lot of their iNET courses are online, so that right there will save me time/money by not driving/paying parking.

 

[bignateyk]

Why?

WHY?

If I have the experience, and can prove it in an interview, why does a shitty little overpriced piece of paper mean a damn thing?

"Wow, you did a great job demonstrating your skills and qualifications for this job, but you don't have a degree and Joebob the redneck retard does, so we're going to hire him. Sorry."

My guess would be because people can always fabricate experience and references. At least a degree from a reputable school can be verified and transcripts can be examined if need be prior to hire to at least give some level of confidence in the new employee's ability.

 

[ViviTheMage]

My guess would be because people can always fabricate experience and references. At least a degree from a reputable school can be verified and transcripts can be examined if need be prior to hire to at least give some level of confidence in the new employee's ability.

But how many people have actually been asked ... let me see your degree in IT? Send us your transcripts?

I can imagine other careers would require degrees, and certs, but IT doesn't seem like it. Every interview i've had, they never asked to see any of my certs/associates.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Why?

WHY?

If I have the experience, and can prove it in an interview, why does a shitty little overpriced piece of paper mean a damn thing?

"Wow, you did a great job demonstrating your skills and qualifications for this job, but you don't have a degree and Joebob the redneck retard does, so we're going to hire him. Sorry."

It does suck, but that's the way many companies operate. At my current company, we interviewed earlier this year for a Systems Administrator. Candidate #1 had no degree (he was allegedly working on it, but hadn't been in school for at least two years) and we thought he was the best candidate we interviewed for the job. Candidate #2 had a law degree and was more involved with network administration than systems administration.

Care to guess who got hired? We pleaded for Candidate #1 but we were shot down.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

But how many people have actually been asked ... let me see your degree in IT? Send us your transcripts?

No one is ever asked for that, but most companies conduct background checks and this is something they do verify.

I can imagine other careers would require degrees, and certs, but IT doesn't seem like it. Every interview i've had, they never asked to see any of my certs/associates.

I agree, but unfortunately, most companies have the mentality that a degree is necessary. At my last company, our director required a degree -- his thinking was that it showed you could accomplish something. In my thinking though, a degree isn't hard to get and isn't indicative of work ethic. And I have a BSEE and nearly finished my MSEE, so I'm not speaking as someone without a degree.

 

[ultimatebob]

Heh... I once knew a Sr. Windows admin who had a "degree" on his resume from some college in the Philippines that doesn't really exist.

Why? Because the job required a 4 year degree, that's why.

He was one of the best Windows admins that we had, too!

 

[ViviTheMage]

I can see a larger company using that logic.

Then my question is ... should I attempt a self-made degree like the one I linked at the U of M? Would Candidate #1 have held his grounds if he had a 4 year degree like that? Or would your uppers/HR said no to it? Would he have been better off with at least an associates under his belt?

Thanks for the info Indy, very helpful.

If I go this route, it's going to take 3-4 years to complete, and 25k-30k~.