Ask Slashdot: Best Alternative To the Canonical Computer Science Degree? 347
connorblack writes "I want to be a web developer, and everyday I ask myself the same question: why am I wasting my time getting a computer science degree? I feel like I'm trapped- most of the courses I spend all my time on are far removed from the skills I need to succeed as a web developer. But on the other hand, I can't imagine another degree that would allow me to stay in a programming mindset. The fact is that web development has taken huge bounds in the last few years, and sadly most universities haven't caught up. Computer science is a field that overlaps with web development, but getting a computer science degree to become a web developer is like getting a zoology degree to become a veterinarian. Close, but no cigar. So here's the deal: I'm in my second year of a computer science degree, and the thought of wasting two more years, getting left in the dust, and becoming irrelevant has me horrified. I want to start my web development career now. Or at least as soon as possible. I can drop out and devote 6 months to teaching myself, but I want something more structured. Something that has the benefits of a classroom and an authority figure, but which teaches me exactly what I need to know to do what I want to do. Any suggestions?"
You want an art education (Score:2, Interesting)
Web development can be found in the art & interactive design programs, not computer science program.
Webdevelopment is development (Score:4, Interesting)
Look, I have seen people who know how to drag and drop in Dreamweaver call themselves "web developer".
But really, if you are on CS level development its just the same as regular development. Sure your choice of core languages will be somewhat more limited, but make no mistake. Webdevelopment for large sites is very complex, CS level complex. Most apps today require a good level of networking, and most websites are more and more just regular apps.
I work for one of the largest websites where you can buy stuff (yeah that one) and most our developers are just that, CS majors, with an occasional math and or fysics major.
You are in the right school, just do some extra curriculum interwebby stuff if you want too.
It's not an either/or propisition (Score:4, Interesting)
Just because you are in a CS program, (which has never been a "vocational" degree program), does not prevent you from picking up whatever other skills you desire. As you pointed out, the CS program puts you in the "programmer mindset"; you've keyed on to the actual purpose of a CS program, which is NOT teaching you the "language of the month." They are trying to give you the skills you need to be able to pick up the language of the month on your own far more rapidly than you might be able to otherwise.
Just like a vet would be well served by obtaining a zoology degree prior to entering veterinary school, many people find that a CS degree well-serves their educational goals in addition to the constant "self-education" that is a fundamental part of any computer career.
Re: Work (Score:4, Interesting)
I tend to think that unless the degree is required for a certification or license you're going for, it's most likely an overrated piece of paper that's extremely expensive and time consuming to obtain.
I have zero college under my belt, entered the workforce straight from high school and by the time my friends started graduating, I was getting hired over them And earning more to boot, as I actually had 4 years of experience and a portfolio of real world work. Fast forward 20 years later (where I am now) and I wouldn't have done it any differently. Not once in my life have I been turned down for lack of degree or lack of diploma. Nor did I have college debt to pay off.
The flip side is you need to be self motivated. I can't even start to list off how many books and manuals I've read. I was probably 17 and wanted to get my feet wet video editing, so I read the manual for adobe premiere 4.0 (or maybe 4.2) cover to cover. And even today, I'm awaiting my delivery from amazon of a book about solr and another about Hadoop.
If you're motivated you can do it. Getting started is the hardest - with no education or experience it'll be had to break in. I offered my services free originally, and once I was hired spent countless hours at the office after hours fiddling around and learning. And now, again, no complaints
Re:Work (Score:3, Interesting)
This kid is 3 semesters in, which is exactly when the heat turns up to wash out the weakest students that aren't up to the challenge. He clearly has neither passion nor curiosity about code development. He wants to skip right to the "fun" part where gets to throw together badly engineered junk using whatever framework he's managed to figure out. If he wants to spend his career building things out of Legos, he should get out now. If he wants to be able to build ANYTHING, including things no one ever thought of before, he better get his head out of his butt and start paying attention in class. Where does he think those web development frameworks come from? The Stork brings them with the babies?