Masters in Programming?
 

I'm working in my company's IT department as a programmer for a dead language, but I don't have an IT degree. It is a proprietary language created by our core system provider, which got bought out last summer. We are shopping for a new core system provider, and the knowledge I have will no longer be needed within a few years.

I worked in my company's Marketing department for over 5 years and sort of lucked into this great job, in large part because I was willing to work in the dead language. I have a BS degree in Marketing and an MBA in Management.

The thing is, it bothers me that I don't understand much of what is going on around me, and I should learn more. I have passed a few CIW certification exams (See http://www.ciwcertified.com). I am considering going for a master's degree in IT, and I saw this one at the University of Phoenix -- Master of Information Systems Program Link.

This degree would certainly give me more IT knowledge, but I am wondering if there are online master's programs that are more focused on programming. Does anyone know of one? Or perhaps you could recommend another online program like this one at a school where you had a good experience?

Thanks.

i would personally be wary of the online Masters programs. I have heard from quite a few people that they don't look at those programs very seriously. I would try to find a local school that would be able to work with you in getting a Masters.

oblar's right, most business place tend to think online school as a scam as news stories often appears about how people can easily purchase a degree without having to complete any course.

On topic, check out Devry. The school offers online courses but I haven't checked it out to see if they do offer Masters in IT with concentration in programming.

Wow, I didn't realize there was such a negative stigma for online degrees...

Anyone here take classes through the Univ. of Phoenix or another online school and thought it was worthwhile?

I know of some TFPers taking some courses at UofPhoenix but you'll have to ask that question in General Discussion as most of them don't lurk through programmers' forum.

My brother is doing a MBA Marketing degree through U of Phoenix and seems quite happy with it. It's accredidations are good enough that his employer (a large mail order retailer) is reimbursing him for tuition.

But also keep in mind, I have never heard of a 'Masters in Programming' and in fact most university computer science programs are deficient in teaching good programming. The goal for most cs departments is to teach the theory of computing, if you happen to get good at programming too, that is just a bonus and probably something you learned in an internship or on your own. The UoP program (i just glanced at it) seems more oriented toward the business side, not so much programming as managing programmers and IT management. You will likely gain skills that will get you a good job in technology through the program, but if you expect to learn much about programming you will likely be as disappointed as my friend who became a mechanical engineer because he wanted to work on cars.

If you're looking for a more programming-oriented degree you'll probably have to go all out and hit the Computer Science programs.

To elaborate on what theFez said: That degree you listed covers a lot of what I've done in my "Management of Computer Systems" degree. It's a lot about the "concept" and "structure" of programming but not a lot of "nitty gritty number crunching". MANY students drop out of the program here because they're either A) Confused as hell (It's hard! It's a prestegious MCS program) or B) They thought they'd "learn programming".

Basically, this degree and many other "managing/it" degrees will give you the skills needed to "understand" what's going on around you. You'll know how a car works, how to fix it, and how to replace parts, but you won't necessarily know how to design your own engine from scratch. On the plus side, you'll be more versitile- which seems to be more in line with what you want. On the negative side, given your previous degrees, this might be too much. You know how to manage things already- you might just need a push in the right direction to start thinking like a programmer. Getting another management degree might be redundant. Maybe all you need are 1 or 2 classes about a new language or databases?

As for me, my solution to not learning "nitty gritty" programming with my degree is to just do it myself. When I graduate I'll have the piece of paper saying "I have the tools", but I'll also have the hands on independant projects that say "I have the experience." So you might be able to get away with the same thing and just use the "Masters of Progrmaming" degree to jumpstart your own "nitty gritty" endeavors.

I'm kinda rambling here, so I'll sum things up with this:
Mangement/IT Programming degrees focus too much on management and "problem solving design" and not enough on "nitty gritty programming." A team of these graduates suffers from the "Too many generals, not enough troops" phenomenon. You'll have a killer plan to solve a problem... but not enough knowledge or power to solve it.

Computer Science degrees focus too much on math and "nitty gritty programming", but not enough on "problem solving design". A team of these graduates suffers from the "Too many troops, not enough generals problem". This team's projects (if they ever finish them) will be horribly designed without the guideance of those with more conceptual degrees.

Yeearrrgh!

I'd look into Walden University if you're interested in online degrees. It's the ivy league of online university's. IMO.

http://higher.waldenu.edu/

My step-mom and dad are both in a hiring position at their jobs. Both of them agree that if they ever got an application from someone who got their BS or MBA online, they'd trash the resume immediately. I know this isn't very polite, but online degrees are seen as a laughing stock at most professional locations. :(

-Lasereth

University of London in England - External Programme offers either a BSc or a Diploma in computing and information systems:

http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/pros...is/index.shtml

UOL is one of the world's leading academic institutions with a long established reputation for higher learning.

The beauty of IT courses is that most of the work CAN be done at home and submitted remotely, with you only needing to attend lectures in evenings.

It will let you add a respectable Uni to your CV, without letting on that you did the same style of work that an online Uni would require.

Also, there's an added bonus of your current employer seeing that you are taking time to improve if you regularly have to leave earlier some days to make the lectures.

I find that attendance makes me work harder. Online courses just sign people up and I'd guess that half never finish the work. Money for nothing.

Yeah, ignore the online universities. Many real universities do offer coursework online though, which may be more in line with what you want to do, without the stigma of an online university, most of which arent even accredited.