Firstly I'd like to apologize if this should have been posted in the education forum I couldn't decide.
I recently signed up for the classes required to continue my associates into a Bach in Computer Science. I keep sitting here doubting myself however. I have always loved computers, from building them, playing with software, and in my early years a little bit of programming in VB/C++. All i hear about in terms of a Computer Science degree is programming this and programming that. I am fairly certain i do not want to program for a living. Not only would I most likely not enjoy it, I don't think I'd be very good at it. When it comes to school I can pass most classes blindfolded, but when it comes to math I must study fairly hard to make the grade.
So you can see from this my problem. I don't like math, am sort of luke warm on programming, but I am very passionate about computers. I believe I have the dedication to push myself thru the math classes required to complete my degree. However I don't want to do so if I will just be miserable in my career surrounded by math and programming.
Is this degree broad enough that I can be happy in other areas of computing or am I just doomed?
Could I be happy in Computer Forensics (a field in which I am extremely interested in moving towards) or is this barrier just too much to overcome?
See if you can find a different computer-related degree. My bachelor's is in computer and information technology, which translates to "some programming, some database stuff, some security, and a lot of networking and systems administration."
I actually wish I had a more extensive background in programming now that I'm pursuing my master's in computer forensics, although it's by no means required. It really depends on the coursework required by your degree.
I agree with alex - there are a plethora of degrees out there that utilize computers but don't focus on the programming part. My undergrad is in Computer Networking and Telecommunications - and my degree included two intensive networking courses that prepped me for the CCNA; one that hit everything for Sec+, etc…
I would recommend that you search around - forums.degreeinfo.com is an excellent site for distance edu (and I've been on it for over five years), I urge you to have a look there.
Thanks for the posts. they bring up two more questions for me.
firstly, how much do you really value an online education/degree? Am i wrong in comparing an online degree in equivalence to a GED instead of graduating highschool? it just seems lesser and seems like employers might frown upon it.
Second, which Bach degree do you feel is most useful outside of Computer Science? I ask this question both in terms of computer forensics, and in terms of just getting a decent paying job in computers in general (both incase i wanna make some money while i work my way into CF or incase i decide i just don't like CF).
Thanks a lot for your advice guys, people on these forums including myself really appreciate it. Who knows you could be changing my life )
If you pursue an online degree then you should probably have some decent work experience to back it up by the time you graduate.
As for your second question, different schools have different definitions and names for their degrees. I obviously think my computer technology degree has helped with the technical aspects of my master's, but then again we've got electrical engineers and psychologists pursuing the same forensics degree in my department.
My undergrad was done entirely online and I'm in the process of applying to a Master's Degree - again, entirely online.
You can not compare a GED vs Grade 12 with a B&M (Brick and Mortar) University's Degree vs. an online degree. Online degrees are an excellent way for folks who are not able to attend a B&M University to attain a degree (myself included - working full time and having a family does not permit to drop everything for four years to attend University) in their chosen discipline.
I suggest you check out the site I provided and read through the various threads - they should easily answer your questions and provide you with more food for thought.
I love programming. Have done it for over 30 years, moving from assembler on single chip processors to C++. This was after a dergree in Electronics
One joy of programming is that it makes you driver and not the passenger, and you can create what is not available elsewhere, to do either a specific task, or a more general purpose task.
Other people hate programming.
I think a good programmer needs the skills to analyse and understand data etc which is a good foundation to computer forensics. If viewing raw data, hex dumps, meta data is not easy, then I think many aspects of computer forensics may be harder, and you will possibly blindly rely on other tools, rather than understanding what the tool is doing for you.
Being a programmer does mean that other people may use your programs which is always nice. I once returned to a company I worked for and met a new member of staff. He asked if this was my first day, and I replied that the software running on about 30 screens around the room was what I wrote.
I can recommend programming, but only as long as you can think in the relevant way. Otherwise it is the old program of a square peg in a round hole.
Thank you all once again for your input.
Today I went back up to the local community college and canceled my computer science classes. I instead signed up for classes to complete my Computer Networking AAS, which coincidently looks like with another class or two tacked on will also get me my Certificate in Network Administration.
Unlike my BS in Computer Science I was signed up for these classes actually seem useful. They are focused on actual networking, programming, and computer software and hardware. Not chemistry, trig, and world religion. This makes me much happier. The Computer Science degree just seems so antiquated.
Anyway my plan at this time is to get that associates in Computer Networking, have that certification for network administration along with my general associates in fine arts, and then it shouldn't be more than a little bit more schooling at some other university or online school assuming most of these computer related courses transfer, to then get my Bachelors in something a little more impressive. Who knows maybe I can transfer some of these classes and complete a Bach in a computer forensics program. Maybe throw in a cert or two for good measure and see if i can't land myself a decent tech job in the meantime to get some experience under my belt.
What do you guys think? On the right track?
firstly, how much do you really value an online education/degree? Am i wrong in comparing an online degree in equivalence to a GED instead of graduating highschool? it just seems lesser and seems like employers might frown upon it.
Online educational methods are very common these days and have been embraced by many leading universities. You can obtain, for example, a high quality MBA
Thus, I wouldn't worry about the delivery method causing heartburn for an employer. Where you get your degree and what you learn are more important than the delivery method.
Where you get your degree and what you learn are more important than the delivery method.
I think I heard a couple people on here mention University of Phoenix. I actually have a satellite college University of Phoenix - St.Louis right by me that offers an online degree in Computer Forensics. Are they reputable?