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Let's think the unthinkable, let's do the undoable, let's prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all.
Douglas Adams, "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency"
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Heck, I was writing software (for pay) before I had any college degrees at all. I later got both BS and MS degrees, but in engineering rather than CS.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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That's Bronze Swimming Certificate and Silver Swimming Certificate.
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So if I was a drowning brick, you could save me? Providing you had time to change into your Pyjamas of course.
The Whiteboard - Surely the most remarkable invention ever?
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I don't have a computer science degree. But I do have a science degree.
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Yes, I think that would have been an interesting poll, too.
As the poll above shows, it's almost 50-50 between the people who write software and have a CS degree vs write software and don't have a CS degree. But, I think if the question was whether or not you have a SCIENCE degree of any kind, the percentage who said yes would probably be much higher in this case.
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I agree, I know many people who write code and do a very good job of it that have hard science degrees with some CS coursework, usually to facilitate their research.
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They didn't have CS degrees when I was there - I did mechanical. But we learned Fortran (at terminals which didn't have screens, paper came out, believe me...). Afterwards I went straight into software, and I am glad when a month goes by and I haven't had to do Fortran.
It is embarrassing that the new grads know a lot more than I do about some technical stuff. Well, I am not afraid to ask if I need their advice, and I do courses quite often and learn new stuff. Work would be boring otherwise. Am now learning how to use Qt.
------------------<;,><-------------------
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Same here. The term did not exist. I started in 1960 with Assembler, then moved on over the years to binary (ones and zeroes), Fortran, COBOL, VB, C, C# and Java. I enjoy learning new things every day.
JR
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Every one has some brilliance over other which no degree can justify. Degrees are just meant to express that "Since I had Degree, I had gone through certain routine, hard work to acheive the goal, thus I am capable of doing the Job".
Simply put it this way - If there are two candidate both having the same knowledge & skill set but one of them having degree and you need to choose only one - who will you prefer over other.
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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So u dont hv a degree na?
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FYI : I have MCA Degree, few certificates (MCP, MCTS) - and I am planning for few others...
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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AnupKumarYadav wrote: If there are two candidate both having the same knowledge & skill set but one of them having degree and you need to choose only one - who will you prefer over other
The one with the big ti... 
Honestly? The one which will fit into the team and company better. The one which in my judgement, is likely to prove more useful in the long run. Degree / no degree is a lot less relevant than experience / no experience.
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together.
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Fair enough, (although I too agree with the first criteria  )
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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I would not base my decision on the degree. I would base my decision on experience and how the individuals respond throughout the interview process.
BTW: I do not have a degree and have been writing software for upwards of 20 years. I have a Community College certificate gained after attending a 3-year evening program and after writing software for 5 plus years ...
I have met a great many people who look great on paper (they know their theory inside and out). But they lack the ability to think on their feet and outside the box.
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Very True, No two person are same & you can not judge two people on just one parameter "Degree" e.g. If I am right then not all of your Community College friends have chosen the Development field (Why? might be liking, interest, different ability etc.), similarly not every degree holder is developer (Why ? same reason liking interest etc...) - proving that all are different in some respect with other. I am not saying that degree is must but it is required, You just said you had attended 3-year evening program - why ? to learn, develop your skills in the field of your choice - thus you had apart from learning also acquired eligibility for interview.
Any way since we also are different our view also might not match.
Bye
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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The decision almost never comes down to degree qualification, no two people are that close after an interview, it is almost always about personality if the skills and experience are the same.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Fair Enough.
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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I would pick the developer with the best personality for the team. 
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Depends on Requirement
AnupKumarYadav
Delhi,India
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Degree.Dispose(); // 
...it's like you get your driver's license and delude yourself in believing that you are qualified for F1 race ;}
d{^__^}b - it's time to fly
modified on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 1:57 PM
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What? Hang on a minute, you mean I'm *not* qualified to race F1?
Damn!
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Strangely enough you could be qualified for F1 racing but not hold a standard road licence.
Get a competition licence at an early age and work your way up to the top.
I could work in some similarity with programming here, but I will leave that to your imagination.
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It's comforting to know that I am far from the only one who writes software without a CS degree! My degree is in Molecular Biology, with some grad work in Bioengineering...
Although I did take a few CS classes, too, while in school, and did some work in bioinformatics. But, I started programming long before university, when I was 10.
For those with a CS degree, what do you think are the most valuable things you learned in the CS degree that the rest of us are missing?
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I'd say that it depends.
Depends on the school, focus of the career and the target market you aim with your programs, at least what I see here is that people that don't have a CS have issues with basic computer things, unless you are writing in C/C++ where is a must, but still struggle somehow with it at first. On the long run I think everybody learns what they need, just that the degree could in some cases help understand the concepts quicker.
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