Is this master's in software worth pursuing?

April 26, 2013 12:08 PM

I have the opportunity to pursue this master's in software program for free. I jumped on the opportunity, but now as my first semester winds to a close, I'm beginning to wonder just how valuable this actually is.

My feeling has always been that in technology, particularly web development, skills matter more than credentials; but I don't know if that's truth or just a prejudice of mine. I know that in the two classes I'm taking now, I'm learning basically zero in the way of skills that actually interest me, and feel like I'm jumping through hoops for a credential.

And I guess I'm willing to do some amount of hoop-jumping for a credential if it winds up being worth it, but only if there's likely to be a large improvement in my future prospects. Otherwise, I feel like I'd be better off - and much, much happier - just improving myself and my skills through a combination of Lynda classes on stuff that interests me and personal projects to get practical experience.

So, tech-oriented people of MetaFilter, I guess my question is twofold: are master's degrees in software worth anything in general, and is this one in particular worth anything?

posted by COBRA! to Education (11 answers total)

Some employers, particularly institutional ones, might look at your resume and think, "This guy is 38 years old. Why doesn't he have a Master's degree?"

But that depends on the kind of employers you're applying with. This Master's program sounds like the sort of thing that would prepare you for being a project manager or holding a systems engineering role. If that's how you want to orient your career and present yourself to employers, great. If you make your living as a freelance web developer, it's probably less valuable.
posted by deanc at 12:14 PM on April 26, 2013

I'm learning basically zero in the way of skills that actually interest me, and feel like I'm jumping through hoops for a credential.

You've jumped through one out of three hoops, yes? A lot of this depends on your current job situation 9and maybe you could clarify that), but I'd jump the other two. Having the masters will make you a better qualified candidate for some jobs similar to the one you're presumably doing now, but also open up other jobs and associated careers to you.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:19 PM on April 26, 2013

Response by poster: A lot of this depends on your current job situation 9and maybe you could clarify that)
Right now, I manage website content for one of the colleges within my university; so as it stands now, it's more of a writing and editing job with some technical work on the side. This is changing slightly over the next few months, as I'll be picking up some more explicit development duties.

You've jumped through one out of three hoops, yes?
More like two out of ten; If I stick with this, I have eight more classes to take.
posted by COBRA! at 12:29 PM on April 26, 2013

First, the top of that page says that they are discontinuing the major?!

(Program to be discontinued. Spring 2013 is the last term that students will be admitted to this master's program.)

I would want to ask why they are discontinuing it. Maybe it has been shown that people don't find that particular major to be beneficial or useful or even wanted.

Second, I am a computer programmer. I have a masters degree (but it's in Engineering Management, not Software Systems). For me, I got a salary bump and have slightly steered the career ship to possible leadership opportunities in the not-so-near future. Which works for me right now because I tend to enjoy and get along better with details than with office politics. My good friend got her CompSci BS the same time I did and got a masters degree in IT. For my friend, it has gotten her promotions and she now is a manager with her own small team of employees and she still gets to rip apart code pretty regularly.

So, yes, a masters degree can be good. It can mean the difference between a low-level team lead possibility and a much taller career ladder to climb. It can mean more money. But it also has to be pertinent to your career goals, too, I think. And what company you work for. And what your manager is like and expects and wants from you.

It looks like this particular program is for more high level stuff - less code monkey, more systems design, planning and team leading. Which I think you would need if you wanted the taller career ladder to climb. And also if you just wanted to grow into a team lead position. I don't know if it would get you the TALLEST ladder, though, as those seem to be occupied by MBA folks, finance folks, and college buddies.

So, the question is: do you want the taller career ladder to climb?

One of the smartest people I know also has her BS in Computer Science. She does NOT want a taller career ladder to climb. She much prefers being the team expert, learning new things, and not being responsible for other people. I think the way she phrased it was "There are more than enough bad managers out there. I don't need to add myself to the pile."
posted by jillithd at 12:56 PM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

Right now, I manage website content for one of the colleges within my university; so as it stands now, it's more of a writing and editing job with some technical work on the side. This is changing slightly over the next few months, as I'll be picking up some more explicit development duties.

Basically, if you see a continuing career in universities or any other large institution, you should have a Master's degree. If you don't have a Bachelor's degree in a computer-y type of field, then it will help to have a technical degree on your resume so people don't think you just stepped off the street calling yourself a "web developer" with no other credentials.

I'm making a few guesses about your background-- undergrad degree in the arts or humanities or possibly the basic sciences unrelated to computers, a resume full of non-technical jobs, and now you're at effectively an entry-level web job at a large institution. These Masters programs were MADE for people like you.
posted by deanc at 1:08 PM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

My feeling has always been that in technology, particularly web development, skills matter more than credentials

Credentials can matter too, but there's a good question as to whether this particular credential is worth anything.
posted by grouse at 1:26 PM on April 26, 2013

You could probably pick up adjunct teaching hours at your university with a master's degree.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 1:52 PM on April 26, 2013

I have a master's in a field that is not directly related to my current profession, and it gives me credibility as a domain expert in that field and sets me apart from other people in my profession. So if you're not going to be a web developer forever, or might want to move into a different type of role (say, a more business-focused role) where your work experience may not be as relevant, think about whether it may be a useful credential for you.
posted by chickenmagazine at 2:04 PM on April 26, 2013

As someone who interviews people for software engineering jobs, it has been my experience that more often than not, people with masters degrees have lots of skills with specifics of algorithms and certain types of problems. But they are generally completely useless at practical skills. I'll hire someone with demonstrable skills and experience an not even a high school diploma over an MS any day of the week.
posted by colin_l at 6:46 PM on April 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh hey I know that program well. A few large Twin Cities companies really like that degree --Thomson is the biggest, Lawson is another. But the company I work for (giant established software company) would give absolutely zero value to that degree -- it kind of marks you as a "not very technical" person. (They would give some value to a UST MS in CS.) But you may not be interested in working at a hard core software-only company anyway. Good luck with your decision!
posted by miyabo at 9:12 PM on April 26, 2013

The best demonstration of a technical skill is being able to show something you made. If this course is going to help you make something then great. But it doesn't seem like it teaches you anything like that at all.
posted by aychedee at 1:28 AM on April 27, 2013