I hold MCA (Master in Computer Applications) degree from INDIA with good grades and have 2 years of work experience in JAVA, JSP, EJB etc. I have got admission in MS Software Engineering in University of St. Thomas. This university is accredited but is private and has regional reputation only. I wanted to know whether this Software Engineering degree would add substantial value ( as an MS CS would ) and has good reputation in industry. Some background about the couse : 7 semester course covering topics like Software Engineering, Project Management, SQA/QC, DBMS, SAD, OOPS, Networking, Operating System, Microprocessor etc. Following is some of the analysis i have done : Pros of doing the course ------------------------ 1) can be done along with the job thru evening/weekend classes. 2) will add to knowledge to some extent. Cons of doing the course ------------------------ 1) Masters in SE doesn't have many core CS topics as an MS CS. So the overall utility/reputation of the course is a question. 2) University is private (though accredited) and is known only in Minnesota and near by places. 3) Will have to spend all the spare time and money for the course !! I would be grateful if you can give some suggestions/comments about this course. Thanks, Jignesh
John Coxey
Ranch Hand
Joined: Oct 24, 2000
Posts: 503
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Jignesh Desai: Are you currently working? Most employers help with the tuition costs for graduate school. I would definitely meet with the human resource folks at your company and see if they will help. Tuition assistance for college seems like more and more of a standard benefit in the IT industry. So look into it. John Coxey (jpcoxey@aol.com)
I some people actually like school, and are good at it, unlike me. You already have a Masters. I don't know if getting another degree would be that much of a help. (But what the hell do I know - should make that my signiture.) Good luck either way.
Please ignore post, I have no idea what I am talking about.
Desai, Jignesh
Greenhorn
Joined: Jul 17, 2001
Posts: 2
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Thanks John and christopher for your reply. I am already working and would be asking my employer to fund the education expendature. The MCA degree which i presently hold is considered equivalent to BS (CS) degree from US University. That's the reason of my being inclined for a Master's degree. I would like to know your advise/opinion about the course and university. I wish to do it since holding a Master's degree from US university (other than the skill set) would improve long term career propects. But i am a bit concerned since the university doesn't have national reputation (although it is known in Minnesota) and the Software Engineering degree unlike Computer Science may not give a fillip in job prospects. Maybe i can workaround to some extent on these by carefully choosing 'core CS' courses as optional courses (like Networking, Operating System, OOPS etc) and a year down the road if situation permits move on to a better known university. Thanks again for your advise. Regards, Jignesh
I agree. Here's the link: http://ej-technologies/jprofiler - if it wasn't for jprofiler, we would need to
run our stuff on 16 servers instead of 3.
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