Colleges eye combining tech, business degrees

[Tami]

Colleges eye combining tech, business degrees

More programs are combining master's degrees in tech and business

News Story by Mary K. Pratt

JULY 18, 2005 (COMPUTERWORLD) - A high school diploma and a good work ethic once guaranteed lifelong employment. Then a bachelor's degree and, later, graduate studies became prerequisites for top-flight jobs.

Now even that might not be enough. "It's moving toward having two graduate degrees," says Stephen Haag, chairman of the Department of Information Technology and Electronic Commerce at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business. Haag says the university's business partners, as well as students, have expressed interest in programs that teach deep technology skills along with business acumen to prepare graduates for the tasks facing IT executives today.

So in 2002, the university started enrolling students in a dual-degree program that combines a master's in business administration with a master's in IT. "You can't just be an IT specialist. You have to have the business skills to ensure long-term career success," Haag says.

Read the full story at Computerworld

[Brock]

is that worth it mate? I was considering going to college but hmm... I think I'm getting put off by stuff I'm learning with you guys <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... iggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />

[Adrasteia]

it varies brock...look at the industry you want to enter and see if you really need a degree....say if you want to be a chemist then i imagine a degree in chemistry is a must.
my personal experience with IT course is choose wisely....look at what the companies who are hiring are wanting for job skills, then see if that degree offers that....some won't.....university is handy for some to grow up but a computer related degree and business side degree would come in handy when you start to climb the corporate ladder.....typically people get their degree in whatever and get an internship - if they work hard at getting one, then when theyre usually 30 they return to uni at nights to get their masters, as its the only way to get a bigger salary.
nem

[Brock]

Yeah,
I've been working with Pc's since year 4 :S Don't ask&#33; I am at the current time extremely talented with a computer. But&#33; I am also currently losing my touch. I have been unable to concentrate on my work/s, unable to remember things and I am even becoming so weird that I try to boss bosses&#33; (Adaera mainly dun ask why)

Warmest,
LG - Never Ending Advancements

[Cin172]

I think you can't go wrong with some kind of degree or certificate. You have to remember that to some companies that paper means everything.

PLUS, I have found that no matter what the class you can always learn something. So in short, I say it's good to have that paper to back you up even if it's not needed.

[radar]

I've been working with PCs since the Commodore 64, that was fun. The problem is that in today's world you just can't show a company a piece of software that you wrote and then instantly get awarded a job as a coder. Instead you have to go through the poorly managed and drawn-out process of school where they attempt to teach you everything but it's either stuff you really don't need to know or stuff that you already know.

My suggestion for you, Brock, is to get into TAFE. Go to TAFE and do Certificate Two in IT. You'll learn there and there's work that is applicable to what you want to do. TAFE is also generally cheaper than schooling (it is for me with 2.9k going towards just my schooling alone), costing a max of &#036;1,250 a year or something like that. If you decide that you wish to continue in the IT field then after you've done your Cert 2 go for a Cert 3 in IT. This is the MINIMUM employers are looking for. They want people who know more than the average computer geek. Of course, this is slightly more difficult than Cert 2 (especially the Access and Excel modules) but it is possible to complete.

@Cin172
I used to do a class in Maths Studies and found out that most of the crap that I was learning wasn't actually relevant to the things I wanted to do. yes, I was learning stuff but it wasn't helping me to get to my goal (in hindsight it was hindering me). Basically what I'm trying to say is that I made the wrong choice and I regret it because since I dropped out I no longer have a TER score and can't get into Uni but I can go to TAFE where I can get the same qualifications.

You wouldn't need as many qualifications as that article states if you just want to be a freelance programmer or web-designer but something like a network administrator for a major company then you'll need all the qualifications (and "leet hax") you can get.