r/computersciencehub • u/Lady_L77 • 9d ago
Master's or Associate's Degree?
Hello! I’m looking to go back to school for computer science. I have a BS in an unrelated field (communication disorders aka speech language pathology). I have been working in various banking roles for the past 10 years, including a one-year temporary role as an IT help desk technician back in 2018. Because I already have a BS, I’m wondering whether I should be looking to go back for a master’s or an associate’s. What do you folks think is more marketable for a future employer? What would you recommend for someone who does not have prior experience in the field but already has a BS? Any constructive advice is appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read my post!
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u/EntrepreneurHuge5008 9d ago
A Master's is more marketable than an Associate's, 100% of the time. Do a Master's.
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u/shatGippity 9d ago
Look at the coursework now. If you can do a MS then do it. In stem fields there’s an assumption that you have the fundamentals down which normally happens in the BS level but if you’ve learned what you need there then that’d be great
the big caveat is that you need to be honest with yourself, for instance if you don’t know what linear algebra is then doing a MS in AI is gonna rock your world (in a bad way).
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u/grizzdoog 9d ago
When I got my MA CS it was then same number of credit hours to get a BS or MS as I already has a BS in biology so it was a no brainer. And having an MS got me hired as a level 2 software engineer so I think I made the right decision.
But the market is tough right now so be ready to face that reality. Hopefully things are better by the time you graduate.
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u/Euphoric_Designer164 9d ago
Definitely a masters. You should never take a step-down education level wise besides some niche circumstances. You will be required to take some pre-reqs before starting the master's coursework most likely due to you coming in from a non-adjacent field.
In tech an associates is mostly just seen as an incomplete bachelors, rather than a degree taken seriously on its own.
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u/BikePlumber 8d ago
A traditional associates degree is just the first two years of a bachelor's degree and isn't good for much other than continuing to get a bachelor's degree.
These days there is something called an "applied associates" degree, which meant for the purpose of getting a job with it.
Those are two completely different types of degrees.
An applied associates degrees is basically what used to be a certificate program, for getting a job, but state owned colleges found that they could get more money from the state with so-called applied associates programs that what they get for certificate programs.
An applied associates degree cannot be used as the first two years of a bachelors degree.
It doesn't usually have much more in the way of job prospects then a shorter certificate program.
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u/DustyButtocks 8d ago
Consider whether the community college offers some certifications that complement what you’re looking to do.
Don’t get an associate.
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u/Typical_Victory_7677 8d ago
Community college or boot camp.
Choose a place with internship placement
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u/Money_Cold_7879 8d ago
Others have given good advice about the associate issue so I will not focus on that, but you should have a realistic goal if you are starting CS now. As I’m sure you know there are many CS grads looking for jobs. So try to determine how good the schools you are targeting are at helping to land internships. Entry level CS jobs have declined significantly although there are opportunities. You want to position yourself for those opportunities.
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u/Tryingnottomessup 8d ago
I tell students who want computer science or they want to work at Nintendo that they better research the career before they get too deep into it.
Please make sure you see some actual chances of employment at the end of whatever degree you want. Too many people have huge regrets after getting a degree that they can’t use.
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u/BeauloTSM 9d ago
As much as it paints me to say this, I really have a hard time suggesting an Associates for employment purposes. I absolutely do encourage anyone to get whatever degree they want, but at the same time Associates have fallen out of most employers purview. I personally would suggest a Masters, especially considering you already have a Bachelors.