Degree suggestions

I know there are several threads posted on here regarding degree questions but I am still having trouble finding the right combination.

I currently work as an aircraft mechanic in Oklahoma City. I am planning on starting school in the spring at Rose State College, working towards an associates for networking with an emphasis in cyber security. Later I plan on completing my bachelors at OU in MIS.

My first question is would these degree compliment each other at all. Also since I am working full time 0630-1515 m-f, what are my optiions for building experiance?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Doesn't really matter. Be able to communicate well and get your CCIE in the process.That's what I'd do if I had to do it all over again. That or an Oracle Master cert. How else could you guarantee ~100k right out of school?

PS - I suppose I left out critical thinking/problem solving skills. Any good CS/IT program will use theory to ingrain those principles into your head.

Just remember that your certs are more important then a degree, 4 years of College doesn't come close to equaling 4 years of real world experience, and until you prove to someone that you are worth something you are going to get treated like an intern for the first 3-5 years of a job in IT.

I didn't finish college, however when I was there I went for Network Security and Systems Administration. It was a decent major, but I learned more in about a month on the job then I did in a year at school.

As far as getting experience the best way is by doing. Get yourself some hardware and start learning. Set up a UTM device (Untangle or something), setup an ESXi server (to learn virtual environments), then setup a group of servers to do various functions (Active Directory or LDAP, DNS, DHCP, print server, file server, SFTP, etc). Then once you are comfortable in your own little environment bust out metasploit or any other of countless tools, head down to your local starbucks or other internet cafe and try to get into your home network. Learn your weak spots and how to fix em, once they are patched, try to pentest yourself again. Basically this is the best way to lean without having to pay for classes.

Sorry but a degree is almost always better than certs. Most jobs have a degree as a base requirement.

To be honest, I think an IT degree is a waste of time where you live. The jobs are coming here and replacement by a cheaper worker with the same skills is inevitable. There was much happiness among 2 of my friends who own offshore businesses when the US just passed a piece of legislation that not only doesn't stop this trend but even gives tax breaks to corporations that do it.

If you must be in tech, get an engineering degree. That way you will eventually have the option of moving overseas instead of being replaced or you can work for a military company. Otherwise, IMO the only fields that will continue to be good going into the future where you live are medical, business/finance, and entertainment.

Biznatch said:

Sorry but a degree is almost always better than certs. Most jobs have a degree as a base requirement.

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True, but the requirement is just that "a degree." Most of the job postings I saw about a year ago when I was looking to switch jobs required a 4 year degree or a 2 year degree + 5 years of experience. None of them stated that they needed an IT or CS degree, just "a degree."

Most guys I know who have gotten far quickly in the field have a BA in Business management (some with a minor in IT) and then they have CCNA, A+, MCSE/MSITP, CCIE, etc on top of their degree. This works out well because it tells HR that you have all the skills to do the job and you have skills to manage people.

Personally I see no value in education or certs because we work with interns all the time that are in their junior or senior year of college, maybe have 1 or 2 certs, and claim to have all this experience, yet can't do simple enterprise tasks. Sure they can do amazing things with cisco products, but they can't solve a simple mailflow issue or NTFS permissions issue. It is the same on the security side, all these guys are coming out of schools with security related degrees, but they are just script kiddies, they have no actual knowledge of computer security.

A liberal arts degree, combined with the ability to effectively communicate the value that it has is also an option. Certifications are going to be what tells people that you technically know what you're doing, but effective communication, problem solving, and analytical skills can all be quite effectively learned while not studying networking. Knowing the command set from IOS is only useful if you stay in networking. A degree in Sociology teaches you how to think and learn.

Have a good narrative about why your degree in biology/whatever is more useful than a degree in CS and you'll do fine.

Of course, if you're very interested in CS, then go for that!

As for experience, home projects do carry some weight. Make some network devices using an arduino. Program a networking tool. Install linux on a home system and use it for something. Install edirectory and do some small identity management. Throw oracle on something and make a database or two.

employers just want to see that you have a 4 year degree. Granted a degree in arts doesn't really show them that you have the analytical/troubleshooting/problem solving skills that are necessary for an IT jobs, but at least you have a degree. Having the degree along with certifications is ideal. Nothing makes up for having real world work experience though. I'd suggest, finding a major that you can complete, whether it's in IT or business, etc. And get certs on top of that. Once you get that, you'll find a job, yes it will be entry level, once you get 2 or 4 years under your belt. Look to make a move.

good luck bro

Some real-world experience here; I just accepted a job offer for a network consulting position. The description said it required a Bachelor's in an IT related area, x # of years of experience, and certain certifications were preferred.

In all the three rounds of interviews I went through, not one person even mentioned me having a degree. In fact, I still don't have my degree and it still didn't bother them. That may be because of my experience, or because I only have a semester left. Bottom line was they cared much more for my experience than degree. Certifications also took the cake over a degree also, but mainly because they're a Cisco shop.

Like the 2nd poster said, if I had a chance, I would've skipped college, not be in debt with student loans, and learn while working/getting Cisco certs, and end up just as good if not better than I would be with a degree. The only reason I'm getting a degree is for reassurance if I decide to switch jobs.

http://www.techexams.net/forums/

That is a nice forum I frequent about IT certs (comptia, microsoft, cisco). There are large posts about which is better, and even the people with advanced certs agree that its better to start off with a degree. In fact they are even going back to obtain one. It proves you can set a goal and go through with it. Plus you can't just skip through it using dump sites like you can with certs. Sure you can get lucky and be in the small group of people that does well without one, but it will look much better with it. Especially when trying to get your resume past the HR monkeys.

prochobo said:

Like the 2nd poster said, if I had a chance, I would've skipped college, not be in debt with student loans, and learn while working/getting Cisco certs, and end up just as good if not better than I would be with a degree. The only reason I'm getting a degree is for reassurance if I decide to switch jobs.

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Eh I should have clarified. The original question posed by the OP was: 'Which degree path or combination of paths should I take?' This is how I interpreted it at least.

If I had to go back, I would have spent longer in school just for the fun and games associated with going to a University. I would have minored in some stupid other college like Psych or Bio just to take advantage of more 20yr old low hanging fruit

PS - I worked my way through school so I don't have any loans to gripe about either. That might change your overall opinion of the experience.