r/wgu_devs • u/Defiant-Valuable-876 • 8d ago
Bach in Computer science the right path?
Hi! I am currently 29M and deciding whether the computer science bachelor is the best path for me. I am currently a Customer Service Ops analyst with a healthcare company. I am thinking of going back to school to pursue a technical degree to get a job as either a data engineer or data scientist. Once I do well then get a masters with Georgia Tech. Do you think the Compsci degree unlocks a lot of different career opportunities?
Look forward to suggestions and real life experiences! Please don't sugar coat. Also, I understand that the degree itself will not help and I will need to keep learning outside of school building projects etc.
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u/Compete-Active 8d ago
CS keeps your options open but data engineering is usually easier to break into than data science. Learn Python, SQL and cloud tools while using your healthcare experience.
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u/Defiant-Valuable-876 8d ago
Thank you all! I am wanting to get a degree in STEM and get into a data engineering role, systems analyst position or possibly a software engineering role with my current employer if I network consistently (if I am still with them lol). I figured the CS degree will be the best route as it will open many doors. Appreciate everyone!
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u/OverSmell1796 5d ago
Bach is more relevant in music theory but you do you, homie
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u/Defiant-Valuable-876 4d ago
Yeah but higher chances of passing HR screening. Also I can’t get a masters cause I don’t have the required courses lol. Also it does open a whole lot more options in tech not just being a software engineer
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u/Data-Fox 8d ago
For DS, comp sci is the better major compared to SWE. For DE, those undergrad degree options are basically tied. So I’d say yeah, CS is the better path for you over SWE.
As others have mentioned though, DS is very tough to break into as an entry level role. Your best bet might be leveraging your current ops experience into a data analyst role with your company and moving up from there in tandem with the degree(s).
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u/TheBear8878 C# 8d ago
If you already have a bachelors, you don't need to get another one.
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u/Defiant-Valuable-876 8d ago
forgot to mention my current job is not a true data analyst job... I don't use SQL or Python lol.
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u/canarydev 8d ago
I would say yeah. I got my degree while already in the workforce, but if I were to do it over again I'd take the computer science path.
From a hiring perspective usually computer science majors are more attractive than specific ones. you are tool agnostic, better fundamentals, and have a better grasp of underlying mechanics. I got the SWE degree here, but the difference here would be that SWE degree teaches you how to work with tools. CS degree would have taught me more depth on how tools work, enough so that i can build such tools.
Data engineering these days require you to know tools. python, sql, snowflake or something similar, and other hidden bars these days like knowing infra - pipelines, orchestration to name a few. CS probably teaches you or at least give you the knowledge to have an easier time on understanding how these tools work.
data science vs engineer specifically, for you to actually become a data scientist you would probably need the MS as a baseline, and probably would have you contemplate getting your phd later with the role inflation going on