Masters

Trojan

Hi all,

I'm considering applying for a Masters within the next year or so, and wanted to gather some ideas and opinions. (I'll move this thread to Work if it becomes too off-topic, but it's relevant here at the moment.)

I'm currently working as a software developer, have a couple of years experience, have a BSc in Software Development, and want to do a taught Masters, part-time, and as quickly as possible.

I'm interested in several different areas, by no means restricted to IT or development. In fact, the opposite - I'd like to get some wider experience in other areas than development itself.

I've been considering all sorts of things, from MBAs to MSc Psych. to MEd(-ucation) and others.

OU looks pretty good cos you can do a couple of modules from different areas and add the points together and get a general Masters from certain schools (e.g. Master of Social Science). Unfortunately it's extremely expensive.

I've looked at getting funding from my current employer, and 100% funding is unlikely unless the course is directly relevant to my current job. I may be able to get 50% funding if it's semi-relevant and useful for possible future roles.

I know the first question people will ask is "what do you want to do", so to preempt that I'll say that I'm not too sure, but that I want to get away from the dark recesses of systems specific engineering that I'm doing at the moment, and do something that will enable me to have a more general role, dealing with more people, perhaps even customer facing (not tech supp ).

Please let me know of any thoughts you have about this, or Masters that you know about that sound interesting.

Cheers,
Al.

yop

Al

If I was you I would be going for a course aimed towards as much of the business/management side of things as possible.

You have the programming exp, but it is very hard to learn "good" business management skills in a developer role. If you want to get into a more proj management or manager role then unless you have solid management exp then it will be hard.

Also if u want to setup your own business then it is very handy to know how to develop business plans, projections etc. especially if you are going for a grant you need all this for them to approve anything.

Maybe not what you want or where to go.

phobos

Al,

first and foremost I think it's a great idea, that you're considering a non-tech related postgrad. Eventhough I'm in a Dev oriented M.Sc., you would be amased at how many paths I can take my research down. My postgrad is classed as taught on paper, but the coordinators say that it's 25% taught, 75% research, and I tend to agree. I don't get paid, and I have to sit a few exams, but after that I can do pretty much anything I like. The only snag is that I must develop some software to support my research theory (ie I can't just submit a thesis at the end of it). There is quite a few people in the class going down the psyche route, researching futuristic HCI techniques. VEC (Virtual Environment Collaboration) techniques being applied to distance learning through virtual worlds. Others were delving in to security from a social engineering perspective.

I have taken a great interest in the psychology of computing as of late. It's a very different perspective on the world indeed. Right now I'm still deciding what to base my M.Sc. on, as each day that passes I'm presented with some new ideas. When I started I considered just continuing on from what I did in my B.Sc., but in this new (bigger) environment, I'm being inspired in all directions. So much so, it will be interesting to see how technical or software oriented my final choice will be. So basically what I'm saying is that my future is not etched in stone by any means, and I'm free to explore these new possibilities if I wish. On the otherhand I could just go ahead and dive in to the Enterprise Computing stuff that I had planned to pursue from the beginning, but at the moment it doesn't seem to be catching my eye as much. I seem to have developed a sincere appreciation for the non-technical aspects. It's a tangent that I never thougth I would see myself going down, but this place has opened my eyes to a much bigger picture.

On having a chat with some heads in the department I found out that the difference between my M.Sc. and a pure research oriented one is that, with mine I get to choose the specifics. With a pure research oriented one, you tend to get paid to do research for the department in a predefined area, either on your own or in a group (usually a group). If you are were considering that route, my advise to you is make sure you are interested in the area. I'm glad I didn't go down that route myself, because nothing in those regards seem to interest me. But I've approached some of the heads with my own ideas, and they seem very interested in taking me under their wings (so to speak).

Now I don't want to lead you down the garden path, so I will be completely honest, and tell you that their doesn't seem to be a business element to my course. There are a few students in my year that have already obtained postgrad qualifications in either business/philosophy/psychology, and are now pursueing technical oriented research (actually the business guy is very interested in the whole J2EE area, so we've had plenty to talk about). As regards software project management, there is plenty of emphasis. We have project managers from likes of HP coming in giving talks in the college, this side of Xmas AFAIK (dbc). But there is nothing stopping me going along to a business management lecture if I wish. But I just cant get certified for it in the end, but the knowledge will be obtained.

Anyway I'll let you chew that much, and tell me what you think. On a more personal note, it's been a while, head. Hope you're keeping well

;-phobos-)

Shiminay

This is very unstructured - just some ideas (as I see it) really, but I know you'll be able to figure out what I'm on about Al
Just a note folks - this kinda follows and makes reference to a conversation myself and Al have had in IRC just now...

• You've got your degree and a good bit of experience. This stands to get you most "tech" jobs you'd probably be interested in.
• A Masters will help, but it's all dependant on the area you want to move into as your career progresses.
• A "tech" based Masters is all fine and well and will serve you well if you saw yourself moving into "architectural" roles.
• You're hinting at moving into a slightly different area - more management based and less code based.
• A taught masters in tech (like Weston's) when you've got all those tech qualifications and experience already is a waste of time and an easy way out. To me, it suggests that you didn't bother your arse researching what your Masters was about, or you just wanted the quick and easy way to get one. As you mentioned earlier, the cynical view is that it's a Masters and that's the important thing (combined with your existing experience). But, knowing you, you'd be annoyed with yourself for doing it because it wouldn't interest you as much as something where it's more up to you (in the way that your degree annoyed you at first). That said, Weston appears to be happy with his and it's opened his mind to other areas of the industry he hadn't imagined possible.
• A taught masters in a more business field would set you up nicely for the roles I think you'd like to move into. As Yop said, "it is very hard to learn "good" business management skills in a developer role."
• Who says your Masters has to be either of the above? You've often expressed an interest in Psych (which could be applied to a job) or fields like that. Or, as you mentioned above, you could follow in Joe and Pauline's footsteps and do an Education one. Incidently, there are 2 qualified teachers (both Maths and Science I believe) here in DMT that did a taught masters in computing... Kinda the opposite end of the spectrum to you.
• I suppose, if you had a better idea of where you see youself going, you could gear yourself towards that.
• Talk to Ed about his experiences so far (Masters/Doctorate)

Manach

I did an Msc and in general thought it was worth it.
My primary degree was non-CompSci and had to do 2 conversion courses, but this did not overly impress prospective employers. Then did an MSc in Network Programming. This focused on a specific skill and as it was a well taught course, got a job afterwards doing this.

Re: research an MSc, a co-worker is doing a part time one. The key points he said w'd be it does take alot of time but it is interesting and work related, so the employer does take this into account.

phobos

Originally posted by Kharn
A taught masters in tech (like Weston's) when you've got all those tech qualifications and experience already is a waste of time and an easy way out. To me, it suggests that you didn't bother your arse researching what your Masters was about, or you just wanted the quick and easy way to get one. As you mentioned earlier, the cynical view is that it's a Masters and that's the important thing (combined with your existing experience). But, knowing you, you'd be annoyed with yourself for doing it because it wouldn't interest you as much as something where it's more up to you (in the way that your degree annoyed you at first). That said, Weston appears to be happy with his and it's opened his mind to other areas of the industry he hadn't imagined possible.[/B]

There are aspects of my course that are quite boring (20%), or so, to people that have experience or qualifications in tech courses (ie myself). So I don't spend to much of my time in that area. It's a very different game to what we were used to Dav. As I said above my M.Sc. is a taught masters on paper, but the course is much more research based. 90% of my time is spent on research, and not lectures. Sure, I have to do a few exams, but thats only this year. For the 2nd year, I will be researching full time. Actually if you check the NUIG site, it will actually title this course as being a taught & research masters. So Dav in all fairness I wouldn't be calling it an easy way out, I'm sure when you think of my course you think of the 20% lecture material, and not the research end of it. That's fine because most people outside of the course do, until they actually pop in and see what we're doing. Perhaps I should start refering people to the course coordinator and he'll better inform you of your options. A lot of people have been surprised so far, so I wouldn't be inclined to cement my understanding of something until you experience it first hand. Your comment about "an easy way out" has quite annoyed me, as it seem to be an attempt to belittle my current position. Of course I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and say that I may be reading you wrong, but I'd appreciate if you would gain a first hand understanding before you air your opinions WRT my course.

The type of M.Sc/PhD Ed is doing is research for the department. He is part of the V-LAB project, running here in the college. It's more like a job, than anything else. It may be technically complex, but that doesn't mean that he's spending his time better, does is?. When I was in GMIT, doing my Ugrad degree, it was all tech. No other aspects were revealed or considered. It's very narrow minded but, at that level it's quite common. When I say this place has opened my eyes, I mean my initial intentions were to further expand my technical abillities/knowledge, and now because of the things I've seen going on around here, the techical aspects are not getting as much of my attention as before.

When I was looking around at projects, nothing seemed to interest me. Projects start up every odd month around here, and I have the option if I wish to join a project for my M.Sc. A lot of people didn't know that, it would appear. I'm in a very flexible position right now, and didn't actually realise this until I spoke to some of the heads in the department. I was asked only last week was I interested in joining a project by the head of the department. But the area didn't interest me right now, so I refused.

But back on topic again (appologies Al), if you want to move away from the coding aspect of software, I recommend you keep away from a tech postgrad (taught/research doesn't matter). But make sure you find out what kind of things you can do within the course.

my 2.54c

;-phobos-)

Earthhorse

So far the largest replies you've received appear to be from people who know you, so I thought a more objective opinion might be in order. You already appear to be quite tech savvy so I won't focus on that.

What I will say is when I graduated from my commerce degree I suddenly realised how monumentally unqualified I was to do anything. I imagine an MBA would be more of the same. Most MBA's I know are people who were already in management/administration positions and either (a) wanted a raise or (b) wanted a promotion. Business courses are largely common sense dressed up in jargon so if you do go down this route I recommend some sort of Finance or Economics specialistion. At least that is something you can take to, say the banking industry and expect them to pay a bit of attention.

Bear in mind that there are also people like me who have specialised industry experience and are now acquiring tech skills - a degree can't compete with that. You might investigate professional qualifications such as Banking or Investment exams. Nearly every industry has something like this now and you may find it carries more weight than what is bound to be a more generalised Masters.

Pick up an issue of Fortune, FT or the Wall Street Journal and see if you like what's inside. That might help focus your mind with respect to this option. I realised you mentioned alternatives but decided to discuss the one I knew most about, but whatever you decide to do, best of luck with it.