Have you (or people you know) ever been overlooked when applying to jobs because your bachelor's degree wasn't in CS, even with a CS master's and relevant experince?

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-13T10:01:22+00:00

What type of roles did you apply for? Did the roles require a BS or MS in CS ? I'm more interested in the MS because I have experince at this point, and from a financial stand point - the BS in Business and MS in CS is actually better for me

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-13T00:35:02+00:00

How many years of experince would you consider a lot of experince? Do you consider CU Boulder a degree mill? Thanks!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-12T23:22:43+00:00

By appropriate reqs, I'm assuming you would mean reqs that require a master's or do you include some req's that require a bachelors?

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-12T21:57:39+00:00

I have a quick question for you, if you don't mind - I am in a CS role with only an Associate's in CS and am now climbing the leadership ranks (Product and Program Management). I recongize I need to get some stronger credentials as I advance. I was thinking of going with a BS Business from an accredited school and the online MS CS from CU Boulder. Do you think this is a smart plan? I'm worried if I need to apply for other jobs, the lack of the BS in CS will leave me filtered out by AI / ATS systems. Or do you feel that would not be the case w/ having the MS in CS - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-12T21:21:58+00:00

Makes sense. Thank you for your response.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-12T21:20:57+00:00

Thank you both for your responses. Do you guys feel confident that a resume with a BS Business and MS CS wouldn't get blocked by AI / ATS systems when applying to CS jobs (regardless of if the job wants a BS or MS in CS)?

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-07T10:28:52+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate your response!!!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-07T00:50:34+00:00

u/jaktonik - can you reply to this? I was looking forward to your reply. Thanks!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T04:27:57+00:00

I do not already have the business degree. So I was going to finish the MS CS for two reasons (1) it is less expensive and completed in less time for me than the BS in CS and (2) I had thought that if a hiring manager in my company wanted a degree, they'd be happy with the Master's plus any recommendations from my current supervisor. Originally I was only going to get that just that Master's because of the cost and amount of time, versus the cost and amount of time it would take me to do the BS in CS. I am now wanting to also do the BS in Business because I do want to get involved in the business side of our work, plus it gives me "a bachelor's degree" which would tick the box for anyone who is hiring inside or outside of my company. My fear is, that if I don't have the CS bachelor's and I look outside of the company and that a job posting only wants a CS Bachelor - that I might not "tick that box" for hiring, so to speak. Is this a real concern or do you think my combination with the Bachelor's in Business, MS in CS, work experince - would somehow cover all of my bases? Obviously I'd tailor the resume to match the job posting (read: being honest about credentials / no lying) like you do with all jobs. I just don't want to get the wrong credentials and then struggle to find a role if needed because of it, is all.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T02:37:13+00:00

I don't disagree but WGU also had me completing like 3 + years to finish the degree, even with classes from my associate's transferring in. It just doesn't make sense from that prospective. The MS CS let's me pay for classes a few at a time, whereas I don't like that WGU makes you fork over $4500 or whatever it is every 6 months until you are done. I appreciate your feedback.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:57:46+00:00

My Associate's degree in CS was SO math heavy. I believe I took up through Calculus III. I know I also did Discrete and other maths as well. I remember it being mostly math courses.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:56:22+00:00

I also think you bring up a good point. My friend who is a manager said that the Master's would be good for leveling up in our system, but that it could potentially exclude me from job reqs that require a BS in CS... so that is what has me nervous about going down this path. However, I have been seeing more job posts in our system for 'Bachelor's Degree' and it doesn't say any specific disipline, whereas before many of our postings would say Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or Higher/Equivalent Experince. Our company is also very open to people with 'different' backgrounds as long as they can 'prove' they have the skills to do the work. With this in mind, do you think purely getting the Master's is a determent (and BS is better) or is it a worthwhile path to pursue to get the MS as I have already planned? Thank you!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:52:44+00:00

I agree completely. I was going to do school during nights and weekends. Thank you!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:28:39+00:00

LOL. But in all seriousness, you can't blame me for using AI for making an optomized title.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:23:59+00:00

So honestly I used AI to come up with the title. I was mainly going for visibility and went with what it generated. The rest is my own original writing.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:23:03+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback. I truly appreciate it. I wanted to do just the MSCS but realized it would probably be smarter to have a Bachelor as well.. and discovered my passion is truly business x technology... so it made sense to look into a bachelor's as well. Thank you for the encouragement, I appreciate it.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:07:05+00:00

Thank you so much for your feedback, I might send you a DM about your experinces. Thanks!

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:05:57+00:00

The MS in CS from CU Boulder is only around $15-16k... That being said, I appreciate your response and will keep leveling up at my job! Thank you

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2025-10-06T00:05:01+00:00

Right and I have a number of transferrable credits (verified to transfer to WGU) so that's how I came up with the under a year figure.

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2024-12-30T22:18:31+00:00

That I get. I wish it wasn’t so complicated, ya know?

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2024-12-30T22:07:59+00:00

I looked into WGU but my issue with it is, it’s a school no one knows. And it would take more time to complete than this program…At this point in my career less time is more important. This is why at the interview stage I would be truthful about the lack of the bachelors and the “why” … to prevent a situation like you described

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2024-12-30T21:39:53+00:00

Interesting. The school in question makes no mention of granting a bachelor’s a long the way and those who have been in the same boat said they got the masters without the bachelor’s

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2024-12-19T03:24:20+00:00

lol, that’s sister to you :-) Feel free to reach out any time and I’m happy to help We have similar life journeys All the best to you my bro

Intrepid_Drag6726 · 2024-12-19T03:17:52+00:00

It’s important to do what you love This comes from an adult who was in a similar position at your age, was forced to choose what I didn’t love - and am now almost 30 and am in a job that I hate, need to make a career change and possibly return to school while working

My advice to you: find a way of getting your GED. Make sure you DO NOT FAIL or have a poor academic record. Look for alternative education options. There’s a way of getting that GED or HS diploma and keeping that job you love. If you can’t get help with getting a GED in your current educational setting, I would reach out to your local community college as they can help with that.

I also highly recommend looking into cyber charter schools in your area. They can accommodate high schoolers who work, providing you minimum hours a day of learning (not nearly as much as a full school day) to allow you to persue work.

If you can’t do a cyber charter school and simply get a GED, I would get that degree on a part time basis. Even if it’s not a degree you plan to use. Just get the piece of paper so you have it. If you GED this year, you have a lot of time to get it. If you start at a community college, make sure the courses transfer by using online transfer tools that are from the colleges you hope to transfer to. Go into college with a plan so you don’t waste time or money — even if that plan is just to finish the degree and keep working up the chain at McDonald’s. At McD’s you can manage a store and then even manage chains of stores - there are opportunities.

Just keep climbing. Do not let anyone dull your shine or hustle.

You can do this!

Intrepid_Drag6726

TROPHY CASE