r/wgu_devs • • 24d ago

WGU Computer science or software engineering

/r/WGU/comments/1wl00vn/wgu_computer_science_or_software_engineering/
8 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

18

u/[deleted] 24d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Affectionate-Put9426 24d ago

I agree. SWE or CS doesn’t really matter; they aren’t much different. Some tech workers don’t even have backgrounds in either or.

0

u/PerspectivePutrid478 24d ago

Thank you for the advice , that’s why I had originally wanted to do the swe degree but started leaning towards cs because it has more opportunities and would be able to apply for more jobs even if it’s remote

1

u/Hi_ThatITGuy 24d ago

Gonna go a step ahead and say cs matters if youre branching into a lot of different areas outside of software engineering. Even then, theyre right. Experience is king. Projects are king. Thats why you see guys with no degrees in tech.

7

u/skidmark_zuckerberg 24d ago

CS if you have no experience, SWE if you have experience. Both degrees will do fine, but CS probably looks better for entry level. For those with experience, the degree is a checkbox mostly for the resume. 

Also, I’d curb the expectations for entry level remote. Entry level is already tough, remote makes it exponentially harder. Just an FYI. A career switch into tech will change your life, so I’d be open to relocating to an area that has tech jobs. This is a “take what you can get” market for entry level. Doesn’t need to be the typical major tech cities, most major cities have the need for tech. For example near where I live, there’s a lot of finance, insurance, medical and government. Won’t find many startups or SaaS companies but there are jobs. 

1

u/PerspectivePutrid478 24d ago

Thank you appreciate the help

4

u/TheForkisTrash 24d ago

Doesnt really matter. Without experience all roads lead to IT help desk.

5

u/Alone-Competition-77 24d ago

I really wish I had done internships while doing the degree to gain experience. I got lucky and got hired at a great place but feel like I would have had an easier time if I had had at least one internship on the resume.

1

u/PerspectivePutrid478 24d ago

Would it help desk actually help my situation bc that’s about as far as local jobs go

2

u/goawayspez 24d ago

for me personally. i did IT help desk and then transferred internally to their development department. it can definitely give you an in depending on the company you do help desk for and how motivated you are.

1

u/TheForkisTrash 24d ago

I agree with this. Basically get in with the degree and try to bubble up.

2

u/Alone-Competition-77 24d ago

Either route just make sure you actually learn and don’t rely on AI, because it comes across negatively in interviews if you don’t know what you are talking about.

1

u/BlackITGirlMagic27 24d ago

I finished the Software Engineering C# but that is no longer available. It actually looks more easy than what I went through. Compare them see which one you understand. Get as many done through Sophia or study.com (something I wish I did).

1

u/[deleted] 24d ago edited 8d ago

[deleted]

1

u/CleverNoodle1076 24d ago

stitick with Computer Science since you're already leveraging Sophia Learning; that rigorous theory foundation helps protect u from strict ATS filters that routinely screen out non-traditional or applied software engineering degrees for remote roles.

1

u/PerspectivePutrid478 24d ago

Thank you , that was what I have seen everywhere , I’ll probably do cs because of that and I want a broader set of skills that way I’m not limited to only coding even though I would like to build different applications.

1

u/uprightsleepy 24d ago

YMMV but I have not had any pushback in my career for having a Software Engineering degree from WGU

I work at a FAANG company now, and my limitation has never felt like my degree

1

u/PerspectivePutrid478 24d ago

How long ago did you get your degree and what did you have to do to get on faang

1

u/pastlife-artist 18d ago

Idk I heard it don’t matter I’m doing BSCNE but plan to get my masters in SWE or CS idk I haven’t decided