Masters in IT or 2nd bachelors in IT or CS?

Posted by ElectricOne55@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 27 comments

I'm looking at WGU and trying to decide between second bachelors in CS, IT, or masters in IT which would be best? My first degree was in kinesiology. I've been working in help desk/system admin for almost 3 years, but can't seem to break above 40 to 60k roles. I have comptia trio, CCNA, Azure, and Linux lpic certs. So, I know I could the IT bachelors in the 6 month semester. I want to work with windows servers, virtualization, and cloud. So, idk if I'd even need a CS degree? But some people say that it would open me up to more jobs and to not avoid math. However, others say to take the past of least resistance and a CS degree isn't necessary for a lot of jobs. I also thought of the masters in IT because a lot of people say doing 2 bachelors is pointless, a masters would open you up to higher paying roles, and the bachelors in CS would probably take longer and cost more. So considering these things would a masters in IT, bs IT, or bs cs be best?

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27 Comments

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whitefunk@reddit

Realistically I don't see a point in another bachelor's degree unless you are double majoring the first time through. You can get an unrelated (or marginally related) master's degree and take far less classes. That said, most of the time I see people getting resume blocked for missing a bachelor's degree so since you have that already I'd just say push with experience. Certifications are ok, but you need real resume points about doing the things the certifications say you can do.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Some said the CS degree would open me to more jobs though, and that a lot of jobs in tech only list a bachelors in IT/CS. My other choice was this program [https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology](https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology) It would be cheaper than WGU because I'd get tuition assistance, but it would take 2.5 to 3 years. I'd also have to submit 2 references, 2 essays, and GRE to apply. Whereas, WGU is more straight forward to apply to and I can finish quicker. What do you like better between WGU CS vs the UGA masters vs WGU MS IT?

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whitefunk@reddit

I didn't consider the difference in tuition reimbursement. For me, the master's degree (in either CS or IT) would be faster and better on the resume. That said, if one was free and the other not, I'd pick the free one! If you want direction into what field for further education, I'd be looking at security myself. I also have an unrelated bachelor's degree. For the most part, having a degree (in anything) and some experience has been enough for me to get interviews. Sometimes you just need to have a bit more experience documented. You may just need more time in one spot to rack up achievements. Don't believe the whole "change jobs every 6 months and make $250,000 / year in 2 years" narrative.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

So sounds like you would suggest the masters even with the longer time frame over the quicker bachelors in CS? Good point on staying in one job too. The only think is I'm making 55k but rent in my area is around 1500 to 1600. I made another post on reddit on if I should stay because of the tuition assistance, pto, and pension. Some people on reddit were telling me to apply for other jobs. But, with the economy the way it is, and employers being really picky I may need to stay more. In a lot of interviews I've been asked why I switched form kinesology to IT, so that's why I considered getting a degree.

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PMzyox@reddit

CS is where the money is at

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

A lot of people here are saying either to not go to school at all lol or to do a masters because of my certs and experience and that it will open me up to more jobs. Idk if that'd be true though. My worry with CS though is it being too hard or taking too long My other choice was this program [https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology](https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology) It would be cheaper than WGU because I'd get tuition assistance, but it would take 2.5 to 3 years. I'd also have to submit 2 references, 2 essays, and GRE to apply. Whereas, WGU is more straight forward to apply to and I can finish quicker. What do you like better between WGU CS vs the UGA masters vs WGU MS IT?

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Tricks_@reddit

Degrees certainly open the door to more jobs and more career adancement in larger corporations. I went to university but left after 3 years and didn't graduate, now 20 years later I still sort of feel it.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Ya there's the whole just do certs crowd or just get more experience bro. But, certs expire and I have 10 now and felt that they haven't helped as much as people say. The people that say you don't need a degree, you don't know if there some boomer that started in 1980, or a trust fundee that works in their parents parents company.

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Vindictive_Vin@reddit

Definitely agree with a lot of what you are saying. I am on my final semester of my degree. There are a lot of jobs that literally don’t view your application if you don’t have a degree on your resume. It’s shitty but if you want to play the rigged game you have to play by their rigged rules. Do what you think is best. But I certainly don’t think when you are getting set for retiring you are going to say “damn I wish I just didn’t get a bachelors in science” lol

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

So you think I'd be good to get it or not really?

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Vindictive_Vin@reddit

Yeah forsure, I would say start with a bachelor’s, then go from there, especially since you still have some certs going for you.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Thanks bro thinking of going the CS route, just worried how hard it will be with the math and algorithms. And if I'll be able to do it with working full time?

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Vindictive_Vin@reddit

Yeah I hear that, I am a working full time now and it is rough. I will say in my experience I’ve had some really understanding and patient professors who accept a lot of late work and are flexible on deadlines. Once I tell them I’m a full time student and full time worker they are pretty cool. Math whooped my ass too and some of the programming classes were tough but I got through it. I’m sure you can too plus most campuses if you go in person will have resources like a math lab which offers help with stuff. I’d say go for it but maybe start small or get your general Education out of the way at a community college? Then transfer to the college of your choice to get the BA. That was how I did it. It’s a bit cheaper and the destination is the same just a different route to get there.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

My other choice was this program [https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology](https://online.uga.edu/degrees-certificates/master-business-technology) It would be cheaper than WGU because I'd get tuition assistance, but it would take 2.5 to 3 years. I'd also have to submit 2 references, 2 essays, and GRE to apply. Whereas, WGU is more straight forward to apply to and I can finish quicker. What do you like better between WGU CS vs the UGA masters vs WGU MS IT?

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Tricks_@reddit

I come from a time where you couldn't study system admin/engineering for computers, the only choices were something with software development in mind. Some people studied, had no clue about sys admin stuff but still ended up leading the teams or managing departments. If you want to stay 100% doing tech stuff, the degree becomes less relevant, it will be more about exp. and certs.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

So your saying everything came from computer science anyways, so it's not like CS will keep me from doin IT jobs?

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Tricks_@reddit

It won't, its always a plus, if you have the time and money to get the degree. People saying you don't need a degree are only correct in that you can start at the bottom and work your way up, but only so far, it will depend on the company you work for. If you are smart, good at solving problems you can have a good career in tech. Management level jobs will be harder to obtain though I believe.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

Ya plus I've found that when I was filling out applications only small businesses, startups, or msps would respond lol. And they would all have small staff and be hella toxic in interviews. I want to get into bigger companies but it seems like my resume goes through a black hole.

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sstewart1617@reddit

If your foot is in the door(and it is) an extra bachelors degree means nothing. Just get experience and certs. About half the folks I hire don’t have a relevant degree. If you do want to get a degree, the masters makes the most sense. I don’t think it’s necessary to progress pst your current role, but can help future stuff.

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tickpig@reddit

Second degree isn't going to help you. You already already have your foot in the door at help desk. Now you need to self-study, which is what anyone desiring to stay in this field for the long term has to do. Build a portfolio and network with other people to advance.

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lopahcreon@reddit

If you already have a bachelors and 10 certs, and you’re having issues finding a job in this field, then the issue is not your education and adding degrees/certs ain’t going to help. You need provable experience. Take the money/time you’d throw away that route and set you up a home lab centered around what you want to do professionally.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I fill out 100 applications and get 5 responses. And the interviews I do go through they say my resume has been the best they've seen of candidates. Also, sometimes I'd get contacted by recruiters from LinkedIn but the number of recruiters reaching out to me has decreased the last month. I would do good in these interviews, but the recruiters would reject me because I didn't live in the area.

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lopahcreon@reddit

I have a bachelors in “IT” and a completely unrelated masters. I have half your certs, and not the good half. I do have a lot more experience and make 6 figures. It took me a long time to break 6 figures though, and it didn’t happen until I was able to stop listing help desk roles.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I've been trying to get away from bullshit 6 month contract to hire help desk roles too.

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Tricks_@reddit

back in the day I ended up having 1 home server, 3 desktop and 1 laptop client. It helped me immensly to learn everything Microsoft/Linux related and my knowledge + certs landed me a couple of good jobs even though I was young. Shifting to cloud stuff will certainly make you more marketable.

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ElectricOne55@reddit (OP)

I already have AZ 104 and 305 certs though. I like mocrosoft more than AWS.

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Tricks_@reddit

I haven't done a cert in years lol but I had MS, Solaris, Novell, Linux, network engineering and system admin certs. I moved from Europe to California and live in an area where there is **0** high tech IT jobs so I am an IT consultant and work with local MSPs and businesses as an independent contractor for all sorts of IT needs, nothing spectacular. I used to be in the highest engineering department of an ISP managing class 5 VoIP softswitches.