Should I do Bachelor of Technology?

[ElPolloDiabl]

I've been contemplating doing this course. It covers Java programming, C progamming and C++ programming. It's AU$7160 a year (deferable) and I can do the subjects online.
For anyone who's done a similar course: do you feel it was worthwhile?
I suppose it will open up job opportunities. What do you think?

edit: Here is the link to it:
https://www.open.edu.au/wps/portal/oua/what-study/qualification?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/migration/OUA2/What+to+study/Qualifications/Qualification_Data/RMI_CPT_DEG&WT.ti=Bachelor%20of%20Technology%20%28Computing%20Studies%29

[pan1k]

Depends on if you want to be a programmer. I am a Telecommunications Major, and I really dont have a use for programming computers.. just switches and routers

[ElPolloDiabl]

I just had a flashback to the 80's. Do you remember those ads on the games boxes asking "Would you like to program for us? dial 555****."

Yeah sure, my favourite part of IT.

[pan1k]

Maybe you can port Amiga 3.1 to run on my intel imac

[xeron]

Should I do Bachelor of Technology?  

Only if he's up for it ;-)

[amigadave]

I've been contemplating doing this course. It covers Java programming, C progamming and C++ programming. It's AU$7160 a year (deferable) and I can do the subjects online.
For anyone who's done a similar course: do you feel it was worthwhile?
I suppose it will open up job opportunities. What do you think?

Can you provide a link to the site for this program?  Is it a credentialed program that is recognized all around where you live?  Is it recognized in many different countries as a Bachelor's Degree when you have completed it?  And lastly, you said the cost of the course is AU$7160 per year, can I assume that it is a two year course and the total cost is AU$14320?

Edit:  To answer your question about it possibly opening up job opportunities, I would say "yes".  I know one Java programmer that is making a decent living and I believe that C and C++ are still used in many places and there are untold number of proprietary C and C++ programs that need maintaining and modifying to keep them current with company needs.

[vidarh]

Programming jobs depends more on skills than on degrees, so the question is what level you're at now. If you can't currently program, then a bachelor will get you the first step *but* beware that you'll need to do a *lot* of work to make sure you get the skills - most programs like these only gets you a foundation.... Also make sure the program covers the skills you'll need for the type of jobs you might be interested in - technology is a *very* wide field.

If you have been programming for a while, I'd be more careful - a degree does not necessarily mean a higher salary unless you want to go work for a bank for example (at my company I don't even know who of my developers have a degree - I don't care, I care about their skill level; though we do have a guy with a PhD in philosophy...); in that case you might be better off reading by yourself and just getting lots of practice and/or looking for an entry level position to get a foot in the door.

[ElPolloDiabl]

My level... 68k Amiga: Can construct menus, windows and text.
BASIC: databases and 2D games.
C: none
Java: none

It is a credential as far as a job requiring Bachelor degree minimum. I assume they would shove you in support until you have a few years programming experience.

I signed up, I hope I enjoy it...

[gertsy]

Only if he's up for it ;-)

Laugh..?   I didn't start..

[spookyx]

Only if he's up for it ;-)

LOL

in truth,  if I had it to do all over again,  I would have become a lawyer or doctor......  look around at other online classes.  that seems like  a lot of money for online....

just my 2 cents worth

[Piru]

I've been contemplating doing this course. It covers Java programming, C progamming and C++ programming. It's AU$7160 a year (deferable) and I can do the subjects online.
For anyone who's done a similar course: do you feel it was worthwhile?
I suppose it will open up job opportunities. What do you think?

Do you really want to do programming for a living? Do you program for a hobby? My experience is that if you do it for a living the hobby will die out (eventually). There's only that much of coding you'll feel comfortable doing, and usually your work has priority.

Also coding has lost the "wow" factor ages ago already. It's the typical grunt work just like any other. Some fields tend to be quite volatile as well, adding uncertainly. Add this the common problem of immature trade unions and lack of organization in the IT field and you might end up looking for some other field. When shit hits the fan it's usually the new guy that goes. In order to get to do some really interesting and cool stuff you usually have to find some small startup or such, which again means that they can't pay you much and if (when) shit hits the fan you're the first let go.

I'm not saying this is the same everywhere, or that it would necessarily be a problem for you. Other relatively young fields have similar problems aswell.

Happy programming (work or for fun)!

PS. I'm not coding for a living.

[dammy]

I thought I had replied to this already, maybe not.  I wouldn't go to a 100% online university as I doubt a HR will pay too much attention to it as it's questionable creditability.  If it was a online section of a real school, that would be different.  Real school, I would go talk to the Placement Office and see what % of Seniors (in the major your asking about) are getting job offers prior to their graduation.  Ask what the current group (again, your major) of soon to graduates have secured job offers.  If they give you a song and dance, it's either the wrong major to get a job or wrong place to be getting a degree from.

What was a hot major to get a degree from two years ago maybe cold stone dead now.   Average person will now have three different careers in their life time.

[ElPolloDiabl]

The thing to do is: do the level 1 subjects (which are pretty simple) online, get good results and you've got a much better chance of getting into the high demand course. Luckily there is a uni only 10 mins (1 hour in peak traffic:o)) drive away from me. So I can apply there at the end of the year.

[persia]

It is a real Uni, the programme is actually offered through RMIT, the 10th best Uni in the country right after Macquarie.  I presume the degree would be from RMIT not the Open University.  It's also nice in that you aren't expected to be full time so you can take more than three years and nobody cares.

I say go for it, I work for a Uni and everyone one here says that RMIT is good in Computer Sciences.  Are you in Victoria that you could visit the Uni and talk to some of the instructors?  I really think that the Open University is one of the best things they could do.  I assume you are eligible for Austudy or Youth Allowance?  That should help ease the burden.

The IT industry today runs on paper, all sorts of degrees and muttly awards are available.  Back in the old days you just started programming and became an IT person...

Go for it!

I thought I had replied to this already, maybe not.  I wouldn't go to a 100% online university as I doubt a HR will pay too much attention to it as it's questionable creditability.  If it was a online section of a real school, that would be different.  Real school, I would go talk to the Placement Office and see what % of Seniors (in the major your asking about) are getting job offers prior to their graduation.  Ask what the current group (again, your major) of soon to graduates have secured job offers.  If they give you a song and dance, it's either the wrong major to get a job or wrong place to be getting a degree from.

What was a hot major to get a degree from two years ago maybe cold stone dead now.   Average person will now have three different careers in their life time.

[fishy_fiz]

If its not too late look into help from Centrelink. Im studying similar stuff at uni (3 years to begin with), but a little more game centric (c/c++,flash/actionscript, 3dsmax, modding unreal engne,ai programming, etc.) and normally the fees werent dissimilar to what you've mentioned, but with some government education assistances (available to a good portion of the population I'd imagine) I managed to get in for less than 10% of the "advertised" prices. Im in a different state to you (Vic.), so things may be a little different, but it's probably worth looking into. Now in regards to the studying itself if it's anything like what Im doing it get pretty heavy quickly, and only the people that really want to be there seem to stick around for more than maybe 3 months or so. Having said this though if you'll get skills and/or knowledge (plus paper qualifications are useful sometimes) that you'd like to be using in your life then go for it, life's too short not to at least have a crack at things you want :-)