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Old 12-07-2011, 03:26 PM   #92
MarchHare
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: YSJ (1979-2002) -> YYC (2002-2022) -> YVR (2022-present)
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Will a history major help you to get a job at Suncor, Google, Facebook or Microsoft? Not as much as a computer science major will.
This is a very interesting point. Having the "right" degree will get your foot in the door for an interview for an entry level job, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're any more skilled or knowledgeable or would be a better fit for the position than someone who did a different degree.

As someone who successfully completed a computer science major (plus physics minor) and now works in the IT industry, I can say, unequivocally, that the electives I took in "worthless" liberal arts courses like history, classics, philosophy, literature, etc. have proved to be more valuable in my career than the CS, math, and physics courses that made up the bulk of my university education. Almost every single day I take advantage of the skills I was forced to learn from writing research papers about Greek mythology or the history of pre-Confederation Canada. I have never, not once, used any of the C++ and x86 assembly language programming techniques, differential equations, orbital mechanics, or quantum physics knowledge that was taught in my major and minor areas of study.

I have climbed the career ladder much faster than most of my peers who completed a purely workplace-oriented technical program (e.g. two-year SAIT diploma), and I attribute this success largely to the broader education and stronger writing and research skills I picked up from having to take liberal arts electives while completing a computer science major. The CS courses I took provided zero value to my professional career beyond getting my foot in the door for my first interview.
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