Anyone else being told your degree is useless? (non-degree, working, study)

[BigCityDreamer]

Originally Posted by user_id

Any serious program in mathematics is going to require extensive course work that goes well beyond the required mathematics courses of an engineering, physics, etc student.

This is true. Just like any serious program in engineering, physics, etc. is going to require extensive course work specific to these fields that aren't required of mathematics students. I don't know why anyone would argue differently.

[user_id]

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

This is true. Just like any serious program in engineering, physics, etc. is going to require extensive course work specific to these fields that aren't required of mathematics students. I don't know why anyone would argue differently.

Right. I think in the case of mathematics, because the way the department structures the classes, its easy for engineering, etc students to think they've been exposed to "serious mathematics". Where as a mathematics student taking some physics classes (often a requirement) is unlikely to make that same mistake.

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by rock_chalk

Rutgers offers a very good math program. You can read about it on their website. The interdisciplinary programs administered by other departments 15 years ago have nothing to do with that.

My program was not through another department. Now it may have changed since then (just as many of my "stats" classes were through the math department and now are not) but that was not the case 15 years ago. Hell the entire school in RU (Rutgers College) is gone so I am not really surprised some departments have split up, or merged or moved entirely.

[rock_chalk]

Originally Posted by lkb0714

My program was not through another department. Now it may have changed since then (just as many of my "stats" classes were through the math department and now are not) but that was not the case 15 years ago. Hell the entire school in RU (Rutgers College) is gone so I am not really surprised some departments have split up, or merged or moved entirely.

MATH MAJOR BROCHURE

The Rutgers math brochure from 16 years ago listed five math major options. Three were administered by the math department and two were "interdisciplinary" majors coordinated by other departments. All three math department programs required courses beyond differential equations (Math 252).

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by rock_chalk

MATH MAJOR BROCHURE

The Rutgers math brochure from 16 years ago listed five math major options. Three were administered by the math department and two were "interdisciplinary" majors coordinated by other departments. All three math department programs required courses beyond differential equations (Math 252).

That's cool, the wayback thing. I tried to get it to go back to when I was actually there (I graduated in 1995 so that brochure is from well after I was enrolled there) but I cannot figure out how to get it to back to 1991.

I think the computer option must be the one the engineers in my department were qualified for, (it doesn't appear to be interdisciplinary but maybe it was before then?) as for me it must have been the stats one.

[rock_chalk]

Originally Posted by lkb0714

That's cool, the wayback thing. I tried to get it to go back to when I was actually there (I graduated in 1995 so that brochure is from well after I was enrolled there) but I cannot figure out how to get it to back to 1991.

I think the computer option must be the one the engineers in my department were qualified for, (it doesn't appear to be interdisciplinary but maybe it was before then?) as for me it must have been the stats one.

Archived webpages are kind of interesting, aren't they? I don't think WayBack has an earlier record for that page.

I don't have much more to say. BigCityDreamer nailed it.

Originally Posted by BigCityDreamer

This is true. Just like any serious program in engineering, physics, etc. is going to require extensive course work specific to these fields that aren't required of mathematics students. I don't know why anyone would argue differently.

[MustangEater82]

Just saw a cool piece about Freeman Hrabowski http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_A._Hrabowski_III

Rated one of the best student presidents in the country and how he is pushing hard on science and math, also pushing a different type of teaching. Also pushing more(having graduate work done by undergrads) and more on collaborative learning, then a competition.

Sent from my autocorrect butchering device.

[Glucorious]

Originally Posted by NJBest

Anyways, comp sci is a waste of time. I would choose something different if I was in school now. I'm glad I doubled with economics.

According to you and a few others, every major seems to be a "waste of time".

[NJBest]

Originally Posted by Glucorious

According to you and a few others, every major seems to be a "waste of time".

I said most degrees are useless. That's because most people don't use their degree beyond the piece of paper they have indicating they have one. On top of that, many people get degrees from lower quality institutions.

Regarding comp sci... very few people become computer scientists. Anyone can learn how to program in a book or a few classes. Time is better spent studying complex problems.

One of the things that I don't like about many universities is they don't require any participation in research at the undergrad level.

[CaptainHastings]

"Anyone can learn how to program in a book or a few classes."
A slight correction, anyone can learn how to program *badly from a book or by taking a few classes.