Where did the degree requirement come from for programmers?

[Brian Weaver]

I know many non-degree system admins at the large, blue in color fortune 500 company I work for in Chandler. Most were probably hired when the economy was booming back in the 90s and skilled IT people were in short supply. If they were applying today I suspect they would have a much harder time getting in.

It really comes down the the hiring manager. I've seen managers do their initial resume screen by throwing out every resume that does not have a 4 year degree, and I've seen cases where we receive only 3 applications and everyone gets interviewed.

 



On Jan 13, 2012, at 8:11 AM, Kevin Fries <kevin at fries-biro.com> wrote:

> This requirement comes from the same place as most requirements of this ilk.  Plausable deny-ability. 
> 
>   - We need a qualified programmer
> 
>   - HR does not know (and often neither does the hiring manager, or policy maker) how to assess programming skills.
> 
> By requiring a degree, you can't fire the people that implemented this policy... after all, they hired someone qualified, right?  Its not their fault if the programmer doesn't work out.  But without a degree... well then what were you thinking.
> 
> So... its a CYA move by incompetent people, trying to hire for a skill they don't understand.
> 
> The last company and current company.I work for both hired on skills and treasure their IT staff.  They both understand how hard it is to find good IT people, and few ever leave.
> 
> I look as the manditory IT degree as a sure sign that this is not a good company to work for... and I am right more than I'm wrong.
> 
> Just my $0.02
> 
> Kevin
> 
> On Jan 13, 2012 7:56 AM, "keith smith" <klsmith2020 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm wondering if anyone knows where the degree requirement came from for developers.
> 
> In the early 80's there were very few computer courses available.  I talked with a guy in about 1988 who told me he was a math major because that was the closest thing to a computer science degree in the 70's and early 80's.  
> 
> I read that in the early 80's businesses were offering classes in programming.  The example I read said the course was 6 weeks long.  The graduates were give high paying jobs.
> 
> The interesting part is I was attending college in the early 80's.  At the UofA intro to computers was a FORTRAN programming class.  Then a class in COBOL.  It was mostly a business degree with an emphasis on programming.   
> 
> I'm curious if anyone knows why corporate America requires a degree to be a programmer.  The degree does not open the door.  Skills do.
> 
> Do system administrators need degrees? 
> 
> As far as I'm concerned a degree in and of it self means nothing.  I've worked with and know people who do not have a degree that can run circles around some with degrees.
> 
> Just curious where that requirement came from.
> 
> ------------------------
> Keith Smith
> 
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