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Ask HN: Best place for a professional to get a computer science degree?

3 pointsby alexrbarlowover 10 years ago
I&#x27;ve been working professionally for about 6 years in Ruby, iOS and UNIX but I never attained a degree.<p>Recently I&#x27;ve been wondering if anywhere does good ones online that I could do in my spare time or whether it&#x27;s even a good idea?<p>Specifically being a UK resident I&#x27;d mainly like one to more easily attain a H-1B visa but also to perhaps go over some of the deeper concepts again.

4 comments

SEJeffover 10 years ago
Well you could learn a lot of the underlying concepts yourself first. It would only help you professionally. If you want to get into some C++, I <i>strongly</i> recommend Robert Sedgewick&#x27;s[1] entire set of algorithmic books<p>Note: I&#x27;ve been doing &#x27;nix&#x2F;python&#x2F;perl for about 7 years professionally and also don&#x27;t have a degree. I&#x27;ve actually been using the Khan Academy to re-learn some of the more advanced Algebra and Calculus bits I forgot a little bit each night for the past few weeks. When I&#x27;m done, I&#x27;ll likely find a college that will do night school CS. Not because I need it, but because I want to have a degree. Having used Linux as my primary operating system fulltime for the past 12 years, I can honestly say I could teach just about any of the Linux&#x2F;Unix classes. But it is good to have accomplished something.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~rs/" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.cs.princeton.edu&#x2F;~rs&#x2F;</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Sedgewick/e/B000AQ4JCO" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;Robert-Sedgewick&#x2F;e&#x2F;B000AQ4JCO</a>
hackerboosover 10 years ago
UK&#x2F;EU citizen?<p>If so bite the bullet and go full time to a decent university. Many will take your professional experience in lieu of academic credentials.<p>Contact the admissions departments at your chosen institution to find out if you qualify before applying through UCAS.<p>Any STEM degree can lead to a H1-B visa provided you can find an employer.
cblock811over 10 years ago
What specifically do you want to get out of a CS degree? Do you want to focus on general cs or have a specialization?
Bob90001over 10 years ago
CSUN has a good program.<p>Edit: That&#x27;s California State University, Northridge (Los Angeles County, CA - USA).<p>Here&#x27;s their Computer Science department website: <a href="http://www.csun.edu/engineering-computer-science/computer-science" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.csun.edu&#x2F;engineering-computer-science&#x2F;computer-sc...</a>