What's the relationship between your degree and your job? How do you use your degree as you go about your job? Are there other courses in your curriculum that you think helped you more than your simple core curriculum classes? Is there anything you wished you learned more about before going into the workplace?

I'll answer my own question when I have more time...

8/5/2005 1:27:22 PM

My degree:
Bachelor of Graphic Design (BGD, its the equivalent of a BFA)

My job:
Graphic Designer for Eurosport (http://www.soccer.com) and Great Atlantic (http://www.lacrosse.com), doing only print work (page layout, t-shirt design, and direct mail pieces). Freelance on the side (http://www.pixelparlor.com).

Relationship between the two:
I am slightly overqualified for the current position I am in. Other people have been hired onto the team with 2-yr associates degrees in Graphic Design. Those people clearly don't have as much training in design as a whole, but are very technically proficient.

Any specialized courses in Graphic Design that helped me more than the core GD courses?
Not for this current position, directly. I feel like I bring a lot to the table because of going beyond the minimum levels of Typography and Imaging, but it does not always have an immediate impact on work produced in my 9-5 job.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
Not exactly, I felt prepared enough, for the most part, to hit the ground running.

-ZiP!-

8/5/2005 4:37:46 PM

I am an administrative assistant with a degree in English. I use it daily to proof and edit pieces that are sent out of the Dean's office. I think it is a solid background for most anything that I want to do.
More than likely I am going back to school next fall to get my Master of Education, so that I can create a new position for myself here at Campbell University or maybe at State

8/5/2005 4:46:14 PM

art degree ----> starving artist

working out well so far.

8/5/2005 5:55:11 PM

I like Zip's format for this. So:

My degree:
Bachelor of Science in History

My job:
Clinical Programmer for INC Dataspectrum. (http://www.incresearch.com) Developing Clinical trial data capture databases and supporting technologies with Oracle software.

Relationship between the two:
I learned many skills in the history department that are directly applicable to creating and maintaining official clinical study documentation in accordance with ICH and GCP standards.

Any specialized courses in History that helped me more than the core history courses?
Yes. The Seminar history classes were fantastic. They simulate a working conference environment well enough to foster critical thinking skills. When most of your coworkers are sitting in a food-coma from their lunch during a team meeting, you're the one actually getting shit done and coming up with new ideas while challenging old ones.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
"Not exactly, I felt prepared enough, for the most part, to hit the ground running."

8/5/2005 7:08:34 PM

I have a B.A. in English with a journalism concentration. I'm a journalist. I wish State had more journalism courses to offer, and I would've most likely ended up at Carolina if I knew I wanted to work in the newspaper business when I came to college. But I feel like I got a pretty good education for the few courses that were really relevant to my area of interest.

8/5/2005 7:20:17 PM

got my BS in CSC

i am a textbook manager at a college bookstore

not a whole lot of connection per se between the two, but i do use my major. i've written a lot of scripts to analyze data in ways that typically hadn't been available. for example, i just finished a script for one of my old coworkers to look for any information in the registrar's database that is different from we have on file. turns a three day long boring project into a one hour task.

it would be nice to have more background in marketing, but i can pick that up pretty easily

[Edited on August 5, 2005 at 7:31 PM. Reason : .]

8/5/2005 7:31:09 PM

I majored in English... Got the degree for the paper it was written on, not b/c I ever had any desire to use it. It does, however, come in handy pretty frequently at work......Specifically writing appraisals, docs, etc.
Glad I got it, none the less.

Life lessons & Real experience was far more valuable than anything taught in a classroom for me.

8/5/2005 7:51:10 PM

ZIP CHECK UR PMS PLZ




and I'll answer this question once I start my new job

8/5/2005 9:24:47 PM

Got a BS in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering

I'm a HS/MS math teacher.

8/5/2005 10:03:29 PM

My degree:
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

My job:
Committee Staff for the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee; Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities

Relationship between the two:
The committee/subcommittee are an extension of Congress, dealing with exactly what they say they deal with. My portfolio includes the SOCOM budget and related issues, GWOT policy to a certain extent, and an overlapping jurisdiction into Homeland Security that is shared with the House Committee by the same name, playing the role of research and admin support staff to the subcommittee's Members of Congress, under the direction of a subcommittee staff director.

Any specialized courses in Political Science that helped me more than the core history courses?No one specific course, per se. However for my previous year's work on Congressional races, I found a few classes to be of particular use. However my memory of all the material just runs together, and as a result of further developing a political sense, it helps in a limited aspect to my current job, allowing me to recognize the political angle to Armed Forces issues that other staff members might not pick up as quickly.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
While I never knew I would end up on the commitee or that I would be assigned to a subcommitee so fast after arriving as a general staff assistant at the beginning of the year, so I wish I had a bit more of a military background. However this is not my career job, so I'm not too worried about just being able to pick everything up as I go.

8/5/2005 10:12:12 PM

My Degree
None. However, I do have minors in Japanese, Chinese, Hindi and Urdu. I have studied in 5 different Universities in 3 countries in the past 8 years. I have completed a ton of college work.

My Job
I run my own Company. I set my own hours and report to no one. http://www.mlcompany.net
I have made over 100k a year for the past 5 years running. I remember siting in Java 116 and 216 thinking why the hell am I waisting my time doing these programs when I could be earning $50 an hour working?

What I do:
• Software Development Manager
• Business Planning and Financial Management
• Sales Representative to large Corporations
• Responsible for the locating and hiring of contractors in Europe and Asia


Relationship
Im lucky enough to be able to study what ever I want. I had a desire to hire contractors in India so I learned hindi. Today I got a whole gang of people in India working for $7 an hour and Im getting $55+ for each hour they work.

Any Classes that helped me in the Working World?
Pretty much everything that wasnt a required course at NCSU.


Any I wished I had Taken
Not really because I just take them if I want to. Degree Schmegree. If you just do the basic requiremnets and then try to go work you are just like 50 kabillion others doing the same. I recomend that you take your time and take the blinders off and look for yourself. Stop hearing about shit from somebody else.

8/5/2005 10:22:04 PM

my degree: BA in history

my job: historic interpreter at local historic site

altho the position didnt require me to have a BA it did help me get the job in the long run. its a state job so i dont get paid as much as i think a degree holder should these days...i dont really care about that b/c i enjoy my job and i get to work in the history field w/o having to be a teacher

i dont think really any courses helped for this position cept maybe a public speaking class but that was more to get me used to talking in front of people i guess

i wished i had focused my major and degree more into museum studies or something like that [tho i think do to that i would need to get a masters]. also i wished i had started looking for a job way before graduation

8/5/2005 10:34:59 PM

Does grad school count as a job? Sounds like a stupid question but think about it, once the core program requirements are over, you become a 9-5er.

Otherwise, I can't answer this question.

8/5/2005 10:41:30 PM

No, you're not necessarily a 9 to 5er. Just wait till you see my hours. Holy Christ...

I wanted to attempt a response since it seems I have insomnia. But then again, I have found that the instant I start talking about aviation, I will not shut the fuck up.



[Edited on August 5, 2005 at 10:48 PM. Reason : .]

8/5/2005 10:46:35 PM

Well my degree in Biology was not useless. I'm pretty much applying the things I learned in my core classes almost everyday at the post-graduate level.

Hmmm...except maybe for Organic...or Integrals....or, nevermind.

8/5/2005 10:51:23 PM

My degree:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

My job:
Software Engineer at Integrated Industrial Information Inc, a software company specalizing in CAD system integration.

Relationship between the two:
Currently one of the few actual computer scientists working as a developer at the company.

Any specialized courses in Computer Science that helped me more than the core CSC courses?
By far the most useful (and wasteful) were Software Engineering and Senior Design courses. They showed students as close as possible the business lifecycle of developing a product from the design phase through to the testing and maintanence phase of a product. The projects were smaller in scope, but still demanded enough thought and attention to make them realistic. The downside was many of the professors put too much emphasis on the "presentation" aspect of the course, requiring sometimes more than double the time of the project itself being spent on preparing to demonstrate or give a presentation. Many of the other classes were worthwhile, but could have been self taught.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
I sometimes wish the CSC department hadn't moved the base language from C++ to Java. While I started working in Java, C++ is definately a more foundation language, and admittingly, I was almost underqualified in those reguards when joining the company.

8/5/2005 11:00:16 PM

My degree:
Masters in Civil Engineering

My job:
Design Engineer for a specialty Bridge design firm in Denver.

Relationship between the two:
I concentrated in Structures and Mechanics in undergrad and grad school. You pretty much have to if you want to do what I do. I don't think my firm even considers people without a masters degree and I admit that I wasn't qualified for my job before my masters degree.

Any specialized courses in Civil Engineering that helped me more than the core courses?
Absolutely, Finite Element modeling is a must for what I do. Also, the advanced courses in mechanics of materials are essential because of all of the nonstandard design work that we see.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
I wish that we had another course in Finite Elements and maybe take the plates and shells course but it wasn't offered while I was in grad school.

8/5/2005 11:32:46 PM

My degree:
BA Criminology

My job:
Harrier Pilot, USMC

Relationship between the two:
Pretty much nothing.

8/6/2005 12:35:27 AM

I'm going to preface this with the following statement: I already had a job prior to my senior year, so I didn't give a shit what I majored in. I had changed majors three times and finally just wanted to graduate.

My degree:
Animal Science -> Computer Science -> BA in English, journalism concentration
Working on my MS in engineering graphics and technical communication

My job:
Cryptology officer in the Navy -> web developer -> current job: Not really sure of the title per se; basically I'm the go-between for the engineering team and the proposal writing team for DOD satellite and radar engineering projects for Raytheon. I was pulled into this position since the generally accepted belief is that engineers can't write well and writers don't understand engineering. Luckily I can do both.

Relationship between the two:
Right now, I think my web development experience and CAD knowledge is more useful than anything. As for the English degree, all it did was help me to write well for a variety of audiences. I know a lot of software and that helps a lot.

Any specialized courses in that helped me more than the core courses?
I'm specializing in CAD for my MS, so the GC classes have been really beneficial. As for the core MS in tech comm classes, I could have learned it all in a Macromedia for Dummies book.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
Nothing I've found so far. I know my SolidWorks.

I really really regret changing my major so many times; I let people make me think I was too stupid to do what I really wanted to do. Then I got my dream job in the Navy so I just picked a major that would enable me to graduate on time. That was a huge mistake, luckily I'm not paying for it too badly.

[Edited on August 6, 2005 at 1:15 AM. Reason : sorry so long, Blue Moon was cheap tonight]

8/6/2005 1:15:35 AM

Quote :

"sometimes wish the CSC department hadn't moved the base language from C++ to Java. While I started working in Java, C++ is definately a more foundation language, and admittingly, I was almost underqualified in those reguards when joining the company. "

Friend of mine that graduated with me but with a CSC degree owns his own lucrative software company says he'll never hire an NCSU CSC graduate because of "the switch" and other factors. He was asked to come in and give a guest lecture and ALMOST accepted just so he could go off Goodknight style on the University.

8/6/2005 8:20:23 AM

Yep, I know how he feels. I own my own Software biz aswell. Every NCSU student has to be retrained. They come in to work and are like what is .net, C++, xml or You can really use databases instead of text files? Im happy I took C, C++, advanded C++, web programming and Windows applications in C++ at a community college but I also took all the Java NCSU could cram down my throat.

Java is hot right now if you are working in the cell phone industry. Most of Erickson phones are running Java micro edition and if you are hardcore java person that is where you fit in.

8/6/2005 8:44:59 AM

I have had 2 good peeps from NCSU. One is Justin Oh and Wynn Han Lam.

8/6/2005 9:25:02 AM

My degree:
BS Computer Science

My job:
Software Engineer at Integrated Industrial Information, Inc.

Relationship between the two:
Direct correlation.

Any specialized courses in Computer Science that helped me more than the core CSC courses?
Yeah, I took a bunch of courses involving C.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
I would have liked to have a better understanding of software engineering. My SE class was a cakewalk and it's hurt me.

8/6/2005 1:56:20 PM

my degree is mechanical engineering. i'm a student naval flight officer in the USMC (think "Goose" from Top Gun. i'll either be flying in F-18s or EA-6b Prowlers).

i don't really see my degree having anything to do with my job, other than making stuff like aerodynamics and engine/powerplant courses in ground school easy.


the original idea in sticking with that degree was to be a test pilot, but then i got screwed out of being a pilot (although i met with the Colonel yesterday about getting switched back over to pilot. he said he'll do it as long as HQ Marine Corps will approve it).

8/6/2005 1:59:53 PM

Degree: Bachelors in Business Admin: Human Resources

Job: Not going to stay exactly, but i work with the Federal Government during disasters(not FEMA)

I got paid more cause I got a degree, if i had a masters i would of gotten even more. My education really didnt prepare me, it was on the job training. I enjoy what I do, found something I actually like to do, though it can be extremely stressful at times because where you are at is ground zero, and it is usually pretty fucked up.



[Edited on August 6, 2005 at 6:54 PM. Reason : w]

8/6/2005 6:52:35 PM

My degree:
Bachelor of Science Aeronautical Engineering

My job:
Military systems engineer for Anteon Corp. I do aviation integration for the US Navy and USMC on Navy Ships, and weight/moment - structures analysis

Relationship between the two:
I use what I learned in school all the time. I am one of 2 degreed engineers in our group, with the rest being retired active duty.

Are there other courses in your curriculum that you think helped you more than your simple core curriculum classes?
Not for this current position.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
not too much

8/6/2005 10:04:06 PM

history

sales rep now

8/7/2005 8:44:00 PM

My degree:
Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Information Systems concentration, CSC minor

My job:
EOS Labs Manager, Information Technology & Engineering Computing Services (ITECS), NCSU College of Engineering

Relationship between the two:
Since this job puts me in charge of a bunch of student workers (EOS Lab Operators and ITECS Hardware part-timers), I find that I'm actually using some of the stuff I learned in my Management classes. Parts of the MIS concentration and the CSC courses help with the technical side of the job.

Any specialized courses in Business Management that helped me more than the core BUS courses?
There were a couple. I find myself reaching back occasionally to the Human Resources course I took, but not often. The Business Strategy & Policy course that I took, bascially the capstone course of the degree program, was very helpful in learning how to work well within a team strucure and on long-term projects.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
Yep. Perl, PHP, and programming in general--the (now extinct) CSC minor is a bit on the skimpy side to develop a good working knowledge and a sense of programming style, plus The Switch didn't help me at all (I had my intro to programming courses in C++, and then my Data Structures class was in Java, which I had to basically learn on the fly...)

[Edited on August 7, 2005 at 9:14 PM. Reason : [b]]

8/7/2005 9:13:21 PM

My degree:
Textile and Apparel Management

My job:
Designer/ Pattern Maker for Mortex Apparel- makes sports uniforms and typical college bookstore apparel

I took as many as state offered that had to do with pattern making which only ended to be about 4 so I wish I would have been able to take more or else been able to find a internship. I didnt take any design classes cause I knew I didnt want to go into the high fashion, which I think would have been helpful otherwise, sports uniforms are more fabric and fit over stlye. I dont really use any of my other classes.

The other thing I wish I would have learned is in our textile classes they made it seem that a textile company had to have manufacturing oversees to be able to survive but the company I work for is is 100% USA made and they have had continuous growth over 20 years. When I was starting I thought I would have to end up in NYC or LA cause they made it seem thats where all apparel is. They only seemed to have a one way veiw on how the apparel industry had to work which I have to disagree with totally now that Ive been working for a year.

8/8/2005 10:31:23 AM

i think i see a trend in these posts: soft-science major = not necessarily doing what undergrad major was; hard-science major = mostly doing what undergrad major was.

Hm. Imagine that.

major - english/philosophy
1st job out of college - sales w/ a multinational
current schooling - grad school, education
current jobs - test writer, library help desk, sub in WCPSS

8/8/2005 10:46:53 AM

My degree:
BS Chemical Engineering
BA Chemistry
MBA Concentration on Supply Chain and Logistics
Minor Spanish and Russian

My job:
Process Engineer at a refinery (Shell Oil)

Relationship between the two:
My ChE degree was absolutely required for my job. The Chem degree helps me understand and troubleshoot - common saying in my field is that ChE's don't know shit about the actualy chemistry. The MBA is for later. The majority of managers in my refinery and above refinery level are ChE's with MBA's. The Supply Chain concentration could help me get into our Supply group or our Trading group as well as refining management positions. The Russian minor has helped me once when a ship came in with a Russian crew. No one else on site could talk to them. The Spanish hasn't helped at all. But it does come in handy on vacations.

Any specialized courses that helped me more than the core courses?
Not really. NCSU ChE degree is more general. No petroleum courses were available. I would have liked to take a Refining 101 course... would have made starting out a little easier. The core classes pretty much covered what I needed to know and how to get info I didn't already know.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
A specific refining class would have been nice. But it wasn't necessary at all.


[Edited on August 12, 2005 at 2:08 PM. Reason : er]

8/12/2005 2:07:35 PM

Damn zip, you really went into alot of detail.

8/12/2005 3:50:28 PM

history/psych double

now i do finance.

8/12/2005 4:21:45 PM

Textile and Apparel Management

Workers' Compensation Claims Adjuster

Relationship - Helps when dealing with customers at manufacturing plants and dealing with injuries that are machine related.

Specialized Courses - None. All courses helped develop problem solving, analytical skills, which is a big plus.

8/12/2005 6:43:06 PM

My degree:
BS in Industrial Engineering

My job:
Manufacturing Engineer for GE Energy (http://www.gepower.com) in Greenville SC.

Relationship between the two:
Pretty much identical

Any specialized courses in IE that helped me more than the core IE courses?
None are really available.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
Cooped there so I knew enough.

8/12/2005 7:53:26 PM

What's the relationship between your degree and your job? How do you use your degree as you go about your job? Are there other courses in your curriculum that you think helped you more than your simple core curriculum classes? Is there anything you wished you learned more about before going into the workplace?

I'll answer my own question when I have more time...

My degree: Political Science
My Job: Senior Compliance Officer at Bank of Americahttp://www.bankofamerica.com
Courses that helped: Constitutional Law - because I had to read long boring documents and get something out of them. I now read investment laws, regs, and rules and make sure we dont violate any of that stuff.
I wish I learned: More investment stuff, i barely passed my Series 7 and lots of it i could have boned up on in a bus or economics course.

[Edited on August 12, 2005 at 9:16 PM. Reason : ftg]

[Edited on August 12, 2005 at 9:16 PM. Reason : f]

8/12/2005 9:16:04 PM

Degree: Aerospace Engineering
Job: Systems & Integration Analyst for the Space Shuttle Program @ Boeing

8/13/2005 1:52:06 AM

Quote :

"When most of your coworkers are sitting in a food-coma from their lunch during a team meeting"

HEY! THATS ME!

8/13/2005 8:52:08 AM

My degree:
BS in Electrical Engineering

My job:
Associate System Operator at Progress Energy

Relationship between the two:
Direct relationship. My job (in training currently) is to keep up with the supply and demand of our customers power usasge as well as manage and direct field personnel that do maintaince and repair on transmission power lines.

Any specialized courses that helped me more than the core courses?
I took the two specialized courses offered for Power Systems with Dr. Grainger however the concepts learned are only the basics of what I do.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
The only thing that would have helped would have been to worked in maintaince and repair prior to taking my job. However, once you start with the company they put you through a year and a half training program to learn everything you need.

[Edited on August 13, 2005 at 10:11 AM. Reason : ]

8/13/2005 10:11:22 AM

My degree:
BS Biology WFU
MCS Computer Science NCSU

My job:
Bioinformatics programmer in an AIDS research lab.

Relationship between the two:
I think you would need both the bio and cs background to do what I do efficiently. That doesn't mean you would need a degree in both, but you'd have to pick it up both somewhere.

Any specialized courses in BIO/CS that helped me more than the core courses?
The bioinformatics courses I took at state were helpful but I don't really recommend Bahler.

Any I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
I could've used a lot more statistical programming. R is the bane of my existence.

8/13/2005 11:44:02 AM

^^ sounds interesting

I took all of Grainger's classes, and he helped me get on track for going to grad school to get an advanced degree in EE with a specialization in power systems. Right now I'm doing some research on designing more efficient FACTS devices that sit on transmission and distribution networks to help regulate the flow of power and improve the overall stability of the grid and the quality (freq, voltage levels, etc) of the power that flows through it.

8/13/2005 3:13:54 PM

Previous life:
My degrees:
BS Biochemistry
BA Chemistry
(NCSU)

My job:
Molecular Biologist, then Genomics-Bioinformatics Scientist

Relationship between the two:
Used everything I learned and then some. Subcloning, transgenic modification, and related topics I learned in classes and hands on in labs during undergrad. I love NCSU for giving me a solid background in the field. I had to learn DNA sequencing and some bioinformatics applications on the job.


Now:
My degree:
MBA Finance & Product Innovation
(NCSU)

My job:
Corporate Venture Capital Analyst

Relationship between the two:
I use everything I learned and then some. Some coursework was absolutely critical, while some was horseshit--then again, such is the business world as well as life. I analyze therapeutics with regards to potential value, risk, and timing. I generate financial models, write analyses, and help perform due diligence for deals done by the CVC group. The whole MBA expereince was transformative, especially the internship.

8/19/2005 12:46:47 PM

Quote :

"Previous life: My degrees: BS Biochemistry BA Chemistry (NCSU) My job: Molecular Biologist, then Genomics-Bioinformatics Scientist Relationship between the two: Used everything I learned and then some. Subcloning, transgenic modification, and related topics I learned in classes and hands on in labs during undergrad. I love NCSU for giving me a solid background in the field. I had to learn DNA sequencing and some bioinformatics applications on the job. Now: My degree: MBA Finance & Product Innovation (NCSU) My job: Corporate Venture Capital Analyst Relationship between the two: I use everything I learned and then some. Some coursework was absolutely critical, while some was horseshit--then again, such is the business world as well as life. I analyze therapeutics with regards to potential value, risk, and timing. I generate financial models, write analyses, and help perform due diligence for deals done by the CVC group. The whole MBA expereince was transformative, especially the internship."

I hate you. I have a similar degree ( Biology). What kind of background landed you that job?
I'm just curious because I always thought especially in this particular field, you can't really do/make much with just a B.S. without an advanced degree ( I guess the MBA helps). Not that I don't like where I'm at right now. I prefer acadmic research over industry.

8/20/2005 9:40:17 PM

other than the coursework i talked about, i've always been aggressive about pursuing internships

that and networking my ass off to get in touch with the right people, and then trying my hardest to impress those people with all that i have accomplished in the past

8/21/2005 1:46:48 PM

My Degree:
BS in Science Technology & Society
Minor in CSC

My Job:
Network security analyst for a managed security services company. I monitor customer networks for malicious network traffic, tune IDS/IPS, HIDS, and firewalls to minimize false negatives and positives, run vulnerability assessments and a bunch of other related stuff.

Relationship Between the Two:
Not a whole lot really. I was originally in MechE but switched to CSC after a year. Eventually, I decided that working full time while going to school full time was not where I wanted to be any longer so I took a minor in CSC and took an extra couple of classes in MDS to get my major. This got me out a bit quicker.

Any specialized courses in CSC that helped me more than the core CSC courses?
Not really. I would've loved to take the networking course just to see what they were teaching, but it was pretty hard to get into. I took a one credit hour Perl class taught by John B for fun, and it has helped me out as far as getting into perl programming. The thing is, is that I was kindof playing around with everything before taking most of the classes; I put more faith in the learning process itself than good grades and a degree (unfortunately my GPA reflects this).

as a side note, I took an independant study on internet privacy that really got me into online privacy issues, though it isn't directly related to my job.

Anything I wished I learned more about prior to joining the workforce?
More assembly would've been nice, but it is currently an ongoing project for me.

8/21/2005 8:20:49 PM