Do web developers need a higher education?

Question

IT education

Do web developers need a higher education? I emphasize, it is a web programmer.

Undoubtedly, it will be difficult for a game developer developing a physical engine without it.
But if you take a web developer. Why does he need the entire course of higher mathematics, physics, etc. This is not to mention descriptive geometry, chemistry and other subjects not related to programming at all.

If you need to know a topic in higher mathematics, then isn't it easier to learn only it, and not the entire course with a bunch of other subjects? It's like downloading a DVD with repositories because of a couple of packages.

I don’t think it’s worth talking about education in programming at the universities of the Russian Federation. Although no, there are a couple of places in Russia where they more or less teach programming, but most study for show (read for a diploma). Yes, and I think programming is difficult to teach, you need to feel it, breathe it. Moreover, a programmer is nowhere without self-education, and if for some reason it is not suitable or it is not enough, it will be much more useful to go to highly specialized courses.

It stops only that in some companies they do not hire without VO. Although is this correct: in the end, who is hired as a mathematician or programmer? In general, I request statistics on HabraVacancies - what is the percentage of developer vacancies with and without the requirement for VO.
Of the advantages of the university, one can note cheap housing (hostel), i.e. opportunity to move to another city.

Don't you think that 5 years of study could be better spent? During this time, one could work, gain experience, and in general become a fairly highly qualified programmer.

I would like to hear weighty arguments in favor of higher education.

Answer 1

A university (any!) is not so much acquired knowledge as set thinking. Believe me, a person without education is immediately visible - even if he is a genius, his thinking is fragmented, uneven. It is difficult to work with him - he can perfectly optimize and not be able to abstract. And vice versa. Higher education gives awareness to the entire industry so that the overall picture is not lost behind specialization.

Answer 2

If you are going to be a web programmer all your life, then it is not at all necessary ...

Answer 3

If the university is sensible, then it will teach, first of all, an engineering approach to the tasks set, which is very, very important for any job.

Answer 4

A university is a must. In fact, I started to get involved in programming from the age of 8, from the age of 14 I already started earning freelance writing scripts in PHP. Now I'm in my 2nd year and constantly learn something new at the university. From almost every subject you can learn something new for yourself. For example, I learned a bunch of amazing algorithms that I probably would never have heard about without university, but knowing about such algorithms, I can apply them. Universities are changing mindsets. And why does a university mean the loss of several years of life? It is quite possible to combine study and work. For example, I work as a web developer in one rather large project and at the same time I do not skip classes and manage to pass everything. It's just a matter of wanting to do something. The person who wants to study will study, and the one who does not want to will look for reasons not to study.

Answer 5

Not necessary. Do not go there. Work, program. We (people with higher education) must lead someone :)

Answer 6

I think that education in the post-Soviet territory is extremely worthless and I don’t think that 5 years is worth spending on our universities ...
I have been working as a web programmer for almost six years now and I think that during this time I gained much more knowledge if I had studied the same five years in our university ... although I entered our university after working as a programmer for a couple of years, I entered the same field, in the end I left the university quite quickly, which I don’t regret ...
Although now I’m going to go to get an education, but already abroad ... education is needed, but getting it in our country is a waste of time and money ... and also at work we almost don’t really need it, it rarely plays a role ...
Purely my IMHO.

Answer 7

I'm being mined now, but. A person after school cannot adequately choose his path. The maximum - he guesses the first ten years, and even then it's very cool. Therefore, you need to study. Then hell happens.
Of course there are exceptions, there are exceptions for every phrase. But if a teenager thinks that he falls into them, the probability that he is there mercilessly tends to zero.

Answer 8

You won't be a web programmer all your life. You get bored / you want more / you want to lead or you want to go to a construction site to dig holes :)
If a technical tower is useful in any case, I give a tooth :)

Answer 9

> Don't you think that 5 years of study can be spent with greater benefit?
I also thought so in the mid-80s, and not so long ago I found out that a developer’s resume over 40 without a VO is simply not looked at. When you’re already working somewhere and have something to show, it’s not so important, but if you want to change direction a little, just *oops.
A big plus of training is the connections that arise in the process, then they can be very useful, because many offer work to former classmates, the position or the order is not important.
For serious establishments, another plus is that you have to study very actively and after such training it is easier to assimilate new information.

Answer 10

Of course education is not required. Why higher education for a monkey who has to hammer on the keys?
However, if a monkey wants to become a programmer, then you can’t do without V / O. But why become a programmer? Monkeys are very much in demand in the labor market, so you should not bother yourself with obtaining unnecessary knowledge.

Answer 11

At one time, they were expelled from the university (he was sloppy), they were taken into the army. It so happened that in the army (!) I became interested in web programming. Then flash, then gamedev. Now I do it professionally (make money).
I made the following conclusions for myself:
A diploma is not needed for employment. Knowledge and completed projects are important.
Fundamental knowledge is not enough, but if there is a desire, you can catch up.
Higher education is in any case a plus, no one bothers to study and code at the same time. It is important to understand whether you just don’t feel like it and you are looking for an excuse, or you are really able to spend your time more rationally.
If you only need a diploma (not knowledge) - go for a part-time job.

Answer 12

You have to go to a university, otherwise there will be nothing to remember in old age :) A university is the joy of communication! A university is when they invest in you, not you. How can you compare college and work? they are completely different things!

Answer 13

Education is a must. You develop your thinking, logic, a different vision of the problem and its implementation.
Learning is always necessary!

Answer 14

As for higher education, you need to decide for yourself, based on your current life situation, immediate and strategic goals, plans for life.
+ from the tower I see only for young people: training of brains and will, general development, student hangouts, which will allow you to acquire broad connections, slacking off from the army (I don’t know how relevant it is now, but in my time it was a significant factor).
Adults (30+) study more (or do not study, but pay ...) only for the crust, when they grow up to those positions where the crust is needed. You will grow up to such a position and buy yourself a diploma, or even a candidate, formally studying at the evening / part-time department.

Answer 15

Well, at least if you didn’t learn English at school, then you should already follow the language.
And in general, if you didn’t study well at school, then a university is required in order to improve the base.

Answer 16

University is not needed.
We need study and an inquisitive mind that will be able to pick up complex tasks, and invent these very tasks.
I have many examples when people with diplomas don't have brains - what they studied, what they didn't study ... just student booze (*sighs sadly*) and many examples when people without diplomas have brains.
To be honest, I don’t have a diploma - in the 4th year I could no longer combine work and study

Answer 17

To be honest, I can't imagine myself without that mat. device, which I was told at the university. If you want to achieve something, then you need it.

Answer 18

Asked myself the same question. I wanted to try student life, so I entered and studied for a month. And I decided that the best choice would be a correspondence higher education. I'm moving, unfortunately, I'll lose a little time, but it's worth it. Now I'm in my first year. We study software engineering , although it was boring in programming classes. We also teach in English. It would seem that it could be much worse, why leave? I'm just not used to this kind of training. Freelancing is taking its toll, sir.
I studied a lot of sources, kindled holivars at forums and conferences, but still made the necessary conclusions.
So, the arguments for the correspondence from the first year:

• A crust (diploma) is a very controversial thing. Some companies do not take it without it, but this rarely happens. But still, I strongly recommend getting it, especially since you will hardly have to put in any effort. As already mentioned, there is a chance that you will get bored with the web. The only disadvantage of the diploma, if it is part-time, is a small amount that you need to pay every semester.
• “I can’t imagine myself without a mat apparatus” - in 99%, if a programmer needs mathematics, then it’s not higher, but discrete . If you ever need a discreet, I think you can easily study it without resorting to the help of some teachers, since you have already proved to yourself that you have no problems with self-education.
• Combining freelancing and studying in the first years is possible, but quite difficult. And there is no need. If you transfer to part-time, you will have much more time. Personally, I did not want to live on a strict schedule of "study - work - sleep" while my classmates have time for themselves. As a result, we now meet together and have fun, as there is a lot of free time, although, again, I don’t go to the university. And there was time for sports. This is an important point, because it becomes much easier to burn out / get tired if you combine study and work.
• “I learned a bunch of algorithms that I probably would never have heard about without university” - you just need to engage in high-quality self-development. Study books on all sorts of computer science. They are interesting for a programmer and the knowledge that is taught there is very rarely seen in modern CIS universities. I'm going to buy an e-reader soon, I'll be downloading/buying books online. And the list is long and it is simply impossible to buy them in paper form, and, often, in Russian.
• Since you will be able to work to the fullest, in five years you will gain a lot of experience and money. And since you are a part-time student, you will receive a diploma at the same time as your peers.
• All the arguments for the university about “University instilled in me the ability to think / get out!” not worth a damn, sorry. You think, since you yourself learned to program, you can. Is “getting out” the ability to give bribes and prepare for a session overnight?
• The only thing I regret is that I get to know less interesting people at the study course than I could at the daytime course.

Answer 19

Does a web programmer need a web education?
Everyone decides for himself. If you need crusts, then why not buy.
If you need knowledge and have time to attend a university, why not learn.
If you need knowledge and do not have time to run to a university, you can study on your own and / or hire a tutor in the right area.
Take at least Bill Gates, he did not have a higher education.
If you are a high-class pro, then no one needs your crusts at all.
And if you are not a super-guru, but an ordinary programmer, then the crusts may come in handy.
If there are plans not to work for someone, but to open your own office, then the crusts will not be needed.
Studying at a university gives connections that are very necessary ...
And so you can continue for a long time ...

Answer 20

For me, the university has become, first of all, a source of a huge number of ideas. Therefore, it is worth studying, but you also need to study not as a programmer (you still have to study yourself), but for an adjacent engineering specialty.

Answer 21

You need to go to a university, at least for the sake of such subjects as Probability Theory, Systems Modeling, etc. (in general, mathematics). Even if they are not useful (as it may seem at first), they will help develop thinking.

Answer 22

You don't need a college until you need one.
If you have grown up to the point that you need that heap of knowledge that he gives, then go.
But it should be remembered that if you need only one subject from the university program, then you just need to approach the teacher and chat with him about attending his classes and seminars.
It was said here that a programmer is nowhere without self-study, and so it is better to perceive a university as a form of self-study with a repeater.

Answer 23

higher education in web programming or computer science is useful, but the average Russian university usually has specialties such as applied mathematics, mechanics and information technology, which is quite different.

Answer 24

Everyone forgot something, that the university is not only knowledge, but also new friends, connections, experience, ups, downs, control, term papers, a diploma ... So, what did we talk about there?

Answer 25

I finished my 2nd year, went to America, I work in a large office (carouselchecks.com, now we are transferring to Magento), I earn good money, I am fond of sports and psychology.
A diploma is needed at least in order to get a work visa as a result.

Answer 26

It depends on why you ask :)
If you hire a programmer, do you “need checkers or go”? The main thing is that he programs well and gets along with the team, and what he finished there is the tenth thing.
If for yourself, then the university and various events are not a bad place for dating. Might come in handy in the future. + All sorts of bonuses for going abroad (they often put higher education there as a priority for specialists).

Answer 27

Depends on what you expect from the university.
If you think that you will draw some new knowledge on Web technologies and non-standard implementation methods there, then this is unlikely. Usually they give some kind of base, and if you want to know something more, please dig deeper, if you don’t want to, no one is forcing you.
Now, when applying for a job, they don’t look at the Diploma, but check the knowledge and what kind of specialist you are.
Some of my friends do not have IT education, but they successfully work in IT. The main knowledge. And if there is a need for a diploma, then it is better to go to correspondence.

Answer 28

Definitely necessary, if you want to become a normal programmer, you need to get a good education about the profile. I, being a web programmer myself, clearly realize this now. But if you do not study in your specialty, it is no longer so useful, rather for general development.

Answer 29

If you go to a specialty in which you want to earn in the future, then yes, it’s worth it. Since many employers first of all look at the presence of VO. In general, of course, a controversial issue. But I think that in Russia the presence of VO is very desirable. In general, what is taught in Russian universities, usually 5 years, can be mastered, if a person needs it, in two years. And then, if you want to move to another country for permanent residence? VO will be very useful.

Answer 30

If _there is a desire_ to strain, train the brain, but the willpower itself is not enough, then the university can _create_ this habit (willpower).
In a constant time pressure, you can manage to do more than fellow web programmers in months of work. Otherwise, there is a chance to slide into absolute laziness and only money (for food :) will become a motivator, and you will forget about self-education.
So there is only one question: is there willpower (the habit of acting) and how much is enough of it. (Enthusiasm is not enough.)

Answer 31

                                                       ^
interesting, and why are you interested in the opinion of all these | people (disregarding specific opinions and not getting personal),
each of which judges for itself?

well, if so, then here is my opinion: there is no web programming institute
anywhere in the world

Answer 32

Do you want to get the best education? Create your university!
But seriously about the concept of "Programmer", then it is very, how abstract.
For programming, I don’t need higher mathematics at all, and someone will not be able to work without knowledge of mathematics.
It all depends on the scope.

Answer 33

I have been a teacher myself for 9 years. I teach programming technology. And at the same time, at my main job, I mainly do just web development.
I will say this - it depends on the university and who you see yourself in the future.
If the university and the chosen department are of a decent level, then you definitely won’t lose anything if you go to study. To learn the general structure of the surrounding world of technology - first without reference to the web, then in specialization - it is useful and necessary.
If there is nothing like that at hand - well, then look at the situation. In any case, some foundations will be laid, you will see the general picture of the world in a simplified version - well, then you yourself, everything yourself. I just learned exactly this way. They taught not to understand what and not to understand who, lack of material, a lot of self-education ... however, even from unsuccessful studies you can learn a lot of useful things, which I did.
And you will be a web or non-web programmer - it doesn’t matter, this is the tenth thing. If there is a head, there will be development in the right direction.

Answer 34

Are you sure that you will be a web programmer all your life? If you dream of setting up Joomla for food before retirement - well, go ahead.
The trick is that life is long and you don't know what knowledge you need.
IMHO, it's better to go to study consciously for triples, go to lectures with a laptop and do your freelance work, and then how it goes. Something will catch on, something will go past your ears, but at least the basic concepts will remain, something will be forced to learn at least one day before the exam. Therefore, by the way, I do not believe in correspondence technical education, well, there are no people with such a steel will to force themselves to deal with some axiomatics of formal logic on their own.
PS. At the same time, you will most likely make friends and find yourself a wife. You also know the plus.

Answer 35

I went to work as a web programmer in my third year and learned more in a year than in three years of university. Now I'm studying at the fifth and I work as a flash programmer (I went to work never having seen him before and learned well in a month)

Answer 36

It is worth going to a university at least in order to understand what it is and learn how to study on your own)

Answer 37

I study at the university, I am engaged in my own projects. The university does not teach what I want, so I study poorly. It's hard in the relative outback with IT specialties: the plan was set 5-10 years ago and will not change soon. I do not know how it is in the capitals.
If you're confident, don't go to college. If you're a little unsure, go ahead and try it. You can always leave, if that. If you don’t know what, where, why, you should think more seriously.

Answer 38

The main thing that the university gave me personally was control over stress.
Survive ~4 sessions at KPI - and all life's problems become much more fun :)

Answer 39

I would separate programmers and programmers-mathematicians. The latter study as specialists like: applied mathematics, business informatics, etc.) ... the former study well in technical schools, and they have a number of advantages (my brother and I are a vivid example, I have a tower, he has a special technical school. He is 23 and he has as much experience as I had at the age of 27 ... 3-4-5 years of loss in work experience at the tower and in 99% of cases the knowledge of the university was not useful.If a person is not stupid, then you can study the issue yourself quickly enough and these knowledge is better remembered than dull listening to excerpts from a textbook during a lecture.)

Answer 40

From my own experience, I can say that it is not necessary, but it is desirable. Yes, our universities are far behind technology, but they provide an engineering approach, algorithmics, applied mathematics, database basics, network communications and protocols, and even basic knowledge about the design of computers and microprocessors.
A web programmer can also be a top-class specialist who solves rather non-trivial tasks. Or maybe just be a stamper of business card sites. In the second case, it is enough to read the book "Fundamentals of PHP in 5 days".
As for the diploma - in my 15 years of professional activity in different countries I have not seen a single interesting company that would make having a diploma a mandatory condition. Usually this is done by the state. organizations or large corporations for which web development is just a small non-core department that “should be” (for example, a metallurgical plant) ... Well, web programmers are usually not interested in working there.