Does anyone have any insight on either of these programs, the ROI, salary coming out, job prospects, etc.?

I was looking at the Python intensive course at IY or the NCSU Programming Certificate (satisfies Masters in CS pre-reqs), which mainly works with C/C++ if I understand it correctly.

I've got a BS in Political Science, Master of Public Admin. and Master of International Studies all from State. I do a lot of analysis at work in Excel and IBM Statistical Package (SPSS) and enjoy that aspect of my job very much, which is why I'm thinking about going in this direction, although I'm sure coding is a totally different ball game.

I also have a friend trying to convince me to look into the SAS certificate at Wake Tech

http://www.waketech.edu/programs-courses/non-credit/enhance-your-career/computer-technology/certification-prep

8/4/2015 2:19:44 PM

We just hired a guy that went through IY. He interned with us and then got a full time offer at end of his internship. He may have done the Python track, but he is writing in Ruby now. I would recommend Python.

8/4/2015 3:43:54 PM

Never heard of The Iron Yard, but if you have to choose between learning Python or C/C++ as a job enhancer, particularly for analysis/analytics, Python is the way to go hands down.

On another note, Python is one of the wonder languages in terms of usefulness. An insane amount of technology is written in Python under the covers.

8/5/2015 12:58:45 AM

Just do the MSA at NCSU.

8/5/2015 4:38:50 AM

Probably not so easy to just "do the MSA" considering their acceptance rate is incredibly low now.

OP, SAS is great and all but unless you are at a place that has SAS it won't do you much good as it isn't exactly cheap. Python is free though and seems to be the way to go, it is my next goal as well. I would also familiarize yourself with R. I hate trying to do data manipulation in R but it's pretty easy for analysis.

8/5/2015 8:14:04 AM

Thanks for the suggestions.

And yeah, there's no way I can get into the MSA program because I work full time and that's a year long intensive course. I could maybe float a few months off like for Iron Yard or do some part time evening/online courses towards the cert at State but even if I could somehow find a year for the MSA I just don't have the standardized test scores or math background they look for although that degree (or especially the PhD) would be bad ass.

I also looked at the PhD in Information and Library Science at UNC, which you can do part time, but having "Library Science" attached to the degree seems to devalue it as far as what I'm trying to do. Correct me if I'm wrong - I know they show a lot of people going into academia or SAS/IBM with it but I feel like they're the minority and that most go into actual library stewardship.

[Edited on August 5, 2015 at 9:42 AM. Reason : .]

8/5/2015 9:40:17 AM

Job prospects are high assuming you have the right education to back it up. I'm not sure that knowing python or R by themselves are going to put you in a competitive position with someone who has a MS or Ph.D in analytics, even with your two masters degrees already.

For comparison, I referred someone to an entry level job doing analytics with my company, who does some SPSS and SAS analysis work at their current job. This person had an MBA and was by no means unqualified for the job as posted.

The hiring manager wasn't even interested in them because they had tons of MS and Ph.D candidates who knew all of those tools extremely well already, and had done thesis work, applying for the same position.

8/5/2015 6:46:29 PM

Where do you work that you are getting so many qualified candidates? All I have seen is a lack of talent in the market.

8/5/2015 7:28:56 PM

^^I actually applied to a job in the Provost's Office at NCSU a while back (gained a ton more analytical experience since then) and it was down to me and two other candidates, all of whom were recent-ish State grads. I actually asked the interviewers if they were IAA grads and they were. I tried to sell the idea that just because I was a CHASS grad didn't mean that I had the analytical ability. I did not get the job

8/6/2015 4:32:53 PM

^^ check PM

8/6/2015 8:26:50 PM