Software Engineering w/o a CS degree?

[Uncle Buki]

Everywhere I look, it says software engineering is the fastest growing IT field. That's where the money seems to be too. What are the chances of someone with a CIS degree eventually breaking into the software engineering field? On one hand I've heard that it's more about what skills you bring to the table than whether you have a CS degree, but on the other I've heard that without a CS degree you'd be last in line. What do you think?

 

[M4A1]

It all depends on the job and the employer.

I've heard numerous stories, two of which I'll share:

1) A guy did NOT go to college (so that means so BS in CS). He did, however, have extensive experience in GUI programming (I guess he learned it on his own). The highest level of education he got was a HS diploma (no ITT/Devry). He now works for Microsoft as a software engineer.

2) Even though CS and Software Eng are not that related, some employers require (I shouldn't say require, but PREFER) candidates with BSCS degrees.

In short, it depends.