Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Top paying degrees?

Twice this week someone has posted to either facebook or twitter the results of a study that show that the two top paying degrees to get in college are engineering and math/computer science. What they don't tell you is that a math degree on its own gets you no where. I don't know of a single friend ( me included) who got a degree in math that is not teaching. That puts us in the education category which was at the bottom of this pay scale list.
   I almost think that it is unfair advertising not to insist that the students who are good and interested in math take classes that augment math such as engineering, computer science or finance. At the same time, quit glorifying the engineers as if they are the second coming. Seriously, all the 'skills' that engineers bring to the table they learned in a math class. All the problem solving and critical thinking that the studies are touting, started in a math class. So how about some love? Where's the praise for math? Engineering without math is voc ed. It's metal shop or auto hobby or wood shop.
  It's time to redesign the majors in college so that you don't spit out really bright mathematicians who are only qualified to teach other mathematicians, etc...... How much more productive can we be if we offer these math majors some classes that will translate into jobs after graduation?

So here's fair warning : MAMAS, DON"T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE MATH MAJORS!!!

2 comments:

  1. How is it that they track future wages based on degrees? I'd like to check their methodology. But I'm a liberal arts guy, so what do I know?

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  2. I think the data was simply gathered as top salaries and then cross referenced with the degree that person has. it is far too simplified and misleading. However, i fear that the days of the liberal arts degrees may need to have some other areas added to them to make them more marketable. Don't know.....

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