Any degree is better then no degree and a degree with a science/math/engineering slant is better then one without, regardless of what you do with the rest of your life. Having a half decent degree will always give you the edge over someone without one, since it proves to other people that you are 1) able to learn 2) able to work on your own and 3) able to commit. If you have a science/math/eng degree then you have also proved that you are able to think and able to solve problems. Do you really want to be a programmer? There are a few facts of life you should be aware of. In todays industry, there are two types of programmer, somebody who uses software to solve a problem, and somebody who implements a solution someone else has thought up. The second group is covered by outsourcing companies in India and China and the work and pay are sh1t. So unless you are already a problem solver, I would think carefully about what you want. If what you really want to do is stuff like PMDG do, then try and ask yourself which bit really gives you a buzz? Was it discovering that the MD-11 correctly modeled the effects of fuel freezing? Or is it the artistry of Vin's visual modelling? The two are completly different and require very different approachs and skill sets. One is a software engineer, the other is a graphic artist, but both use computers only as a means to an end.

I would definately want to model complex aircraft systems.

There is your problem. Your sort of interest is that being outsourced and such. The first type of programmer is really an engineer--believe or not engineers do programming to fix a problem. If I were you I would go into engineering. You can learn how to do all of the implementation on the side because when you know how to solve a problem (design the complex systems) you can just implement them.

Well, Vangelis (who does most of the really complex modelling stuff within our systems programming) is a physicist basically as far as his education goes, he has a PhD in Computational Fluid Dynamics. He uses programming as a means of expressing the modelling he comes up with - he didn't get any kind of a "programming" degree is all I'm getting at. He's definitely the "problem solver" variety of programmer - he says to himself "Here's how this system or physical process functions on the real airplane, now how do I represent that in the language of math and computer programming in order to model it accurately in FSX?" Knowing a programming language isn't going to tell you how to do any of that, it's his science and math background that gives him the tools to do it.

Well, Vangelis (who does most of the really complex modelling stuff within our systems programming) is a physicist basically as far as his education goes, he has a PhD in Computational Fluid Dynamics. He uses programming as a means of expressing the modelling he comes up with - he didn't get any kind of a "programming" degree is all I'm getting at. He's definitely the "problem solver" variety of programmer - he says to himself "Here's how this system or physical process functions on the real airplane, now how do I represent that in the language of math and computer programming in order to model it accurately in FSX?" Knowing a programming language isn't going to tell you how to do any of that, it's his science and math background that gives him the tools to do it.

Wow... it doesnt come as a surprise... but u have really qualified ppl over there and that explains a lot.Regards, M

I worked in software development for a short time (functional analysist in engineering managment), the programmers are the bottom rung of the ladder! They are the grunt workers, easily replaced.

Yep, they call us "code monkeys". I'm a software/website developer myself and it can get a bit tedious and boring. It totally depends on your workplace though, in my current role I'm given a problem and I solve it myself. I'd occasionally consult with colleagues but only when I have some potential solutions to discuss.I'd disagree that programming is just a language - its a way of thinking. A programmer can easily move between different language because the mechanisms are pretty much the same (conditional statements, loops etc).Software development is my backup plan, I've 3 years experience in it and am obtaining my PPL at the moment. At least if I need to fall back on it after going for the ATPL then I should be able to get a job without much hassle.My advice to the original poster, look up some tutorials and start working through them. You'll quickly know if you like it or not.John

Hello. I'm a senior in high school and was wondering what kind of degree I would need to be a computer programmer. The kind of job I am thinking of would be like a systems programmer or a visual texturing programmer for a company like PMDG. I was wondering what kind of degree is required to attain a job in this industry? So far I'm looking into either software engineering, aviation management, or computer engineering. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards,Robert

You don't need a Phd in computer sci to be a flightsim programmer... all you need instead is a whole lot of Tylenol :( Also, my two cents, forget about trying to get "a job" unless you aspire to be a cubicle jockey in a Dilbert cartoon and being a modern-day slave.Do your best to become self-employed.... it's easy in IT cause all you need is a laptop.... you can work anywhere you like...Move to Thailand or the Philippines and live like a King. Work for 4 hours and spend the rest of the day on the beach.

Definitely second what Bryan said.

You don't need a Phd in computer sci to be a flightsim programmer... all you need instead is a whole lot of Tylenol :( Also, my two cents, forget about trying to get "a job" unless you aspire to be a cubicle jockey in a Dilbert cartoon and being a modern-day slave.Do your best to become self-employed.... it's easy in IT cause all you need is a laptop.... you can work anywhere you like...Move to Thailand or the Philippines and live like a King. Work for 4 hours and spend the rest of the day on the beach.

The only gotcha with that plan is that you need a skill set that others are willing to pay for. This usually means picking a technology area that is either the next big thing (before everybody else) and hoping you pick the right one, or picking one that was the big thing before last which nobody wants to work on anymore but customers are stuck with on legacy systems, knowing those customers will move away. A friend of mine was still scraping a living as a VAX consultant as recently as two years ago, another set up shop as an independent Ruby -on-Rails guru. Even Agile advisors and Security consultants are having a hard time of it at the moment.