The proof is in the pudding, very rarely do people with STEM degrees have to vouch for the usefulness of their degree. We already know why mechanics, engineers and statisticians are useful as career fields, it's the Create Haiku majors that always seem to have to explain the "value unseen" in their degree.
Note, though, that in most threads on HN about qualifications for programming or software engineering there are usually quite a few comments from people saying that they never actually use anything from the classes they had to take to earn their STEM degree.
As far as actually teaching them things they would use on the job the STEM degree was no better than any random humanities degree. The only value they say they get out of the STEM degree as opposed to any other degree or no degree is that many employers use a STEM degree as a filter when hiring.
You can also see this whenever any thread about software interviewing comes up. People complain about having to cram memorizing a bunch of algorithms and data structures that companies like to ask about.
Those questions would be right at home on a CS class homework assignment. If the class material was something that working programmers actually had to use they would not need to cram for it when it comes up on interviews.
So yeah, a STEM degree is more valuable for a typical programming job than a humanities degree--but not for any good reason.
My uni had an entire course devoted to data structures (from b-trees, to relational db) so I beg to differ. Anecdotal (much as your comments are as well) but I've often employed the knowledge i gained in my classes as a CS major in subsequent engineering jobs. In the course of my jobs I've used everything from genetic algorithms to least squares regression, and everything in between.
And yes, there is a good reason that it's more valuable, particularly for a recent grad. It shows that a prospective job candidate has already put forth some effort in the field (from working on class projects, to exams, to working with other students on larger programs)
Yes. Because STEM degrees have perceived economic value and liberal arts degrees don't. That does not mean liberal arts degrees are useless. It is, at the very least, short-sighted to think so.
I majored in comp sci but I'm not gonna sit around and pretend every aspect of culture and humanity can be solved by my engineering work...
The problem is that people take on debt. With debt you also get the financial shackles to get something out of your degree. You can argue that the liberal art degrees provide useful education but I don't think they are worth the price they charge.
The idea that you intentionally pay huge sums for something whose value shouldn't depend on how much it costs is ridiculous and only acceptable if paying those huge sums will also help you pay them back.
