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Do Machine Learning Employers care if I get a minor in Math on top of MS engineering - AndrewScience - Oct-25-2017
I'm going to be signing up for classes in a few weeks, and I'm debating on wether I should obtain a math minor on top of my masters in Computer Engineering. Does anyone know if Machine Learning employers care if I get a minor in math on top of a masters in engineering. Especially if my thesis is going to be a machine learning / data science project.
The department chair of my MS Computer engineering program, has advised me to not waste my time with any minors, if I got a masters in Computer Engineering. He explained to me that Electrical and Computer Engineers, with a masters, get their pick of the litter. My father who is a Electrical Engineer at Qualcomm with a MS degree, has also told me to not waste my time, and to graduate as soon as I can(he has sat at the same desk for 28 years that was bought out by 4 different companies). My Grandfather who was Chief Electrical Engineer of American Bell/AT&T told me that he minored in Math but only because he didn't get his masters. I agree with my pool of advisers, but I want to just make sure to hear it from someone with Data science/machine learning experience. Below is my background which does have much to do with machine learning.
Background:
- 27 years old (29 when I graduate)
- 9 years of full time college education by end of masters (yes I do owe a lot of debt)
- 2 AA degrees in IT and automotive
- BS in Advanced Automotive Technology
- I ran 2 small businesses, to pay for my BS degree
- One of the businesses was in advanced board level electronics repair
- the other business was in plastic injection molding
- I built my own cnc mill and took about 1 and a half years of machining courses
My goal was to go work for IM Flash, Adobe, Cirrus Logic, Health Catalyst, etc... which are companies mainly based in Utah/Arizona.
RE: Do Machine Learning Employers care if I get a minor in Math on top of MS engineering - Larz60+ - Oct-25-2017
I would think that to be an excellent idea, as they go hand in hand.
In addition, it will make your job that much more enjoyable.
I ended up in spectra-chemical instrument engineering design. I always liked math,
but I had to relearn a lot of it for this position. And later in telecommunications, many of
the search engine algorithms were math heavy.
It especially handy with AI.
RE: Do Machine Learning Employers care if I get a minor in Math on top of MS engineering - sparkz_alot - Oct-25-2017
I'm not an employer in ML, but if I were in your position, I would contact the HR departments of the companies you've listed and ask them. Having spent many years in the electrical/electronics industry I can say that math is a big part of the job. Now retired and attempting to teach my self a computer language (Python) as well as being a member of this forum and reading many of the questions posted, it seems math is also relied on quite a bit. If it is an either/or situation and you have a firm working knowledge of at least Algebra and Trigonometry, then you could probably get by without the minor. If not, you should, at the very least, take a class or two to bring you up to snuff.