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STEM programs seek to eradicate disciplines more associated with deep thinking: physics, mathematics, philosophy, history, literature, other arts, design, etc.

STEM programs seek to eradicate disciplines more associated with deep thinking: physics, mathematics, philosophy, history, literature, other arts, design, etc. STEM programs seek to entice people to become a software commodity. that's it.

commandlinefan 7y ago
> STEM programs seek to eradicate ... mathematics Um, what do you think the M stands for?
- nikofeyn 7y ago
  it doesn't matter what it literally stands for. (actually, it does matter but not in the way you think because it is a diversion really.) there are more than enough math ph.d.s, and i can tell you that as a person who has advanced degrees in mathematics, interviewing for "STEM" jobs will generally get you nowhere without also having taught yourself computer science and programming (in the way that the company wants). most people do not care about the skill set, much less understand it. people just want software engineers and/or data scientists, and they do not want to train. people would generally rather hire a new grad who just came out of machine learning and algorithms courses than someone with advanced mathematics degrees (which creates a much higher ceiling that's ignored) and even experience. so like i said, STEM is just a way to get more software engineers trained outside of companies before they hire them.
Der_Einzige 7y ago
This take is pathetically wrong. Maybe you might remember from your CS education (if you took one) how about 1/3rd of your coursework had to be outside of your major and you most likely had to take within your major some "Scientific Writing" or "Scientific Communication" classes. It's not the schools fault that you didn't get a minor in Philosophy. STEM fields are not trying to marginalize the humanities. The lack of profitability and job opportunities for humanities majors do a great job of that without some form of conspiracy against them...
- nikofeyn 7y ago
  i have advanced degrees in mathematics and have interviewed for plenty of "STEM" jobs, so my take (pathetically wrong in your words) is from my direct experience. people do not value mathematics, whether they say they do or not. they want software engineers and data scientists already trained for what they're specifically working for. my mathematics experience has been completely marginalized because people do not value it and/or understand it. that's simply been reality. > Maybe you might remember from your CS education (if you took one) how about 1/3rd of your coursework had to be outside of your major and you most likely had to take within your major some "Scientific Writing" or "Scientific Communication" classes. this doesn't address anything that's at discussion here. > The lack of profitability and job opportunities for humanities majors do a great job of that without some form of conspiracy against them... so profitability is now the measure of whether a field is worthwhile or not? and i wasn't just talking about humanities fields. STEM marketing absolutely does affect the status quo, whether you think it does or not. we need people in those fields.

commandlinefan 7y ago

> STEM programs seek to eradicate ... mathematics Um, what do you think the M stands for?

nikofeyn 7y ago
it doesn't matter what it literally stands for. (actually, it does matter but not in the way you think because it is a diversion really.) there are more than enough math ph.d.s, and i can tell you that as a person who has advanced degrees in mathematics, interviewing for "STEM" jobs will generally get you nowhere without also having taught yourself computer science and programming (in the way that the company wants). most people do not care about the skill set, much less understand it. people just want software engineers and/or data scientists, and they do not want to train. people would generally rather hire a new grad who just came out of machine learning and algorithms courses than someone with advanced mathematics degrees (which creates a much higher ceiling that's ignored) and even experience. so like i said, STEM is just a way to get more software engineers trained outside of companies before they hire them.

Der_Einzige 7y ago

This take is pathetically wrong. Maybe you might remember from your CS education (if you took one) how about 1/3rd of your coursework had to be outside of your major and you most likely had to take within your major some "Scientific Writing" or "Scientific Communication" classes. It's not the schools fault that you didn't get a minor in Philosophy. STEM fields are not trying to marginalize the humanities. The lack of profitability and job opportunities for humanities majors do a great job of that without some form of conspiracy against them...

nikofeyn 7y ago
i have advanced degrees in mathematics and have interviewed for plenty of "STEM" jobs, so my take (pathetically wrong in your words) is from my direct experience. people do not value mathematics, whether they say they do or not. they want software engineers and data scientists already trained for what they're specifically working for. my mathematics experience has been completely marginalized because people do not value it and/or understand it. that's simply been reality. > Maybe you might remember from your CS education (if you took one) how about 1/3rd of your coursework had to be outside of your major and you most likely had to take within your major some "Scientific Writing" or "Scientific Communication" classes. this doesn't address anything that's at discussion here. > The lack of profitability and job opportunities for humanities majors do a great job of that without some form of conspiracy against them... so profitability is now the measure of whether a field is worthwhile or not? and i wasn't just talking about humanities fields. STEM marketing absolutely does affect the status quo, whether you think it does or not. we need people in those fields.