Yes! I think the "here's a magical class that does stuff" attitude means someone doesn't HAVE to take the time to know what that magic is. I also blame academics for giving in to the whiners who complain that they got a B because their program compiles. Even worse, are those who pass a project when their project doesn't even compile! What would happen if the were harder on students? Would they drop out of the program and the programming work force die? I don't know...but I totally agree with everything being said on this thread. I got my MS in CS 3 years ago and I don't think things have changed that much.

You're right, a university degree and a little experience should be enough. But when you're staring at 300 resumes with a university degree and a little experience, you're looking for more than that. Is spending several hundred dollars on books and tests for a certification going to get you an interview? Maybe, but seems to me that it's a small price to pay for such an opportunity. -=Mike=-