I'm not a software engineer, but I do program and code daily at my job as a designer.
I was always interested in drawing as a child. Naturally I gravited towards an art degree in college. In my sophomore year I took an interest in programming and for my junior and senior year I essentially split my time between programming and graphic design courses.
Understanding art and being able to appreciate fine craft has made me a better developer. I spend more time (trying to at least) do things the right way, or to write more efficient and elegant code.
A quality art degree from a well respected university will almost always teach students to think critically. There's a constant questioning that happens as an artist and the good ones are almost contrarian in nature. Employing a bit of this critical thinking in the tech field can take one a long way. Unfortunately that type of thinking is currently under attack.
I was always interested in drawing as a child. Naturally I gravited towards an art degree in college. In my sophomore year I took an interest in programming and for my junior and senior year I essentially split my time between programming and graphic design courses.
Understanding art and being able to appreciate fine craft has made me a better developer. I spend more time (trying to at least) do things the right way, or to write more efficient and elegant code.
A quality art degree from a well respected university will almost always teach students to think critically. There's a constant questioning that happens as an artist and the good ones are almost contrarian in nature. Employing a bit of this critical thinking in the tech field can take one a long way. Unfortunately that type of thinking is currently under attack.