Top schools like Wharton seeing demand for bitcoin, blockchain classes

While Sirer is excited to see the students’ passion, he has a word of caution for blockchain fanatics.

“What you want to avoid at all costs is overspecialization early on in your career,” he explains. “If you end up going to a program dedicated to blockchain, I think I personally would say you’re making a mistake.”

Studying with a niche focus — even a buzzy one like blockchain — is less useful than learning overarching principles, concepts and foundations underlying computer science and engineering Sirer argues, especially in an industry as fast-paced as high tech.

“The right thing to do is establish a broad, strong base,” he says. “All of our courses are structured in a way that they convey principle. We are not teaching people how to use today’s blockchains — tomorrow’s…