Career Majors

[mdkxtreme]

I want to have a career in the computer field. I used to want to major in Computer Science but found out that it has an emphasis on software and I like to work more with hardware and networking. Then I found a major in Computer Information Systems. The catch is, it falls under Business Administration. I would like to know that if I choose Business Administration with option Computer Information Systems, will it be viewed differently on a resume [than Computer Science] since it's under Business Administration? I know that Computer Science is a higher degree since more classes are required for it. I just don't want to major in Business Admin with CIS and not be given a chance at a job because the other guy has Computer Science under his belt. Any suggestions or comments?


On another note. All of you with careers in the computer field, what degrees do you guys have and what kind of job did you land with it? I know that in the computer world, certificates often accompanies the degree when landing a job. I can always change my mind about getting what certificate I want, but it's very difficult to change a major while you're already working on it. So it would help me a lot if you guys with degrees give me on some insight on how it was for you. Thank you.

[nemowolf]

AA in Creative Writing and i work in Help Desk. I got hired along with someone with a 4 year degree in CIS.

More important to your education is what you want to do with your education. Any degree you get is worthless if you dont want to do anything with it. You mentioned you want to do more in the field of Hardware and Networking but those are VERY vague fields. Electrical Engineering for instance, could potentially do both as you might design NICs.

CIS isnt a higher degree because it requires more degrees, it is the same as any other major. What it does entail is lots of math and a firm understanding of the base level of computers; programming and software-hardware interfacing.


It is VERY hard to know what types of jobs there are in the field until you jump in head first but i would suggest you visit with the department of CIS at your school and ask them. Many times they have contacts in the professional world that can tell you first hand about their experiences. One of the things that is never talked about until you get into a real company is that you HAVE to network to stay alive in the business. Meet people, especially your instructors and make friends.

[mdkxtreme]

Thanks nemowolf for the input. In response to you, I am very passionate about what I do and will use my degree to the fullest to reach my goals. I am so passionate that I enlisted in the US Army Reserve as a 25B (Information Systems Operator) to help me achieve my civilian goals. I choose the hardware and network side of the computer field because my military training only consisted of building and maintaining computer hardwares and networkings. We did zero training in programming, thus my lost of interest in majoring in computer science. What I want to do is basically be the IT guy at the office since I am good at what I do in the military. I guess you're right about degrees not being higher than another because a bachelor's is a bachelor's. I will definitely take your advice and network my way into the business. As much as I hate it, kiss ass is better than working hard. I still want to know what degrees you guys have though, so keep'em coming.

[RobRich]

I have a degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Scientific Application Development. In other words, I can supposedly develop a few lines of archaic Fortran to solve math problems on an equally archaic mainframe or supercomputer that can today usually be solved quicker by instead using a modern personal computer loaded with MATLAB or similar. Sounds exciting, right?

My degree has proven to largely be an useless piece of paper to date. I am not a software developer. I am not even a software quality assurance analyst. In stark contrast, I started a professional career track in technical writing (Associate Editor) well before even earning a college degree. My career has evolved more into public relations and online community development over the years, but regardless, I have yet to utilize my college education and subsequent degree for much of anything.

To summarize, even if you have defined goals and a set education path, you could very well find a radically divergent career path as the years progress. Be flexible in your approach, and try to obtain a college education with enough diversity to prove viable in multiple fields of employment or business.

By the way, as for my current employment, I am a consultant for All Enthusiast, Inc.; the parent company of TechIMO. I retain the position of Executive Editor (same as Editor-in-Chief) here at TechIMO for simplicity's sake, though my work is split among various sites, projects, and responsibilities. I telecommute via the Internet, meaning my daily "work commute" is typically the distance between my bedroom and a computer - usually a notebook while kicked back on a comfortable leather couch in the den, which is where I happen to located right now.

[nemowolf]

Thanks nemowolf for the input. In response to you, I am very passionate about what I do and will use my degree to the fullest to reach my goals. I am so passionate that I enlisted in the US Army Reserve as a 25B (Information Systems Operator) to help me achieve my civilian goals. I choose the hardware and network side of the computer field because my military training only consisted of building and maintaining computer hardwares and networkings. We did zero training in programming, thus my lost of interest in majoring in computer science. What I want to do is basically be the IT guy at the office since I am good at what I do in the military. I guess you're right about degrees not being higher than another because a bachelor's is a bachelor's. I will definitely take your advice and network my way into the business. As much as I hate it, kiss ass is better than working hard. I still want to know what degrees you guys have though, so keep'em coming.

IT guys in a corporate environment need more of a business degree because of corporate politics. It is not always the nicest environment. You need MCSA/MCSE certs and lots of experience.

[nemowolf]

I have a degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Scientific Application Development. In other words, I can supposedly develop a few lines of archaic Fortran to solve math problems on an equally archaic mainframe or supercomputer that can today usually be solved quicker by instead using a modern personal computer loaded with MATLAB or similar. Sounds exciting, right?

My degree has proven to largely be an useless piece of paper to date. I am not a software developer. I am not even a software quality assurance analyst. In stark contrast, I started a professional career track in technical writing (Associate Editor) well before even earning a college degree. My career has evolved more into public relations and online community development over the years, but regardless, I have yet to utilize my college education and subsequent degree for much of anything.

To summarize, even if you have defined goals and a set education path, you could very well find a radically divergent career path as the years progress. Be flexible in your approach, and try to obtain a college education with enough diversity to prove viable in multiple fields of employment or business.

By the way, as for my current employment, I am a consultant for All Enthusiast, Inc.; the parent company of TechIMO. I retain the position of Executive Editor (same as Editor-in-Chief) here at TechIMO for simplicity's sake, though my work is split among various sites, projects, and responsibilities. I telecommute via the Internet, meaning my daily "work commute" is typically the distance between my bedroom and a computer - usually a notebook while kicked back on a comfortable leather couch in the den, which is where I happen to located right now.

You guys Hiring?

[carl33p]

mdkxtreme, I am currently a third-year in CIS. There are not any networking classes I will be taking. And there are only 1-2 hardware based classes I must take. (I can optionally take 2-3 more hardware classes for my CIS electives)
But realize these hardware classes arent dealing with high level computers. (PC's) Its mostly basics like Circuits (resistors, capacitors, etc), Digital Logic (wiring up logic gates, multiplexors, decoders, etc). Theres a microprocessors course which you configure/build a basic microprocessor.

And when you say CIS is mostly "software" I hope you realize that means Programming. C, Java, Assembly Langauge Programming, etc.


Microsoft certificates and what you learn at college getting a CIS degree are VERY DIFFERENT.

Depending on what type of job you are applying to, a CIS degree would make a difference compared to the Business Administration.

[famosbrown]

I have a degree in Management Information Systems and it included the Business track and the Computer Science track. The CS side was basically programming and the Business side was management, finance, marketing, etc. I am currently in the networking/system administration/engineering field so the degree really didn't prove my knowledge as I wasn't taught how to manage a network, setup an AD Forest with correct replication between sites, setting up Exchange infrastructures with SMTP Connectors, Routing Groups, Smart Host, Mobile devices, etc., etc. After college, I began going throught he certification track that would lead me to this field and the degree was just icing on the cake when marketing myself. It also helps when you are applying for management positions within your field. YOu will get the interview for having a degree and certifications, but you will have to go in there and prove that you know what you are doing and won't cost the company or organization millions of dollars screwing up their network. My first job was programming, then with the help of my degree and beginning certifications, I move to a Tier 2 Desktop Support Manager, then from there I began my System Administration roles. I'm not a Systems Engineer for an international organization supporting, configuring, and deploying the entire Windows Infrastructure (AD, DNS, DHCP, EXCHANGE, etc., etc.)

I recommend starting from the end and working your way back. Start with your end goal...do you want to end up as a Data Center Manager, managing a help desk, managing a group of network engineers? Do you want to just be a tech, be a network engineer designing networks, systems engineer deploying network infrastuctures using Microsoft platforms? Once you decide what you want to do, then you can work your way backwards withthe steps to get there until you get to your education and work experience to get you there.

For example...if you just want to be a network tech dealing Cisco at a low level, skip college, get your CCNA and maybe Network+. If you want to be a high level Network Engineer, go for your CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE, but find a job that will accept you as entry level so you can get the training on the job and on your own. If you plan on being a manager some day, get the degree out of the way, or begin your certs, get in the door, and get your employer to pay for both your college and certifications. Certifications do play a major role in the field you are looking to go into, but mostly experience is the trump. For management or a high level position, a degree willl be key.

Just my quick opinion.

[Friedchicken100]

I telecommute via the Internet, meaning my daily "work commute" is typically the distance between my bedroom and a computer - usually a notebook while kicked back on a comfortable leather couch in the den, which is where I happen to located right now.

Quit braggin'!

Your undergrad won't really matter in the long run.

I'm majoring in CompSci but I plan to go to flight school after college.

[Rootstonian]

Computer Science is traditionally tied to programming, data structures, algorithm analysis, discrete math, operatiing systems and some calc.

MIS is more "business oreiented"; I know a gal in our dept who has MIS degree and somehow got to be a programmer...jeesh! I could out-code her blind, drunk, on LCD and without fingers! LOL

Not saying that MIS is "bad", but it's not programming. I had a chance to go "2 plus 2", whicyh was an Associates Degree in Computer Programing followed with 2 years of busniess school for a B.A. in MIS. I opted out and got my second degree in Computer Science; I HATED business classes with a passions ("you mean, I HAVE to interact with OTHER people???")


Pick what you want to do, what your "heart" wants to do the most; noboody will thell you they love going to a job they hate!

[famosbrown]

Computer Science is traditionally tied to programming, data structures, algorithm analysis, discrete math, operatiing systems and some calc.

MIS is more "business oreiented"; I know a gal in our dept who has MIS degree and somehow got to be a programmer...jeesh! I could out-code her blind, drunk, on LCD and without fingers! LOL

Not saying that MIS is "bad", but it's not programming. I had a chance to go "2 plus 2", whicyh was an Associates Degree in Computer Programing followed with 2 years of busniess school for a B.A. in MIS. I opted out and got my second degree in Computer Science; I HATED business classes with a passions ("you mean, I HAVE to interact with OTHER people???")


Pick what you want to do, what your "heart" wants to do the most; noboody will thell you they love going to a job they hate!

To piggy back on this post...choose the right school and see what they are offering for the major. My MIS course consisted of all of the CS courses that the Computer Science majors were taking. The only differences between the two were that the CS majors took higher level math like Abstract algebra and higher lervel calculus than just Calc 1, and they also took a few classes that Electrical Engineers were taken. At my school, going MIS was getting the best of both worlds.

[Rootstonian]

What school was that Famous? Sounds like a really good cirriculum if you ask me.

My MIS degree had only TWO classes in CS; one was a database class and the other was about programming life cycle; nothing remotely close to programming. All the rest were Accounting I, II, Finance I, II, Managment I, II etc, etc.

[nemowolf]

I could out-code her blind, drunk, on LCD and without fingers! LOL

Thats LSD not LCD ... unless you mean just the Liquid Crystals and not the Display ...

. I opted out and got my second degree in Computer Science; I HATED business classes with a passions ("you mean, I HAVE to interact with OTHER people???"

passions? Plural?! How many passions do you have? LOL!


Just teasing. I have an AA in Creative Writing so i spent plenty of time correcting grammar. Anyways ...

Picking a school with a good program is kinda a misnomer as you really should just pick the program and let the school follow. As i had mentioned earlier, you should visit your department and see if you can get a councilor who is specialized in IT/MIS/CIS type programs, degrees, and schools. Even if it means transferring to another school, they should have no problem recommending another program if it fits more of what you want from your education.

And its not just about what educational goals your heart tells you, its about being smart about them too. I would recommend also asking about internship and work-study programs, nothing beats hands on learning!

[Rootstonian]

LOL..yeah, I"m a programmer; LCD vs. LSD...what I nerd I am!!!

I let the debugger catch all my mispelling mistakes. A royal PITA for non case sensitive languages. And you know what happens if you forget the period after IDENTIFICATION DIVISION in a COBOL program?

[excuzzzeme]

I too started in the Army (active duty) and was an instructor at the Computer Sciences School. In college I studied Systems Analysis and Design, and then took Business Management. Later I obtained MCSE. I further invested myself in Cisco and applied for CCNA. I went to work for myself and began designing networks and network infrastructure. In between projects I began teaching at the local Community College.

No matter which way you slice it, you need to know some programming. One of the most overlooked is machine language.

A degree tells the employer you see projects through and continuing education indicates that stagnation is less likely. If you don't want continuing education that never ends, stay out of IT. Anyone that will not continue to educate themselves is very short-sighted. (I am NOT pointing the finger at anyone). You have to keep in mind that by the time the project becomes retail, it is already obsolete by a minimum of 5 years.

Don't be afraid to pick something only to find out it isn't for you. There are too many different disciplines within the industry to not find something that holds your interest and creates excitement for you. If you don't find anything, maybe IT isn't for you.

[famosbrown]

What school was that Famous? Sounds like a really good cirriculum if you ask me.

My MIS degree had only TWO classes in CS; one was a database class and the other was about programming life cycle; nothing remotely close to programming. All the rest were Accounting I, II, Finance I, II, Managment I, II etc, etc.

I agree with excuzzzeme about the continuing education. I haven't ever stopped reading, studying, and testing for new certs and new technology. Then you get new products outside of the MS or Cisco realm, and now you have to either self train or go to training so you can administer it. I always say...if I knew that I would be doing this much schooling, studying, and outside of work activities, I would have became a doctor .


EDIT: Removed school name due to Privacy...TSU.

[Black*Dragon]

Electrical Engineering is the way to go with if you want a heavy emphasis on hardware in computers.

Ask Osprey4. The use of computers in electrical engineering is a must now.