Q. Hi, I am a HS junior and am thinking about my options for college. I am strongly considering nursing, somewhat considering psychology, and now I am semi-strongly thinking about computers.
I would like to learn from people who study computer science and things of the sort. Is it really hard, do you have to be a complete computer nerd to excel (example: mastering C++ before college)? Is it fun? What kind of personalities do best with this field? (general question but it's usually the shyer folk who are on the computers a lot, like me!)
Any info would be great. I love Depaul University in downtown Chicago and they have a really great computer program there with so many majors. http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/academics/Pages/Undergraduate.aspx#animation
I am really interested in interactive media.
I have always loved computers. I started using them at 18 months old. I have never been one to do programming (unless you count HTML coding for the Neopets website) but then again I have never really learned about it.
I would like to learn from people who study computer science and things of the sort. Is it really hard, do you have to be a complete computer nerd to excel (example: mastering C++ before college)? Is it fun? What kind of personalities do best with this field? (general question but it's usually the shyer folk who are on the computers a lot, like me!)
Any info would be great. I love Depaul University in downtown Chicago and they have a really great computer program there with so many majors. http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/academics/Pages/Undergraduate.aspx#animation
I am really interested in interactive media.
I have always loved computers. I started using them at 18 months old. I have never been one to do programming (unless you count HTML coding for the Neopets website) but then again I have never really learned about it.
Answer
There are lots of branches of computer-related study... and software development (or programming) isn't a huge part of every one of them... and neither is it necessary to prefer any one operating system over another (that's nerd zealotry, and is actually frowned upon in the real world where money matters more than philosophy).
Having an analytical mind is essential, but to me, that doesn't really fit very well with your alternatives of nursing or psychology. CS and IT-related pursuits tend to attract engineering types, who are one-eyed enthusiasts for precision and problem solving. It's an emotionless field, where logic rules. You can't solve a problem by empathising with a computer.
If you like puzzles (a lot) then computer related studies are probably not a bad fit. If you look at people doing 20,000 piece jigsaw puzzles and think "go outside, idiot" then it's probably not for you.
Like all branches of engineering, computer science can be very rewarding, if your reward comes from personal achievement in an area few people can truly appreciate.
These days everyone THINKS they know something about computers, and so 'computer people' aren't very special in their eyes. The reality is that computers are, and will always be very complex when you scratch the surface, so if you're content digging where most people don't want to look, then you may well enjoy it.
There are lots of branches of computer-related study... and software development (or programming) isn't a huge part of every one of them... and neither is it necessary to prefer any one operating system over another (that's nerd zealotry, and is actually frowned upon in the real world where money matters more than philosophy).
Having an analytical mind is essential, but to me, that doesn't really fit very well with your alternatives of nursing or psychology. CS and IT-related pursuits tend to attract engineering types, who are one-eyed enthusiasts for precision and problem solving. It's an emotionless field, where logic rules. You can't solve a problem by empathising with a computer.
If you like puzzles (a lot) then computer related studies are probably not a bad fit. If you look at people doing 20,000 piece jigsaw puzzles and think "go outside, idiot" then it's probably not for you.
Like all branches of engineering, computer science can be very rewarding, if your reward comes from personal achievement in an area few people can truly appreciate.
These days everyone THINKS they know something about computers, and so 'computer people' aren't very special in their eyes. The reality is that computers are, and will always be very complex when you scratch the surface, so if you're content digging where most people don't want to look, then you may well enjoy it.
what is Computer Information System major/degree?
SKITTL3Z_6
What is this major? Does it have anything to do with network security? Would there be anything involving knowing how to take out a security breach or what ever like network security?
Answer
To give you the background â There are a number of viable IT majors. Just figure out what you would like to do. These are all good. You need a 4 year degree. If all you have time for is a 2 year degree then that is ok for starters but you will still need to complete years 3&4. Don't get a certificate type degree or a Devry or ITT Tech degree- not recognized by many employers and credits may not transfer in the future. There are several main Computer majors and their associated career categories and you need to know these just to get the lay of the land. These degree titles are often found in Associates, Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Generally most IT employers are looking for a 4 year Bachelors degree in an IT related major as a minimum requirement. For working people some of these majors are offered by schools in night classes and we are beginning to see online or hybrid online/classroom options available. Depending on the school, a Bachelors degree in an IT field may be a BA or a BS. There does not seem to be any problems for employers with a BA or BS as long as it is a bachelors degree. If you already have a degree in another major, if you have an Associates degree or if you have a bunch or college credits and no degree you can usually find a degree completion program that will allow you to take 14-16 months of classes and graduate with a Bachelors in a computer related major.
Now some of the titles colleges use may consist of different course curriculums. As an example one school may have more programming classes in the same major while another school has fewer. Schools may call their general IT program Computer Information Technology, Computer Information Systems or Computer Information Science. To really tell what the major is about you should look at the courses that a particular school offers in that major. Another point of confusion is job titles you will see. For example, I am called a Computer Systems Engineer but I don't do anything associated with Computer Engineering. One job I had I was Systems Programmer but I did not do any programming. So the titles for majors and for jobs in IT can be very confusing. Sometimes I will hear someone say they want to pursue Computer Science or Computer Engineering and once they find out what it involves they realize that is not what they want to do. If this is old info, that you already know, apologies. Here are the majors and some associated jobs:
Computer Science (CS) - A technical degree which usually has a Programming emphasis - people with this major usually are developing application software, web development, embedded code and robotics. Sometimes depending on the college the degree may cover some more general topics as listed under CIS below. CS is a difficult major and may include a number of advanced math courses. Many CS students find themselves not enjoying programming, not being gifted at it or not having the math and logic skills to be good at programming and they will switch out into CIS. CS majors that are able to graduate can also qualify for jobs listed below under CIS.
Computer Information Systems (CIS) - This may also be called a variety of other names like Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), etc. This is a general technical degree and is the degree that I have. Holders of these degree work in a variety of technical jobs like these:
Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
Computer Engineering - This is a technical engineering and design degree. These degree holders get jobs related to designing and manufacturing computer related hardware. Obviously when you think of hardware you think of laptops and PCs but this might be all kinds of computer devices like tablets, processors, memory, storage, networking equipment and components of computers.
Management Information Systems (MIS) - This is a business degree that prepares non-technically trained people to manage projects, budgets and people. Traditionally, senior IT technical pros would eventually be promoted into management positions after years of technical work. The good news is they understood technical challenges their people were working with but the bad news was that some were great tech people but poor people managers. I have had both types of these managers and the new trend is definitely towards these non-technical managers
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes!
To give you the background â There are a number of viable IT majors. Just figure out what you would like to do. These are all good. You need a 4 year degree. If all you have time for is a 2 year degree then that is ok for starters but you will still need to complete years 3&4. Don't get a certificate type degree or a Devry or ITT Tech degree- not recognized by many employers and credits may not transfer in the future. There are several main Computer majors and their associated career categories and you need to know these just to get the lay of the land. These degree titles are often found in Associates, Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Generally most IT employers are looking for a 4 year Bachelors degree in an IT related major as a minimum requirement. For working people some of these majors are offered by schools in night classes and we are beginning to see online or hybrid online/classroom options available. Depending on the school, a Bachelors degree in an IT field may be a BA or a BS. There does not seem to be any problems for employers with a BA or BS as long as it is a bachelors degree. If you already have a degree in another major, if you have an Associates degree or if you have a bunch or college credits and no degree you can usually find a degree completion program that will allow you to take 14-16 months of classes and graduate with a Bachelors in a computer related major.
Now some of the titles colleges use may consist of different course curriculums. As an example one school may have more programming classes in the same major while another school has fewer. Schools may call their general IT program Computer Information Technology, Computer Information Systems or Computer Information Science. To really tell what the major is about you should look at the courses that a particular school offers in that major. Another point of confusion is job titles you will see. For example, I am called a Computer Systems Engineer but I don't do anything associated with Computer Engineering. One job I had I was Systems Programmer but I did not do any programming. So the titles for majors and for jobs in IT can be very confusing. Sometimes I will hear someone say they want to pursue Computer Science or Computer Engineering and once they find out what it involves they realize that is not what they want to do. If this is old info, that you already know, apologies. Here are the majors and some associated jobs:
Computer Science (CS) - A technical degree which usually has a Programming emphasis - people with this major usually are developing application software, web development, embedded code and robotics. Sometimes depending on the college the degree may cover some more general topics as listed under CIS below. CS is a difficult major and may include a number of advanced math courses. Many CS students find themselves not enjoying programming, not being gifted at it or not having the math and logic skills to be good at programming and they will switch out into CIS. CS majors that are able to graduate can also qualify for jobs listed below under CIS.
Computer Information Systems (CIS) - This may also be called a variety of other names like Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), etc. This is a general technical degree and is the degree that I have. Holders of these degree work in a variety of technical jobs like these:
Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
Computer Engineering - This is a technical engineering and design degree. These degree holders get jobs related to designing and manufacturing computer related hardware. Obviously when you think of hardware you think of laptops and PCs but this might be all kinds of computer devices like tablets, processors, memory, storage, networking equipment and components of computers.
Management Information Systems (MIS) - This is a business degree that prepares non-technically trained people to manage projects, budgets and people. Traditionally, senior IT technical pros would eventually be promoted into management positions after years of technical work. The good news is they understood technical challenges their people were working with but the bad news was that some were great tech people but poor people managers. I have had both types of these managers and the new trend is definitely towards these non-technical managers
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes!
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