Different CS vs CIS question...any info appreciated!

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>Here is my dilemma...</p>

<p>I am an adult student (28 y/o) who returned to school about a year and a half ago to change my life. So far so good in that respect. Over the course of my time at school, I have been flip-flopping continuously between various majors and programs across multiple local schools trying to figure out goals and direction that I can see myself living with for a considerable amount of time. Given my age and the amount of effort and sacrifice I have gone through thus far, I am committed to finding a career path that I will be happy and satisfied with for a long time to come, hoping to not have to do this again.</p>

<p>That said, I am still unsure of the <em>exact</em> career I want, but I have slowly been learning where my interest lie, which is opening up more and more doors for me. I have always been interested in some kind of business degree, but have found myself uninterested in the typical marketing, financial, and accounting courses and am looking for either a supplement or an alternative. My school offers both Computer Science and Computer Information Systems degrees, and am considering pairing one with an Accounting degree. I have looked into both extensively but still find myself constantly flip-flopping and re-evaluating because I am unsure of the <em>actual</em> market and job opportunities that would be available to me upon graduation.</p>

<p>The CS degree would require about 11 or 12 (minimum) additional courses. The CIS degree would only require 6.</p>

<p>I am looking for input from people in <em>actual</em> fields of interest who can give me some perspective. I know I would like to somehow incorporate programming/computer skills with financial information, possibly creating or assessing the programs that financial institutions might use, or maybe something with databases. This is not set it stone, so feel free to direct me someplace else. My biggest question at this point is this: Is there anything that a CIS major would have over a CS major in this situation, or vice versa, considering that I would already get any necessary business knowledge with my Accounting degree? </p>

<p>The CIS degree seems to implement some CS topics in business situations (Java programming, Database programming, Systems analysis and design), but I'm not sold on how thorough this program is. It is taught through the Business school, so all of the computer and programming courses are taught through the business school, not the computer science school. The CS program definitely seems to cover more in this respect, but lacks the business application of things which I think I might need...or do I?</p>

<p>Would I be better off double majoring in Accounting and CS, or Accounting and CIS? Would I be missing out on anything if I did CS or vice versa? Would I be going through way more work than necessary if I did the CS? </p>

<p>I might also add that I've taken some introductory programming courses which I've really enjoyed and have done very well in. The concepts, logic, and problem solving comes very natural to me. I am an INTJ/P personality if this helps at all.</p>

<p>I am also a female. Not sure if that sways things a bit.</p>

<p>I'm torn. Please help.</p>

2

<p>You’re female? :::inhales sharply through clenched teeth::: That changes everything. I don’t know what to tell you.</p>

<p>If you were a guy, I’d say that you should ask this question in the engineering forum rather than the science one. But since you’re a female, I’m truly stumped as to how I should give you advice. If only you being female hadn’t swayed things so much! :(</p>

<p>Seriously though, just cut and paste your question to the engineering forum. I’ll provide my answer there.</p>

3

<p>Actually, you can ask the CS question here, since CS is not part of engineering at every school. As some schools, CS is part of the Math department and at other schools, CS has it’s own department in the college of Arts & Sciences.</p>

<p>Having said that, forget the “template” curriculums, take the needed courses. Right now (and it has been this way for quite a number of years), most software jobs revolve around the manipulation (programming), distribution (networks) and storage/retrieval (databases) of DATA. In that sentence alone, I just gave you 3 courses you need to take:

  • Programming (C++ or Java)
  • Computer Networks
  • Database Systems</p>

<p>Guess what?..all of the above areas need to run over an operating system. I just gave you your 4th course:</p>

<ul>
<li>Operating Systems</li>
</ul>

<p>One note about the Computer Networks and Database areas. Schools that offer business/MIS courses offer Networks and Database courses. It would be better (in My opinion) to take Networks and Database courses through the CS department.</p>

4

<p>Well, most CS peeps on CC hang out in the engineering forum, that’s why I suggested it.</p>

5

<p>Full disclosure: I am a CIS professor. What I can tell you is that having an understanding of how business works (especially accounting) along with how technology is applied to solve business problems (what CIS is about) will make you a very valuable contributor to any company.</p>

6

<p>If you want a more business-oriented education, but with greater technical depth, could you do CIS but substitute the CS courses in operating systems, networks, and databases (and their introductory level prerequisites) in place of the CIS versions?</p>

7

<p>Hi again: This is specific to Baruch College where I teach but I think many CIS programs in business schools follow a similar curriculum. In any case it articulates some of the differences between CS and CIS: [Introduction</a> to the CIS Major at Baruch College - YouTube](<a href=“Introduction to the CIS Major at Baruch College (OLD VIDEO) - YouTube”>Introduction to the CIS Major at Baruch College (OLD VIDEO) - YouTube)</p>