Information Systems Degree Ranked #1 Dead-End Degree

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
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<p>So, I created another thread referencing a recent Yahoo! article on CS majors being ranked #1 in job offers pre-graduation: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/math-computer-science-majors/1641118-computer-science-majors-ranked-1-in-job-offers-pre-graduation.html#latest"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/math-computer-science-majors/1641118-computer-science-majors-ranked-1-in-job-offers-pre-graduation.html#latest&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Interestingly, Information Systems - a semi-related CS field - is ranked as a Top 5 "Dead-End Degree," by this Yahoo article:</p>

<p><a href="http://education.yahoo.net/articles/dead_end_degrees.htm?kid=1O217"&gt;http://education.yahoo.net/articles/dead_end_degrees.htm?kid=1O217&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Rounding out the other five:</p>

<h1>2 Architecture</h1>

<h1>3 Anthropology</h1>

<h1>4 Film, Video, and Photography Arts</h1>

<h1>5 Political Science</h1>

<p>According to the article, information systems degree holders held a 14.7% unemployment rate based on a Georgetown study.</p>

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<p>What does dead-end specify here? Is it only general unemployment? What degree programs is this study taking into account? Associates, Certificates, Masters? A lot of those (Devry, Phoenix) also offer IS programs. Could this affect the #1 standing? </p>

<p>I don’t know if I agree with this report (as I do with various other Yahoo articles).</p>

<p>IS is a great major nowadays due to our abundant use of technology. It seems that IS gives the best of both worlds with Business and Technology.</p>

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<p>Here’s an article from Yahoo calling a Bachelors in Business Administration of the hottest degrees for 2014 and beyond which is a total joke: <a href=“http://education.yahoo.net/articles/hot_degrees_in_2014.htm”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos;

<p>That alone makes me question Yahoo’s credibility.</p>

<p>As for a Masters degree in IS. Here are some articles…</p>

<p>Here’s a Forbes article saying that Information Systems is the best Masters degree right now: <a href=“The Best And Worst Master's Degrees For Jobs Right Now”>http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/06/07/the-best-and-worst-masters-degrees-for-jobs-right-now/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Monster: <a href=“Best Master's Degrees”>http://career-advice.monster.com/salary-benefits/salary-information/best-and-worst-paying-masters-degrees/article.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>About.com: <a href=“The Best (and Worst) Master's Degrees for Finding a Job”>http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobs/a/best-worst-masters-degree-jobs.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>GraduateSchoolGuru: <a href=“http://www.graduateschoolguru.com/top-graduate-programs/”>http://www.graduateschoolguru.com/top-graduate-programs/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>From Syracuse University’s BS in Information Management and Technology overview page</p>

<p>“Nearly 100 percent of our students have jobs within six months of graduation and report the highest starting salaries of any other group of students at SU, including engineering and business.”
<a href=“http://ischool.syr.edu/future/undergrad/bsinfomanagement.aspx”>http://ischool.syr.edu/future/undergrad/bsinfomanagement.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>There’s a lot of overlap between the BS in Information and Technology curriculum and the BS in Systems and Information Science curriculum, so I’d expect similar stats for Systems.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure how much to trust these articles or whether I care. My kid is doing #4 and she makes more money then her friends who graduated with an engineering major.</p>