I am honestly sick of being confused. However, after I meet with my advisor today she suggested a more structured curruiculum . At this present time I am double majoring in Accounting and Computer Science. However, It is being discussed that I change computer science back to Business Information Systems , simply because it is not as core focused on math , science , and physics. I am currently a freshman and I need to make a decision on a final set curriculum before my sophomore year begins. Accounting is going to stay, however should I switch back to BIS. At the moment I am taking trig, but I need cal 1-3 and intro to linear algebra. As well as Chemistry , Physics and Biology.
My question is how valuable is Information Systems compared to Computer Science. I really wanted to learn how to code and program more than anything as well as a lot of the software aspects. Any help on this would be really beneficial .
What is your career goal? Are you going to work for Deloitte & Touche, or Accenture, or something like that, where having an accounting degree and IS expertise helps you with a niche job? Never saw the need for these guys to be coding experts, so unclear why you want a CS degree. The BIS fits the Accounting degree. A CS with Accounting degree makes no sense. One does not help the other. So if you want to be a coder, develop software, then drop the accounting degree. An accounting degree is only going to be helpful if you plan to work for a CPA firm. If that isn’t your plan, switch to business administration with Computer science. The courses in business administration will be much easier on the whole than focused accounting. Managerial Accounting is downright awful.
That is super silly, but it appears to be at least in part because MSU has a specialization in forensics in their department - one of the few programs in computer forensics. Still, chemistry and biology are only applicable in special cases of computer science degrees, and even computer scientists who work in forensics probably don’t need to know much life sciences.
That said, I wouldn’t change my major solely to avoid two basic-level science classes. (Physics and calculus are pretty standard in computer science no matter where you go.) But computer science is a…science. So it’s, by default, going to be focused on math and science. Computer science is not just learning how to code/program and learning about software. It’s more than that.
If you want a software degree, does MSU still offer that major in software engineering? I see one on the website.
Yes all of MSU majors require certain amount of science and other things, that wouldn’t be an issue with me , but based on my career choice, and the amount of time grad school will take it is best a switch back. However, I do intend to minor in econ and computer science or software engineering just as you suggested. The econ minor is only 3 more classes and I will not be able to work on it until my junior year or late sophomore year because of the requirements. I didn’t specify my career plans which involve becoming a foreign attorney after I gain experience as a corporate one. which are not engineering , anything with software or computer programming is for my own interest and maybe a part time job of sorts.
The final decision I have made is to double major in accounting and business information systems with a double minor in econ and software engineering or computer science.