Should I transfer from CS to CIS?

College Majors Science Majors
1

<p>I am currently majoring in Computer Science and am trying to decide if moving to CIS is a good move for me considering my situation I am about to tell you.</p>

<p>I am in my Sophmore-ish years of the CS program at my college and it is getting increasingly difficult. I worked hard and was able to work through the math courses (up to Calc 2, Prob/Stats etc..) All I have left is pretty much the classes that are more CS/Programming related. It is precisely the heavy programming workload that is discouraging me. I understand a lot, but not all, programming methods and syntax. The concepts of algorithms and certain techniques are hard for me to grasp. Some of you guys might say just finish the program since I am already 2-ish years in, but again, the programming is hard for me.</p>

<p>I had no previous programming knowledge/experience before college. I just thought the idea of engineering a program through coding sounded cool, since I am a gamer and love computers. At first I thought programming was fun and I thought I was interested in it but as the assignments got more complex and more difficult, I had trouble completing them. I even go to the tutors who are VERY helpful and well educated. I am not a terrible programmer (terrible is relative haha), but I still have trouble with assignments on my own. I am struggling in my second Java class and I really think I will have to drop it soon. A lot of the students in my classes have been programming since they were young, and personally, it seems to me that the classes are geared towards more experienced programmers.</p>

<p>Through my experience, I have gained so much respect for good programmers, I wish I could do it as well as them.
I've been reading around on different forums and I've seen the following comment many, many times.
"Is CS, you're either good at it or you're not".
I am really starting to believe it.</p>

<p>I am here to ask what CIS is like. I sort of understand what the jobs are like compared to CS related jobs.
"CS makes the stuff, CIS uses the stuff"
I am more curious on what the academics are like as far as course materials in the CIS program, considering my experience with programming. If I switch majors, will I just be heading into another major of unexpected programming? If so how intense is it? The reason CIS is next up on my list is because I want to stick to a major that is computer related. I dislike programming, but I don't dislike computers. There is a difference there. I can also deal with working with others. I can be a "people person" when I need to, and I don't mind it. To sum it all up, if I switch to CIS, what will I REALLY be getting my self into academic wise? The articles I've seen tend to be either short or vague, and that's is why I am here.</p>

<p>This is something I will talk to my adviser about, but any help from you guys would be great. The more in depth answers you can give, the better. Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>CIS is typically a business-type major with some focus on managing computers. The main professional goal is to work in IT/MIS departments. However, even in such a job, the ability to understand technical aspects of CS can allow you to avoid common IT/MIS mistakes.</p>

<p>For example, many IT/MIS departments have a <a href="mailto:Firstname.Lastname@example.com">Firstname.Lastname@example.com</a> email address convention. Explain why this often runs into problems at larger organizations. (Hint: consider hash collisions.)</p>

3

<p>Just saw this post. I’m in the IT field and have been since I graduated college back in 1997. I changed majors
a few times and then finally decided on MIS (equavilent to CIS at a lot of universities).</p>

<p>The IT field is a strange one IMO. I say this because I was never prepared for the personalities of programmers in general until I started working. You see I was never a CS major so I really didn’t know what I was getting into as a MIS major. The field is heavily dominated by the stereotypical computer geeks-- a lot of them eat, sleep and breath technology. I always liked computers but I wasn’t obsessed with them-- you will get this a lot with the CS guys (programmers). For instance, the other night the development department had a ‘gaming’ night. I just couldn’t imagine programming all day and then spending the night playing video games with co-workers. So I didn’t go. (I also have a family so I have other commitments). Now that said, most programmers are very nice and goofy at times-- which I like (because I’m goofy too). </p>

<p>The strangeness comes in when you couple that information above with the absolute dire need for programmers and IT architects within the industry. I look at my company alone and there are 19 open positions today for one or the other. So, you would think with the way the economy is, more ‘normal’ (think less computer geeks) kids would go into IT but the articles I see and stereotypes completely remain that IT is one big nerd fest.</p>

<p>So what does this have to do with CIS (or MIS in my case)? First, as one of these majors you are at a complete disadvantage to being a programmer… which you probably wouldn’t be anyway if you are struggling with classes now. So the CIS/ MIS major doesn’t map to say anything as easily as CS does with computer programming. In general, the CIS majors would probably end up as a Project Manager, Business Analyst or Quality Assurance Analyst-- all within IT but generally seen as very less <strong>important</strong>. This doesn’t mean you couldn’t be a programmer but it will just be tougher for you to keep up because the CS guys generally go right into programming. Think of it this way-- the people in your CS classes that have been around computers all their lives and do well with the assignments and grades will end up being the programmers. CIS guys and gals will end up in less technical and less industry leading (because geeky programmers run the industry) positions. There are generally also less positions available for the non-programmer IT people.</p>

<p>Finally the CIS classes <strong>could</strong> be coupled with business classes…as many CIS and MIS degree programs are housed in the college of Business. IMO, the CS students could benefit from business classes but that would never happen.</p>

<p>I hope this helped some-- I wish I knew some of this before I went into the industry. Not saying I would have changed but I would have been better prepared for what I was getting into.</p>