<p>Is Virginia Tech a good school for Computer Science? I know their program is in the college of engineering. I like computers a lot and was debating on whether to do their CS program or their BIT program that looks really good.</p>
<p>CS is mostly technical (at VT or elsewhere) – do it if you like math and programming and envision yourself in a software development career. Out of [VT’s</a> CS courses](<a href=“http://www.cs.vt.edu/undergraduate/courses]VT’s”>http://www.cs.vt.edu/undergraduate/courses), it looks like 3114, 3214, 3704, 4104, 4254, and 4704 are the ones containing concepts most used in industry generally, though other courses contain concepts more commonly used in certain subareas (including those listed under the [Tracks</a> of Study](<a href=“http://www.cs.vt.edu/undergraduate/tracks]Tracks”>http://www.cs.vt.edu/undergraduate/tracks)).</p>
<p>VT’s BIT major appears to be mainly a business major and is much less technical. If you are considering going into IT, you may want to supplement such a major with a few CS courses like 3214, 4224, 4254, and 4604 (or a CS minor containing these courses).</p>
<p>What would the benefit be with adding those courses to the BIT major? I’m in an intro to C++ class right now and like programming so far… Just unsure which major to pursue. I like all aspects of IT so it makes the choice even harder.</p>
<p>A large percentage of IT people have non-technical backgrounds. In industry, this often means poor response to unusual problems or new technologies when it comes to computer system and network administration. If you go into IT with some additional computer science background, you are likely to be able to distinguish yourself doing a better job adapting to unusual problems or new technologies.</p>
<p>A full CS major is not necessary for IT, but the CS courses in operating systems (3214), networks (4254), and databases (4604) contain concepts that IT people are likely to encounter when managing computer systems and networks. Performance evaluation (4224) has obvious use since IT people are often in the position of having to determine why system performance is poor and what can be done to improve it.</p>
<p>Note, however, while a CS major should be more than capable technically of moving into IT, a BIT / business major will have a harder time moving into software development, unless s/he has taken CS courses for electives (such as described above plus a few others) and/or is exceptionally motivated at self-education in CS topics. So if you are undecided between software development and IT, following the CS major path, but perhaps adding some of the more interesting BIT courses, may keep the options more open.</p>
<p>UCBAlumnus has basically said what I tell, whisper or give sign-language to any person who decides to major in Information Systems/Technology.</p>
<p>Some of the core CS courses DO help a lot.</p>