Yet another double major question...Accounting and CIS or CS...help please!

College Majors Business Major
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>

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<p>I wouldn’t double major in those fields, particularly Accounting/CS. Both topics are very time consuming on their own (particularly CS, unless you’re experienced in the field already). CS topics are difficult on their own, and much of the time you’ll have to take a lot of math courses and science courses. It’s basically nearly unrelated to Accounting.</p>

<p>CIS is a better option, since it’s more of an IT/Tech major. CIS is both tech and business oriented, and it’s more applicable to Accounting majors. Not only that, it’s significantly easier than CS.</p>

<p>Still, I’d recommend majoring in Accounting and minor in one of the other fields. CIS is the better bet, but CS is also good.</p>

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<p>I am aware they are completely unrelated, and that it will be difficult. My question wasn’t whether one was more difficult than the other, as obviously CS is more difficult than CIS. I have no interest in being an accountant, unless I were to go into Forensic accounting, but that’s besides the point. The only reason I’m even considering Accounting is because it’s broad and flexible and gives me credentials to do many things other than being an accountant. Ultimately I want to work with computers in a business/financial setting, probably software, systems, or database related work. I’m looking for insight on which is the best avenue to get to where I want to be, regardless of difficulty.</p>

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<p>Just out of curiosity, what schools offer a CIS major?</p>

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<p>If you have no desire to be an accountant, then don’t major in it. Sounds like you’re just interested in accounting itself, in which case just minor in it. </p>

<p>Should you gather a larger interest in it through the minor, then who knows, MBA is always a route.</p>