IS degree.. realistically?

[jae]

realistically what could u do with a degree in the IS field? on all school sites the fields for employment seem to be very broad. just wondering as i wish to start focusing on a specific field. right now I feel I would start off in workstation support position, I think after ~10 or so years i would like to go into computer systems analyst, however i am not really sure. i have two years (and counting) of help desk support at my school.

 

[Safeway]

IS Associate degree? It sounds like you would do basic hardware and software maintenance. Phone systems, computer systems, ... doesn't sound like there would be any real direction or a high earning potential.

 

[jae]

no sir, B.A. in Info Systems.

 

[dbk]

specialist? consultant? contractor?

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: jae
no sir, B.A. in Info Systems.

AA or BA, sounds like a general purpose degree. The InfoSys class I took as an engineer was supposedly a high level InfoSys course, but it felt like a high school technology class.

 

[RandomFool]

I did IT which is somewhat different I suppose but my program let me customize which areas I wanted to focus on, programming, media, networking, sys admin, web dev, game design etc.

 

[jae]

well look like i spent all this money for nothing. originally i came to college as networking major after taking a networking course in high school (only took ccna1. ccna2 was cancelled because it would have only been 3-4 students in the class). the school i am at now has a really nice networking (won the midwest regional cyberdefense comp against DePaul) but i realized my first semester I just didnt have the passion for networking anymore. So I switched my major to Info Sys because.. well I like business and I like computers.

 

[thirtythree]

When I wanted to be a database admin back in high school I think I looked at some info systems programs... or maybe that was info science. *shrug* I'm not sure what the difference is.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: jae
no sir, B.A. in Info Systems.

AA or BA, sounds like a general purpose degree. The InfoSys class I took as an engineer was supposedly a high level InfoSys course, but it felt like a high school technology class.

where did you go DeVries?

What's an InfoSys class exactly? That could be anything from an intro to computers to VLSI designs.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: jae
no sir, B.A. in Info Systems.

AA or BA, sounds like a general purpose degree. The InfoSys class I took as an engineer was supposedly a high level InfoSys course, but it felt like a high school technology class.

where did you go DeVries?

What's an InfoSys class exactly? That could be anything from an intro to computers to VLSI designs.

actually, IS would not involve any VLSI Most likely it covers project management, DB, software engineering, network theory, OS (how it is built, how to build one), parallellism, and throw in a bunch of math courses. I am talking real IS, not DeVry.

 

[Reckoner]

I have BS in Information Systems, and if I could do it all over again... I would've chose something else.

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
I have BS in Information Systems, and if I could do it all over again... I would've chose something else.

Same. Something more focused would probably help me a little more right now.

 

[Mxylplyx]

You should always specialize when getting an IT degree. Getting a degree in IT is like computer illiterate people saying you "know computers".

 

[Platypus]

I would specialize but still diversify your resume with a wide range of skills.

Example, I have a BS in network but I'm a SAN/UNIX/network engineer right now.


I would look for a BS instead of a BA personally if you can.

 

[rchiu]

Why don't you go into software development? Programmers fetch pretty decent salary. If you are interested in networking, IT security is a hot area to get into, or server admin is decent as well, but it can get boring.

 

[JS80]

IT Audit

 

[jae]

Originally posted by: rchiu
Why don't you go into software development? Programmers fetch pretty decent salary. If you are interested in networking, IT security is a hot area to get into, or server admin is decent as well, but it can get boring.

I hate programming to 3rd degree. i dont see how people could do that for a living but to each its own

 

[RGN]

Totally depends on your career goals. Going to work for a Fortune 500? Then specialize.
Going to be a net admin for a mid-size company or government agency? Get a degree and then get a job for experience.

My Department is called 'Information Systems" and my title is "Network Administrator"
I do everything from tech type work to driving new policy and technology. I report directly to the Director of IS (CIO). The Degree (anything tech related) would keep your resume from going to the circular file, the rest is experience.

 

[Imdmn04]

What school did you goto, please don't tell me it's Devry or ITT.

In traditional schools, you have computer science, then you have MIS in the business school.

IT is not a degree, networking is not a degree, system administration is not a degree.

 

[jae]

i goto a small school in fort wayne, indiana called Indiana Tech. We actually do have a networking b.s. which is actually really good program.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
What school did you goto, please don't tell me it's Devry or ITT.

In traditional schools, you have computer science, then you have MIS in the business school.

IT is not a degree, networking is not a degree, system administration is not a degree.

Wrong, chief. Information Technology is usually a sub-set of the Computer Science department at several major Universities. They usually try to focus on security/practical applications/programming rather than theory based classes that are usually found in CS.

I graduated with a BS in IT from University of Central Florida in 2006. Currently, I'm a Systems Engineer and about to move to a Sr. Consultant position. I'm mostly a systems/storage guy, most of my experience lies in those fields.

 

[GeneralDisarray]

The majority of non-theory jobs say CS/CIS in the degree requirements. The only time you would be rejected in favor of a CS degree is for math intensive theory positions, but those just aren't for everyone.

 

[Ns1]

I did accounting information systems.

I'd like to go into IT audit. Doubtful for consulting.

That said, I currently do taxes and stuff

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: Danman

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
What school did you goto, please don't tell me it's Devry or ITT.

In traditional schools, you have computer science, then you have MIS in the business school.

IT is not a degree, networking is not a degree, system administration is not a degree.

Wrong, chief. Information Technology is usually a sub-set of the Computer Science department at several major Universities. They usually try to focus on security/practical applications/programming rather than theory based classes that are usually found in CS.

I graduated with a BS in IT from University of Central Florida in 2006. Currently, I'm a Systems Engineer and about to move to a Sr. Consultant position. I'm mostly a systems/storage guy, most of my experience lies in those fields.

Talk to me when a university that is ranked in top10 in CS offers an IT degree. University of Central Florida are not exactly trend setters in the computer education world.