What should I go to college for?

[coolred]

While I was in highschool, I was in the tech prep program, and got to learn a new skill as well as take some college classes. I chose CAD. As of right now I have about 16-20 credits geared towards CAD. I like doing it and may at some time finish out at least with an associates degree in CAD or possiblly 3D design of some sort. But I what I am really into is computers. I am already A+ certified, very soon will be Net+ certified, after that I am thinking of getting my Server+ cert and then maybe MCSE, or possiblly another vendor related networking cert. I like actually working on computers, building them and fixing and upgrading them, but I know there it would be hard to make a good paying career out of that. Thats why I am seriosuly gearing myself towards networking, that is kinda the second thing on my list that i want to do. I figure that can be good paying and heck if I still want to get my hands dirty, I'm sure they will need new servers built or NICs replaced and what not. So my certs are going in the right direction, but I know that they would look even better paired with a degree. So I am trying to figure out what to take in college that is related to this? Quite a while ago I was going to devry for EET, but I got bored with it, it didn't seem like what I needed. I'm not real big into programming, I'm sure I will take a few classes in college, but I don't really want a degree in it. So what else is there that I can take?

 

[minendo]

Go for CGT or CPT. Actually at Purdue you can dual major in CGT and CPT and be done in 4 years (for bachelors) I think.

CGT = computer graphics technology
CPT = computer technology (further broken down ie. Networking)

 

[StageLeft]

You are very right that a degree will spice your resume and job market possibilities up big time. If you don't want to take something computer related I can't reccomend anything other than a business degree or economics or whatever like that. It will look nice on the resume and have some directly applicable things to real life whereas, say, history wouldn't.

 

[coolred]

Oh, I very much would like to do something computer related, I just can't seem to find anything I like. I mean what is there besides CIS(which is programming, right?) and EET which is a lot of electrical work, like building circuit boards and what not. CPT is something I have never heard of, I will have to look into it. I just would think that they would offer some sort of degree based on networking.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Underwater basket weaving ...in C++ of course...

 

[wyvrn]

This is a great topic. Currently, there is no 4 year degree on IT that I can find (at a normal 4 yr. public or private university, forget DeVry). I can get a Unix admin and/or a MS/Cisco Associates degree, but two year degrees don't have the pull of bachelor's and don't really cover everything. The first reputable school that offers a bachelors in IT, including classes in Microsoft, Cisco, Netware, and Unix is going to draw a TON of applicants. This is the next logical step for IT, as job demand will only increase and the level of competence will need to follow. Currently, if you have a CS or EE degree, you are a step aboveon the IT ladder. But what do these degrees have to do with computer support and networking? Nothing, and this needs to change. The IT industry NEEDS a 4 yr. degree program to make it a legitimate field and to attract smart, legitimate workforce. Many of the admins I dealt with every day were complete morons, and as such IT gets treated like the stepchild of the computer industry.

 

[Hammer]

What should I go to college for?

I'll give you 2 reasons.

The women.

The booze.

 

[coolred]

HA, HA, HA. I already tried that and there are no women at devry, plus I already have a girlfriend, and I don't need to go to college to get drunk, I can do that now. I am in Columbus, OH and I am looking at the columbus state website. I have found a few things that seem interesting, but as was said earlier, they are only associate degrees and still not exactly what I am looking for.

 

[Carl Uman]

You can get an associate degree then take more classes to get your BA or BS (which ever the case).

 

[dvander64]

Take a look into Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), it's a very well respected university that offers a 4 year (actually 5 including a nice co-op) IT degree. They have a very good program (its not just a CS degree mislabeled as an IT degree like most other programs). I'll be attending school there in the fall and i'm quite excited about it. So no first hand info from me yet, however take a look into it for your self it might be what you're looking for.


link: (new state of the art facilities)

 

[Capn]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
This is a great topic. Currently, there is no 4 year degree on IT that I can find (at a normal 4 yr. public or private university, forget DeVry). I can get a Unix admin and/or a MS/Cisco Associates degree, but two year degrees don't have the pull of bachelor's and don't really cover everything. The first reputable school that offers a bachelors in IT, including classes in Microsoft, Cisco, Netware, and Unix is going to draw a TON of applicants. This is the next logical step for IT, as job demand will only increase and the level of competence will need to follow. Currently, if you have a CS or EE degree, you are a step aboveon the IT ladder. But what do these degrees have to do with computer support and networking? Nothing, and this needs to change. The IT industry NEEDS a 4 yr. degree program to make it a legitimate field and to attract smart, legitimate workforce. Many of the admins I dealt with every day were complete morons, and as such IT gets treated like the stepchild of the computer industry.

There's a number of school's offering an IT degree.
My Alma Mater, RPI

That program has been around for 4 years now.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
This is a great topic. Currently, there is no 4 year degree on IT that I can find (at a normal 4 yr. public or private university, forget DeVry). I can get a Unix admin and/or a MS/Cisco Associates degree, but two year degrees don't have the pull of bachelor's and don't really cover everything. The first reputable school that offers a bachelors in IT, including classes in Microsoft, Cisco, Netware, and Unix is going to draw a TON of applicants. This is the next logical step for IT, as job demand will only increase and the level of competence will need to follow. Currently, if you have a CS or EE degree, you are a step aboveon the IT ladder. But what do these degrees have to do with computer support and networking? Nothing, and this needs to change. The IT industry NEEDS a 4 yr. degree program to make it a legitimate field and to attract smart, legitimate workforce. Many of the admins I dealt with every day were complete morons, and as such IT gets treated like the stepchild of the computer industry.

Huh? You need to look harder. I'm finishing up a CIS program at Tulane with an IT minor. There's also an OIT (Organizational Information Technology) major, which is more like MIS. TONS of schools have MIS majors as well. The only drawback is that there are really only 2 tracks at Tulane in CIS: an Oracle-centric one and a Unix-centric one. I've mixed and matched a bit, but am coming out with a strong Oracle focus. I've been looking at sample tests for the Oracle Apprentice cert, and they look to be a breeze based on what I've learned. Tulane also offers lots of great classes in CIS & IT that are more abstract such as Directing IT Departments and Project Management. They also have a multitude of MS-focused classes, but haven't really established a track with a focus on MS admin stuff.

I mean what is there besides CIS(which is programming, right?)

Well, there is some programming, but nowhere near the level of a good Computer Science curriculum. I'd say my curriculum has been split about 50/50 between programming and management/administration/analysis/design classes. You can get away with alot less programming here, but I really think it hurts your chances of finding a good job after school. BTW, I consider my PL/SQL and most other Oracle classes programming, even the admin classes.

 

[wyvrn]

I'm finishing up a CIS program at Tulane with an IT minor. There's also an OIT (Organizational Information Technology) major, which is more like MIS. TONS of schools have MIS majors as well.

None of the MIS programs I have seen in TX have much to do with IT. The local 4yr MIS programs I am interested in have ZERO IT classes, IE: no MS, Cisco, or netware. I think one of them has a single, solitary Unix class, but no mention of networking in Unix. At Texas A&M University, the MIS degree had Cobol and Pascal programming classes, plenty of business and data management classes, but not a single IT or networking class. Same thing for University of Texas. So how would any of these prepare one for computer support or networking in today's business environment? They wouldn't, no more than a CS or EE degree would. When I mention IT, I am talking about managing servers, networks, computers, and their data. MIS does not = IT in most definitions. And yes, I do think there is more than enough technology regarding managing these resources to fill up a 4yr degree, especially when you consider most degrees have 2 yrs of other stuff anyway.

There's a number of school's offering an IT degree.
My Alma Mater, RPI

That program has been around for 4 years now.

Never heard of that school. Second, there is only one course listed in their Bachelors that resembles a computer support or networking class, and that is "Computer Architecture, Networking and Operating Systems (ECSE-2660)". The rest has fairly little to do with computer support, servers, or networking.

 

[abc]

CS = to become a programmer

CIS = usually become the desktop support/ admin / network engineer side of IT.

CIS degrees I've seen as BBA and BS, with BBA version you're getting Business school classes too, with BS version, bit more math type classes and no business classes (finance, marketing, mgmt, etc.) CIS BBA is good for the career in IT for Financial Industry.

MIS = self explanatory I think.


Nope, there is no 4yr degree that I know of that gives you like exactly MS or Cisco products.
You get such from like those technical/vocational schools.

I don't think you'll ever see a 4yr school going to such an extent.
that's like slap ass 'endorsing' a product. A 4 yr institution I don't think is supposed to do that.
I've read about this somewhere before, I'm just replying quickly and cannot explain it well. Something like
educational institutions are supposed to maintain a level of open sourcedness or whatever.

Bottom line i think is if you want computer support and networking then your route is the CIS route.
If you do CS then oncampus recruiting is gonna point u to junior programmer jobs.

But with CIS route what you do is you supplement your lack of handson with additional study and certifications on top of your College degree. That's the only way to attack it. And I don't think there's anything new in what I revealed.

 

[coolred]

Oh crap, I was confusing CS and CIS. I think CIS may be what I want. Can anyone direct me to a link with more info about it. What exactly it involves and all.

 

[Capn]

Never heard of that school. Second, there is only one course listed in their Bachelors that resembles a computer support or networking class, and that is "Computer Architecture, Networking and Operating Systems (ECSE-2660)". The rest has fairly little to do with computer support, servers, or networking.

It's a quality school, but since you're from Texas it's understandable you haven't heard of it. An IT degree here is typically coupled with some other form of engineering degree, computer systems for example.

 

[wyvrn]

Nope, there is no 4yr degree that I know of that gives you like exactly MS or Cisco products.
You get such from like those technical/vocational schools.

I don't think you'll ever see a 4yr school going to such an extent.
that's like slap ass 'endorsing' a product. A 4 yr institution I don't think is supposed to do that.
I've read about this somewhere before, I'm just replying quickly and cannot explain it well. Something like
educational institutions are supposed to maintain a level of open sourcedness or whatever.

Bottom line i think is if you want computer support and networking then your route is the CIS route.
If you do CS then oncampus recruiting is gonna point u to junior programmer jobs.

Hmm.. Why then do most CS degrees include Visual Basic, C and C++, Java, Cobol, Pascal, etc in their training? They don't consider that to be endorsing a specific product. I don't think that is a legitimate answer at all, because if the degree teaches Unix, MS, Netware, and Cisco in addition to common applications and hardware (servers, desktops), I don't see where the endorsement of ONE specific product comes into effect at all. This is more likely typical spinning by college institutions, instead of addressing the obvious demand for the courses.

But with CIS route what you do is you supplement your lack of handson with additional study and certifications on top of your College degree. That's the only way to attack it. And I don't think there's anything new in what I revealed.

This is inefficient, and not a good solution, imo. Just make a 4 year degree teaching the current technology and you don't have to mess with certifications that require little to no actual knowledge to pass, thereby making the "paper cert" effect much more evident. At least by going to college for these courses, you get some hands on from a recognized 4yr University. This would add so much legitimacy to the IT field as a whole, and make it even easier for companies looking for qualified personnel to ascertain the applicant's knowledge level upon entry. Also, the graduate could take advantage of the numerous intern programs that are available to 4yr Universities, and gain the "experience" factor so many employers are looking for in their applicants. Further, having any 4yr degree is better than no degree when applying for a job outside of one's degree focus, so it would potentially keep more IT people employed during times of economic uncertainty like we have had lately.