i jus wanted to know the difference between computer science and computer information systems...and with a degree of one of these what are the jobs one can get...and a description of what the job is like...thanks

 

Comp Sci involves more programming and design process. CIS is a lot of server maintenance an development. In car terms, Comp Sci is like being a tuner, and CIS is like being a traditional "under the hood, get your hands dirty" profession. Comp Sci is a 4 year degree, whereas CIS can be a certificate offered by Cisco Networking Systems. Both jobs are pretty lucrative. A Cisco certified tech can start at around 40k per year, an if you stick with it eventually gt up to 90k, depending on th company. Comp Sci majors go towards software companies, I'm not really informed on that sort of thing.

Whew, wall of text.

 

you can't go wrong with either one. computer science is more of just what it says the science of computers - you learn about circuits, chip design, motherboard design, etc etc. Information systems you learn more about the handling of the data. I.E programming web pages, business aplications, systems adminstration, shell programming. It is more designed around the data and how to manipulate the data for business applications.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Data Processing with a concentration in systems programming. The college I went to changed that curriculum to information systems after I left. But what that included was Cobol programming, Assembly programming, Unix shell programming, database design, etc etc. All those classes were designed to manipulate data and manage the data for businesses.

There were a lot of electrical engineers that minored in computer science just because a lot of those classes crossed over to each other. I had started to be an engineer but went over to information systems because my brother worked at mcdonnel douglas which is now boeing and engineers at the time were getting laid off and he suggested that I go into computers because that is the future.

I sometimes regret not going into engineering but I am pretty happy with what I do now which is a unix system admistrator. so I do a lot of shell programming for automation of daily tasks for systems that host web applications. I enjoy it a lot.

So if you are more mechanical and like to build circuits etc I would recommend electrical engineering with a minor in computer science. That would give you more of a solid base that you could build on and maybe down the road you could get a masters in Information systems.

But do what you like and where you think you will be happiest and I wish you best of luck. I envy you because you have it all in front of you. Just remember keep an open mind and learn everything. Take in everything and soak up everything into your brain. Knowledge is something that no one can take away from you!

When I was in school and you would of told me that I would be a system administrator for unix systems I probably would of said your nuts. But when I took shell programming in school I really really liked it and so I found my niche and eventually got my job doing unix system adminstration. So keep an open mind and try stuff even if it means taking a class for semester you just never know what you will like.

Good Luck!!

 

i am in computer science now at Fitchburg State College. i didnt like it that much to begim with because i didnt have a understanding going into it, and the teacher assumed everyone knew it and blew by the information. so i fell behind quickly and could never catch up. i had the most problems with writing the programs because i did not know the key words and all that. so i wasnt sure that was the major for me. i liked electornics and all that and was intersted in the whole connecting things in stuff. but i think i might stay in CS and see where i end up with it. if not ill have to decide what to do. thanks for the info.