BSc Computer Science vs BIT

[FinalFortune]

Hello, I need help choosing between these two courses for next year, theres less than a month for me to choose. The main thing i want to do is programming but i'm not too sure which of these two courses to take, would the business side of BIT have better benefits than BSc Computer science?
I'm reluctant to take BIT because I'm afraid I will end up with quite a few useless subjects such as philosohpy.

I Would like to know what use is Informatics and Information Science, does the knowledge from these subjects become handy in my working career? is it a good idea to have accounting?

Which one will be most useful in the working world?

Please give me some advice, thank you.

 

[I am Penguin]

What I believe is that with BIT they want to make U a thinker, a solutions provider and specifically in the finanance/banking Industries. It's a damn hard course and you need to work at it. Very time consuming and if you do like to faf around and think that varsity is for the fun time in life then look for something easier. I believe many fallouts change their degree from BIT to Computer Science rather due to the work pressure.

 

[arkunsan]

If you`r talking about Informatics...eeermmhh.. BSc Computer science is way better and in a different league ..lets just say that BSc Computer science is one of the best and well respected Degrees out there

But in the end it all boils down to how passionate you are in the field when it comes to the work environment ...

 

[jasweb]

Then there is B.Eng Computer Engineering to consider as well...

 

[malec]

It depends on what you want to end up doing. BSc is a lot more technical. I did B.IT and I was also sceptical about the philosophy subjects. I can honestly say when doing honours philosophy was actually applicable

 

[FarligOpptreden]

I had a choice between BSc. Computer Science, B. Multimedia and BCom. Informatics. Having a slight interest in all those disciplines, I decided that B.IT would be the ideal bridging course. Don't be fooled into thinking that B.IT is a "lesser" degree than BSc. Computer Science. B.IT was structured in such a way that you share the core subjects of Computer Science, Informatics and Information Science, plus a few extras (like Philosophy) to help you get your mind into solution-mode.

As already mentioned, it is a very demanding course, seeing as you share the subjects of multiple disciplines. But believe me, you're all the better for it. You'll have the business knowledge that the Informatics students are fed, as well as the technical knowledge of the Computer Science students to implement it with. Stick with it and you will see the benefits of B.IT...

 

[Nerfherder]

There is only the option that is better for you.

Both you can get very good jobs and have a good career.

 

[The_Techie]

I'm almost done with my second year of BIT, it is arguably the most difficult and most valuable course that the IT department offers.

 

[I am Penguin]

I'm almost done with my second year of BIT, it is arguably the most difficult and most valuable course that the IT department offers.

Which varsity/ Tuks?

 

[The_Techie]

Which varsity/ Tuks?

Tuks, yes.

 

[I am Penguin]

Tuks, yes.

MMm, are you aproachable for help next year?

 

[The_Techie]

Sent you a PM

 

[Gnome]

I'm almost done with my second year of BIT, it is arguably the most difficult and most valuable course that the IT department offers.

Bleh, don't pollute his mind with that nonsense

BSc(CS) ftw.

Seriously though, it totally depends on if you actually want to learn things like accounting and whatnot, I did those anyway but I'll only be a danger to any business if I try do their books, business management was a bit more useful, information science was total waste of time IMHO, I don't give a sh#t what the definition of data, information and knowledge are (seriously that is what you do), I did however learn of the fact that porn cannot be copyrighted in SA (you see what interesting information you'll garner?)

You can still do most of those modules in BSc(CS) just not the information science.

Thing that bothers me the most about BIT, you need to study 4 years before you have a degree VS. 3 years for BSc.

 

[The_Techie]

Bleh, don't pollute his mind with that nonsense

BSc(CS) ftw.

Seriously though, it totally depends on if you actually want to learn things like accounting and whatnot, I did those anyway but I'll only be a danger to any business if I try do their books, business management was a bit more useful, information science was total waste of time IMHO, I don't give a sh#t what the definition of data, information and knowledge are (seriously that is what you do), I did however learn of the fact that porn cannot be copyrighted in SA (you see what interesting information you'll garner?)

You can still do most of those modules in BSc(CS) just not the information science.

Thing that bothers me the most about BIT, you need to study 4 years before you have a degree VS. 3 years for BSc.

But can you do your masters degree immediately after BSc(CS)? I'm actually quite curious as I have no idea.

I've found that BIT contains many/most of the major modules contained within BComm(Informatics), BIS and BSc(CS)/BSc(IT), just sort of....more.

 

[Gnome]

But can you do your masters degree immediately after BSc(CS)? I'm actually quite curious as I have no idea.

Yep, you're doing a degree + honours effectively, you'll need 75% average to do a masters tho (for your final year) just like BSc(CS) hons.

I've found that BIT contains many/most of the major modules contained within BComm(Informatics), BIS and BSc(CS)/BSc(IT), just sort of....more.

Hmm, I did the BIS and BCom modules the BIT students do and the modules the BSc(CS) students do (I studied a year extra so I had time on my hands ) and I seriously hope that isn't all there is to those degrees but honestly I wouldn't be surprise, the informatics modules were laughable (in terms of difficulty and quality) and the BIS modules were mostly: meh, not really sure what I'll do with them, I don't even remember much anymore only the odd detail because I can't honestly see what to do with that information. Girls in that class was really nice tho, hmm I miss accounting

 

[The_Techie]

Yep, you're doing a degree + honours effectively, you'll need 75% average to do a masters tho (for your final year) just like BSc(CS) hons.

Ah, interesting. Chalk up one for BIT

Hmm, I did the BIS and BCom modules the BIT students do and the modules the BSc(CS) students do (I studied a year extra so I had time on my hands ) and I seriously hope that isn't all there is to those degrees but honestly I wouldn't be surprise, the informatics modules were laughable (in terms of difficulty and quality) and the BIS modules were mostly: meh, not really sure what I'll do with them, I don't even remember much anymore only the odd detail because I can't honestly see what to do with that information. Girls in that class was really nice tho, hmm I miss accounting

The INF modules are laughable, you are correct. I have a friend studying Informatics and it really is as bad as we perceive it to be INL is interesting but useless for the most part.

I don't miss FRK at all, did enough accounting at school

 

[phiber]

I have done a BSc Hons(CS) at Wits. If you going to chose BSc cos you think its easy, you will be sorry. Neither degree is easy from what i hear, go for content. You can get a BSc in 3 years, but it does take 4 years to get the hons and only once you have hons can you do the masters. From what i have heard, CS is more of an internationally recognized degree, and the only compulsory subject to go with it is Math, so at wits, that lets you choose a lot of the other subjects. I am not sure if TUKS lets you pick your subjects.

 

[hyperian]

I'm a few months away from submitting my MSc thesis in CS at UCT. The BSc CS degree is certainly worthwhile if you see yourself in a technical position after your finish studying. If you worry that you will be deprived of business knowledge, you are allowed to go straight into BCom Honours if you have a BSc CS degree (not sure whether this is true for all BSc degrees), which is what a few of my mates did. Additionally, at UCT, there is a CS stream called Business Computing where you do a double major in CS and IS, and do a few accounting, business, and economics courses (in addition to the CS core subjects like maths 1).

From what I've seen when applying for interviews at companies (in Cape Town), they almost exclusively mention a BSc CS degree as a minimum requirement, so it is definitely a qualitifaction that everyone respects and is familiar with.

 

[marine1]

Seems that maybe a BSC CS is more of a degree that will get you into management.

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Seems that maybe a BSC CS is more of a degree that will get you into management.

I disagree.

BSc CS + MBA = Management Position.

Seriously though, I don't know why everyone here is dissing the Informatics and Information Science subjects? I really thought they were extremely valuable, with Informatics having a much more business-oriented approach and Information Science (even though starting off with "definitions of data, information and knowledge") dealing with copyright and information law issues. Being in a web development role, both the business and information-law knowledge has benefited me hugely. The pure CompSci guys I've worked with seem to lack that knowledge...