Computer science vs information systems

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Riazbapoo

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Hi guys

I am student at the university of the Witwatersrand . I have a choice of computer science and information systems and I need ur help to make an informed decision.

I am 18 years old , I spent the last year doing a bsc biochemistry . It was the biggest mistake of my life .
Now I am looking to go into a computer related field but the question is which one . I am not the greatest at maths and science scoring a c and a d respectively at matric level .

Ever since I was 14 I have always had an affinity for technology. Cellphones and computers in particular, but to be fair I am also a surface learner . I am not familiar with the underlying aspects of computers and Cellphones and I feel that this has to change

I might want to go in to the field of programming and developing applications.

Any advice that you can give will be highly appreciated.

Please try and give a list of pros and cons for Computer science and information systems

Thank u
 
Comp sci is going to be purely IT based, where IS will be more high level and incorporate other aspects such as management, corporate governance, business strategy etc. Have a look at the UCT site and view the related links. Do some simple google research and it will help answer your question. Visiting a career adviser at a university will also help.
 
I had to make this decision last year as well... Went with IS because it's a more flexible degree in that the path up to management level "should" be easier than with CS. Also there is less coding so if your maths isn't the best then you don't have to worry. It depends on where you want to go with your IT career?
 
I'm 36 and a BSc IS student with UNISA. I went IS due to my age, it I where in my 20's it would have been CS. Agree with South_Bit on IS (IS will be more high level and incorporate other aspects such as management, corporate governance, business strategy etc).
 
I did BSc CS and BSc CS (hons) at UP. I had 55% or something like that in standard grade (yep SG) for mathematics in Matric. Didn't really find the mathematics all that challenging, granted I didn't get a distinction (65% is about my avg for math at varsity level). I definitely spent more time on mathematics and such than I did on my CS modules (I started programming in grade 4 so I never found any programming in school or University any challenge).

I thought I was going to get killed in math because I had such a crappy school mark but in school I didn't attend class and I found it incredibly boring, especially with teachers that didn't give a crap. At University I had lecturers that liked what they did and for some reason I actually enjoyed calculus and my marks improved dramatically. So unless you know for sure you can't do it, as in you TRIED and failed, then maybe it would be best to avoid it.

Granted I had to do a lot of wangling to get in with the math mark I had (had to do an introductory course in math before I could do normal calculus). Because I couldn't get in directly for CS I did an extra year of BSc any choice type thing then switched (so had to do an extra year).

I'll say this tho, mathematics and computer science generally go hand in hand, I didn't believe it before but I looking back on my degree I can see it now. If you are good at one, you probably are good at the other, you just need to work at it.

As with everything it is practice, practice, practice.
 
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cbrunsdonza said:
I'm 36 and a BSc IS student with UNISA. I went IS due to my age, it I where in my 20's it would have been CS. Agree with South_Bit on IS (IS will be more high level and incorporate other aspects such as management, corporate governance, business strategy etc).
Click to expand...

InfoSys is great for a career in project management, that's where the bucks are!

However, since you have to do 2 majors why not do both? I did!
 
Have a look at the courses offered at Wits - if they have something similar to UP's B.IT degree, go for that. It encompasses the core modules of Computer Science, Information Science and Informatics. It is a bit of a daunting 4-year degree (due to the overlapping with so many disciplines, plus the amount of subjects you have), but worthwhile at the end of the day. You get to see what all 3 those disciplines are about and get to specialize during your 3rd and 4th years.
 
hey i am also going to start studying either Bsc computer science or IS or even Bcom Informatics

to me IMO i think CS will really be for those high tech guys that loves spending time alone fiddling with tools and stuff.
IS and Bcom IS will be more of a balance so if you into group work then i think IS is the way to go but if you independant enough and you can manage things yourself then go for CS
 
...another thing to add to what has already been said is if you intend becoming a business analyst, then IS or Informatics. Programmer/developer = CS
 
vanillathunder722 said:
hey i am also going to start studying either Bsc computer science or IS or even Bcom Informatics

to me IMO i think CS will really be for those high tech guys that loves spending time alone fiddling with tools and stuff.
IS and Bcom IS will be more of a balance so if you into group work then i think IS is the way to go but if you independant enough and you can manage things yourself then go for CS
Click to expand...

Couldn't be more wrong on this.

BSc Computer Science usually gives you a deeper technical understanding and very good problem solving ability. Bcom IS has a much lighter technical component and cover business as well. From my experience you can learn the business very quickly.
 
Fuma said:
...another thing to add to what has already been said is if you intend becoming a business analyst, then IS or Informatics. Programmer/developer = CS
Click to expand...

I work with an Analyst who studied CS and a developer who studied IS, so not too sure where you get this info from.

The question is what do you want to get out of the degree?

Do you want to be an Algorithmic expert? Understand Graph Theory, data structures, architecture, compilers etc than CS is for you!
 
phiber said:
Couldn't be more wrong on this.

BSc Computer Science usually gives you a deeper technical understanding and very good problem solving ability. Bcom [U BSc IS has a much lighter technical component and cover business as well. From my experience you can learn the business very quickly.[/U]
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True that you can learn the business side, but BSc IS fills the gap between the CS guy and the CEO - think of it as the middleware solution (OK, that was geeky).

I did modules last year which is based on MBA modules, the advantage I now have is I understand what the MBA guys have been taught concerning project management, development life cycles and programming methods. I've already found its helping me communicate much better with the non-technical clients, the guys who in the end commission the applications.
 
If you do a CS degree plenty of institutions offer short degrees (1 year) that bridge the gap from CS to MBA. Don't know if the same exists for IS but I'm doubtful as there would be no interest (eg. people who study IS wouldn't IMHO be interested in gaining more technical knowledge and you'd have to start from the beginning anyway).

Usually knowing the technical side first is fairly useful, you get a job easily and you have plenty of time to do a short course/degree to give you the MBA skills while you stock up on experience and climb the ladder.
 
Gnome said:
If you do a CS degree plenty of institutions offer short degrees (1 year) that bridge the gap from CS to MBA. Don't know if the same exists for IS but I'm doubtful as there would be no interest (eg. people who study IS wouldn't IMHO be interested in gaining more technical knowledge and you'd have to start from the beginning anyway).

Usually knowing the technical side first is fairly useful, you get a job easily and you have plenty of time to do a short course/degree to give you the MBA skills while you stock up on experience and climb the ladder.
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Very true and I do believe your age and experience should be the deciding factor. If your in your 20's, go CS and don't bother with IS.
 
I am busy doing my IS degree through UNISA, I am second year now with some 3rd year modules. The only programming I have done is the first year required programming module.

My ONLY second year modules wrt to IS were:

Structured system analysis and design
Object-oriented analysis

both of these modules are theory only with lots of diagrams. The rest are all business modules mostly concentrating on finance.

If you want to be a programmer do the CS degree. Most of the people in my study group also admit they don't want to code that is why they chose IS.
 
(BSc) Information Sytems

Hi guys.

How difficult is this degree and how long do you think it will take to complete doing it part time?
I have been working in IT for 2 years now. Mostly normal Administrator stuff.(Server, support and networks)
Is it a lot of learning and how difficult is the programming?

Any advise would be really appreciated.

Thanks
 
the CS degree @ Wits tend to mumble about the theoretical aspects of mathematically proving that an algorithm would work...
 
Michaelpaarl said:
Hi guys.

How difficult is this degree and how long do you think it will take to complete doing it part time?
I have been working in IT for 2 years now. Mostly normal Administrator stuff.(Server, support and networks)
Is it a lot of learning and how difficult is the programming?

Any advise would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you got decent math and science marks in high school then ull be fine, just put in the time and effort
 
Lol, i actually started this thread 5 years ago. at the time I was torn between doing Computer Science and Information Systems.
I decided to do both of them and 2 days ago i received news that i would be graduating with a BSc computer Science and Information Systems. Best decision ever. Doing both topics has, in my opinion, made me a highly sought-after and well-rounded individual.
 
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