What qualification?

[TripleB]

I want to start a career in IT. What qualification would be best/open the most doors? I think I would suck at programming, so nothing along those lines.

 

[Devill]

B'ing in computers at uni maybe?

 

[.Froot.]

Computer engineering? No.... that's what I do. There is a lot of programming involved. A total of 8 courses with medium to advanced programming. It's not a joke either. Damn hard if I might say so. A lot of programming there. Your best bet is BIT (Bachelor of Information Technology). three year course.

 

[sn3rd]

Engineering degrees are more about problem-solving. I find B.Eng (Computer) doesn't involve TOO much programming (although it does involve a fair amount). It exposes you to most of the ideas surrounding mainstream programming, without going too in-depth. The main focus of the course is signal processing and control systems.

B.Sc degrees in the computer field tend to be quite theoretical. That said, they also involve a fair amount of practical work, but more in-depth while touching fewer topics.

In the end, you should decide what aspect you would prefer to be involved in (design, analysis, etc...)

 

[Gnome]

No offense to the engineers but at Tuks the engineers don't compare in programming skill (or understanding or even problem solving) VS. BSc(IT/RW), BIT or even B(Multimedia).

As sn3rd said, Computer Science is about theory and principles but because of the level of abstraction you aren't tied to specific programming languages, etc.

I'd rather go for BSc(CS) if you're going to Tuks. Not sure about other Universities, but I personally don't like the layout of BIT and BSc(IT) is too restrictive.

 

[LazyLion]

Why not go the more Technical route and start with A+ and or N+ Certification?

Then go somewhere where you are just going to get experience?

What computer skills do you have already?

 

[The_Techie]

Computer engineering? No.... that's what I do. There is a lot of programming involved. A total of 8 courses with medium to advanced programming. It's not a joke either. Damn hard if I might say so. A lot of programming there. Your best bet is BIT (Bachelor of Information Technology). three year course.

B.IT is a four year course. But I agree, it's the best.

EDIT: And with B.IT you can choose whether you want to major in Informatics, Information Science or Computer Science. Or even all of them

 

[acidrain]

Whats the deal with avoiding programming... its not that difficult if you can think logically. All it really is, is hard work and alot of it i might add. I never did one ounce of programming before i started studying this year, and well now, i can see myself doing it for years to come.

 

[SuPaStA]

Become Cisco or Microsoft qualified and start making money.All these courses just touch on certain subjects if want to be a specialist in a area then get a vendor certificate.

 

[kronoSX]

I think n+anda+ will do the trick for now.If you feel you need more do the bsc in IT..

 

[Gnome]

Whats the deal with avoiding programming... its not that difficult if you can think logically. All it really is, is hard work and alot of it i might add. I never did one ounce of programming before i started studying this year, and well now, i can see myself doing it for years to come.

Strange I studied BSc(CS) specifically because it isn't a lot of work

BEng(EE) which I really wanted to do was just too much work (in terms of volume) and all the mathematics isn't a joke either.

All these courses just touch on certain subjects if want to be a specialist in a area then get a vendor certificate.

By "courses" do you mean a degree (BSc/BEng)?

 

[.Froot.]

No offense to the engineers but at Tuks the engineers don't compare in programming skill (or understanding or even problem solving) VS. BSc(IT/RW), BIT or even B(Multimedia).

As sn3rd said, Computer Science is about theory and principles but because of the level of abstraction you aren't tied to specific programming languages, etc.

I'd rather go for BSc(CS) if you're going to Tuks. Not sure about other Universities, but I personally don't like the layout of BIT and BSc(IT) is too restrictive.

O, believe me I am taking offense. BIT skips one of the hardest programming courses at Tuks, and BScCs has similar programming subject although in Computer Engineering they go further and spend more time in c and c++ with electronics (BScCompSc does only one of them). I have friends doing both of those whilst I am a Computer Engineer.
And please don't compare Computer Engineers to the Multimedia course. That really is an insult.

When it comes to programming languages at BEng Comp, they do the following: c,c++,c# and java (a new addition). You spend about 50% of your programming in c and c++.

The main focus of BEngComp is far from only control systems and signal processing. Signal processing pretty much the difference between electronic and computer engineering, although computer also takes part in that.


A+ is getting old and useless. Cisco has brought out an upgraded version of A+ known as IT Essentials. Did that as a first year course. Really a lot better and more up to date than A+.

When I considered doing BIT (back in the day), it was still a 3 year course.

 

[acidrain]

Strange I studied BSc(CS) specifically because it isn't a lot of work

Lucky you, you and whats CS?

 

[Gnome]

LOL You can take offense if you want but fact is we do all the programming modules the BEng students do and then some.

BEng @ Tuks: COS131/COS140/COS214/COS222

BSC(CS) @ Tuks: COS130/COS110/COS151/COS140/COS214/COS222/COS212/COS226/COS301/COS333/COS314/COS332/COS326/COS341/COS343/COS344

When it comes to circuits obviously you guys beat us hands down but when it comes to programming BEng students just aren't as good at the programming and they aren't particularly good at solving programming problems either.

And the B(Multimedia) students do all the modules up to second year level, and then plenty of the third year level modules also. So in terms of pure Computer Science modules they beat BEng students hands down.

Lucky you, you and whats CS?

Computer Science Think it depends on what modules you take, I stay away from dreaded theory

 

[.Froot.]

Don't make me bring my friend with his MEngComp on you. We do electronic engineering subjects where we honestly do a lot more programming with a lot higher standard than COS. I would know because I've done them.

 

[acidrain]

Computer Science Think it depends on what modules you take, I stay away from dreaded theory

Same, i dread the computer science theory... so much more fun to sit down and type code.

 

[Gnome]

Same, i dread the computer science theory... so much more fun to sit down and type code.

Heh, too true

@Froot:
If you say so

Although the string of BEng(EE) students failing COS214 each year begs to differ, when I was did that module last year there were some engineers who had done it for their third time, now they've decided to make it easier for the poor sobs to pass, *shame*

I don't really want to argue this point with you, I've seen your 4th year project and it looked easy to me but I'm not doing the degree so who am I to argue.

 

[bodhi]

@Froot:
If you say so

Although the string of BEng(EE) students failing COS214 each year begs to differ, when I was did that module last year there were some engineers who had done it for their third time, now they've decided to make it easier for the poor sobs to pass, *shame*

I don't really want to argue this point with you, I've seen your 4th year project and it looked easy to me but I'm not doing the degree so who am I to argue.

so glad i didn't do Electronical Engineering

*sigh of relief*

 

[.Froot.]

@Froot:
If you say so

Although the string of BEng(EE) students failing COS214 each year begs to differ, when I was did that module last year there were some engineers who had done it for their third time, now they've decided to make it easier for the poor sobs to pass, *shame*

I don't really want to argue this point with you, I've seen your 4th year project and it looked easy to me but I'm not doing the degree so who am I to argue.

Hey, I passed it first time. Last year only 5 out of around 45 Computer Engineering students failed it. The rest passed.

And BEng(EE)? What's that? There is electronic, electrical (they only do cos131) and computer. Only Computer does 214.

Oh and I forgot to mention. The highest mark in 2007 in COS214 was by a Computer Engineering student....

 

[acidrain]

Last year only 5 out of around 45 Computer Engineering students failed it. The rest passed.

...now they've decided to make it easier for the poor sobs to pass, *shame*