What to study

[Ro87]

Having been an engineering student for a year, I want to go into a career in IT/Computers. Could some of the experts and graduates here please give me some info as to what are my options. I am considering doing a BSc at UNISA, institute of choice due to its affordability and it offers part time studies.

1. What is the difference between computer science and information systems?

2. Is it a good idea to get into this field as the market is saturated with graduates, or so I'm told?

3. How difficult is it to get a job after graduating? I know engineering offers a structured EIT programme at many companies but what is it like for IT graduates?

4. Am I crazy to leave engineering for IT?

Your answers and replies will be a great help to myself and the many other young people around here wanting to enter the world of IT

 

[hyperian]

1. What is the difference between computer science and information systems?

The computer science curriculum focuses more on the low-level aspects of computing. Expect to spend lots of time studying algorithms and their efficiencies, computer architecture (CPU design etc), assembly language programming etc. You can think of information systems as being more "business" oriented, in that much more time is dedicated to software engineering and the software development life cycle, including aspects like project management etc. You definitely still do code in IS though.

2. Is it a good idea to get into this field as the market is saturated with graduates, or so I'm told?

Yes

3. How difficult is it to get a job after graduating? I know engineering offers a structured EIT programme at many companies but what is it like for IT graduates?

You might have to look around a bit if you leave with only a 3 year degree. However, if you have honours or more under your belt then don't expect any shortage of offers (granted, if you are in one of the major cities - not like Kokstad or something). I've received offers from every interview I've been do.

4. Am I crazy to leave engineering for IT?

Depends - what do you want to do with your life?

Search the forums - questions like the ones you're asking have been posed many times before

 

[Chevron]

Regarding leaving engineering for it, do what you enjoy more. I started out studying electrical engineering and now I'm in it because I enjoy so much more.

Just follow the corny saying and do what you love.

 

[Ro87]

Thanx for ur replies. I do enjoy playing with computers more than pumps/valves lol but I do not have any coding experience, apart from a small MATLAB module which I did this year. I find hardware more interesting than software.

 

[Ro87]

@Quicksilver hw long did u do electrical eng for and wat exactly are u doin in IT now?

 

[froot]

I used to study Computer Engineering..... believe me the degree has changed a lot over the last few years.
The BSc courses at UNISA are fine if you want to go into IT. A friend of mine did his in CS. This is basically programming/ development. Not sure what the IS is about.

Doing Comptuer Engineering vs CS is completely up to you. What exactly do you want to do in Computers/IT? The C.E is more based on hardware and microelectronics, whilst CS is software orientated (with a few going into slight hardware regions).

Getting a job is completely up to what you want to do with your degree/ diploma (BSc at UNISA is a diploma, it's been changed, but you can still turn it into a degree in some way apparently).
Doing a BSc in CS at a uni will almost guaranteed get you a job, while the UNISA one falls slightly below it.
Computer Engineers are highly sought after, both locally and abroad.

Just bare in mind that doing Computer Engineering contains a lot (and I mean a lot) of mathematics and you need to be good in maths to be able to handle this.

 

[MartM]

... (BSc at UNISA is a diploma, it's been changed, but you can still turn it into a degree in some way apparently).
Doing a BSc in CS at a uni will almost guaranteed get you a job, while the UNISA one falls slightly below it.

This is not true

A BSc is a BSc. Unisa's BSc is a 'normal' 3 year equivalent degree course.

Unisa do offer diploma courses as well, but they aren't called degrees.

Refer to the unisa website for more info www.unisa.ac.za

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Actually UNISA is dropping a lot of Diploma courses from 2010.

As a UNISA BSc student, the best advice I can give you is to speak to UNISA themselves.

 

[Ro87]

I checked the website, the BSc is a degree and internationally recognised so it does seem like a good option. I like to build and work with computers, including sales in fact conrad's trainee position seems perfect

 

[hyperian]

I checked the website, the BSc is a degree and internationally recognised so it does seem like a good option. I like to build and work with computers, including sales in fact conrad's trainee position seems perfect

You don't need a degree to do that. Unless you're speaking of chip design etc.

 

[Ro87]

Hyperian ur rite but a qualification is what we shud all be striving for. I was actually refering to part time studies. Mayb i shud open an internet cafe...

 

[hyperian]

Hyperian ur rite but a qualification is what we shud all be striving for. I was actually refering to part time studies. Mayb i shud open an internet cafe...

Granted, but you should then pursue a qualification which is more closely aligned to your interests or what you would like to do as a career. A degree in computer science doesn't teach you anything about building computers or sales. I don't think I would have made it through uni if I wasn't interest in what I was doing, and knew that I would eventually use what I was learning.

A degree isn't just something you go and get. It's blood, sweat and plenty of tears

 

[Ro87]

Ok so u say computer science isnt the way to go for me, what shud I be looking to study then? I don't know myself which is why I'm here lol

 

[Ro87]

I'v been reading up n came across these A+, N+ courses quite often. And there's also MCSE but then I get lost with the multitude of different acronyms lol. I'm sure lots of guys here know more about these qualifications.

Are they more technical, like hands on compared to varsity stuff? And what are the job and salary opportunities like?

 

[I want a GTI]

Continue with your enginering then in your third year, branch of into electronic engineering.

 

[NoRulez]

Continue with your enginering then in your third year, branch of into electronic engineering.

+1 to that!
I did it the other way around - 1 year electronic, then switched to mechanical engineering. Specialised in machine design, but CAD took over my work, so I took over CAD...
Been in the IT industry for 23 years and never looked back!

The IT market will never be saturated, it actually keeps growing.
One can pick & choose between the hordes of graduates out in the field, but to find someone that actually wants to make a career in the industry, is the hard part.
I have seen many come and go just because they thought it was all moonlight and roses, or doing it for the 'image'.
It does not really matter in which part of IT you end up qualifying - just make sure you want to do that and most of all you need to enjoy what you're doing.

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

+1 to that!
I did it the other way around - 1 year electronic, then switched to mechanical engineering. Specialised in machine design, but CAD took over my work, so I took over CAD...
Been in the IT industry for 23 years and never looked back!

The IT market will never be saturated, it actually keeps growing.
One can pick & choose between the hordes of graduates out in the field, but to find someone that actually wants to make a career in the industry, is the hard part.
I have seen many come and go just because they thought it was all moonlight and roses, or doing it for the 'image'.
It does not really matter in which part of IT you end up qualifying - just make sure you want to do that and most of all you need to enjoy what you're doing.

Your getting some good advice like the above post, but do not waste your time on A+ / N+ etc

In the real world people want degrees. Ignore the statements of my bud with his N+ is 22 and makes R15K a month fixing PCs, wait till he is 30 and then you will be earning 10 times more than that guy.

Degrees are long term, certificates are short-term.

I'm 34 and doing my BSc with UNISA as I realised that without it, I will hit me ceiling soon. Have an CompTIA A+ and started my MCSE but they only get you so far.

Also people are less worried about what you studied and care more for the fact that you did study. Very few industries require specific qualifications (ie Engineering & Medical are 2 exceptions)

 

[Conradl]

Your getting some good advice like the above post, but do not waste your time on A+ / N+ etc

In the real world people want degrees. Ignore the statements of my bud with his N+ is 22 and makes R15K a month fixing PCs, wait till he is 30 and then you will be earning 10 times more than that guy.

Degrees are long term, certificates are short-term.

I'm 34 and doing my BSc with UNISA as I realised that without it, I will hit me ceiling soon. Have an CompTIA A+ and started my MCSE but they only get you so far.

Also people are less worried about what you studied and care more for the fact that you did study. Very few industries require specific qualifications (ie Engineering & Medical are 2 exceptions)

Although specialising in a particular product will require a certification in that product, i.e. MCSE to acquire MS gold partner status....

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Although specialising in a particular product will require a certification in that product, i.e. MCSE to acquire MS gold partner status....

True, but its still short term. You need to constantly refresh your certificate - not saying that those with Uni degrees can just sit back.

I do see the value in an MCSE and do not knock it, but do question its value on its own. Even those who have a BSc should still up its value by doing honours or masters.

 

[NoRulez]

True, but its still short term. You need to constantly refresh your certificate - not saying that those with Uni degrees can just sit back.

I do see the value in an MCSE and do not knock it, but do question its value on its own. Even those who have a BSc should still up its value by doing honours or masters.

IT is one field that requires constant re-certification, status upgrades, daily learning - the studies just never end and you either grow with the industry or stay behind.
Basic theory like MCSE, A+ and N+ is good to have and the knowledge gets applied often.
The basics of PCs and networks, just like maths or science does not change, but there are many "specialised" fields like working as a certified service partner for big brands like HP, Dell, etc. where constant re-certification is required, unlike programming where the same theory keeps being re-applied and adjusted to different technologies.

To keep on working in the IT industry, one needs to become a "studyholic"