Which degree (CS/IT/MIS) is best for you?
Most universities offer both a Computer Science degree and an
Information Technology degree, and some universities even offer a
Management Information Systems degree. Here at AU, we have all three
options for you:
Computer Science (CS),
Information Technology (IT), and Management
Information Systems (IS)
While all of these degrees are high-quality and should place students
on a fast-track towards a successful career, students always ask the
same question, "Which degree is best for me?" The answer to this
question depends on the student, their career goals, and a variety of
other factors.
Students even ask more specific questions:
- Which degree will give me the highest salary?
- Which degree is easiest?
- Which degree is hardest?
- Which degree has the most job opportunities?
These are all great questions! But before answering them, it is
more important to have a basic understanding of the degree
options.
The following links detail these three degrees and explain the benefits of each:
Summary
Computer scientists design and develop computer programs, software, and
applications. IT and IS professionals then use, configure, and
troubleshoot those programs, software, and applications. So it really
depends on what you want to do. Do you want to be on the front end,
designing the software and applications? Do you prefer to use and
troubleshoot them? One of the websites gave the analogy of a home:
computer scientists build the home, set up home, install the
lighting, plumbing, etc., and then the IT/IS professionals come and
live in the home to use it, test it, and troubleshoot it.
So which degree is "best"? Perhaps you can now see how this question is
not fair or at least not clear. If we ask which degree is more
difficult, the students will immediately exclaim, "Computer Science is
the most challenging!" Therefore, one can perhaps argue that the
Computer Science degree is the most rigorous (challenging) and will
likely provide the student with more opportunities in their career. And
the salary statistics support this argument, as CS students, on
average, have a higher salary than their IT and IS colleagues. That
said, is Computer Science better? Yes, and no. It depends on YOU! It
depends on your goals. It depends on how hard you want to work. For
some, "better" means more money and more career opportunities. For
others, "better" means easier studies and less math!
So again, which degree is "best"? There is no short answer. As
mentioned above, all three degrees provide the tools you need to
hopefully have a great career. Perhaps the question is best worded as,
"Which Degree is Best for ME?" And of course, only YOU can answer this
question!