College and classes, please I need help.

[incognito]

Ok so I look through colleges curriculum and I see "Compute Science", "Computer Engineering", "Computer Information Technology", or something to that effect, my problem is I dont' really know the difference. Sometimes the only differences between two of those are one or two classes, could someone help me out here? I need this info so I know what to pick when going into college, only got about 3 weeks to graduate, graduation day is June 12 for me!!!!!!!!!11

[salvelinus]

First, don't worry about picking a major. I had about ten different majors. Your first year or two is likely to be more devoted to general ed requirements anyway.
Given that, compare the difference in requirements for the different degrees. It's hard for someone else to be precise, because different schools might mean different things by the same names for majors.
At a guess...
Information Technology - more lightweight, designed for more general knowledge.
Science - tough one, could be more math and theory stuff, or could just be a catch-all term
Engineering - more networking and system design
Thoseare just guesses. They probably share a bunch of core classes, with minor variations. The required electives for each is probably where they differ more.
But hey, up untill about halfway through your junior year or so, maybe later, changing your major won't cause many problems.

[Shiro]

I don't know how the studies are in other countries, but in the Netherlands it would be something like this:

Information Technology, a bussiness point of view
- Networks
- Internet
- e-Commerce
- Databases
- Bussiness applications

Science, a scientific point of view
- Algorithms and datastructures
- Discrete mathematics and logic
- Information theory

Engineering, a technical point of view
- Software analysis methods
- Software design methods
- Software test methods
- Software Architecture
- Software engineering principles

[DrakkenKorin]

Originally posted by Shiro
I don't know how the studies are in other countries, but in the Netherlands it would be something like this:

Information Technology, a bussiness point of view
- Networks
- Internet
- e-Commerce
- Databases
- Bussiness applications

Science, a scientific point of view
- Algorithms and datastructures
- Discrete mathematics and logic
- Information theory

Engineering, a technical point of view
- Software analysis methods
- Software design methods
- Software test methods
- Software Architecture
- Software engineering principles

I would have to say this probably holds true to most of the US, depending on the institution. I know there are some institutions that call Computer Science what I would have called IT, and vice versa.

For instance the university I attend holds true to the model presented by shiro. I was doing CS for a couple of semesters and discovered I really didn't like it so I switched majors to my passion, Anthropology.

Best thing to do is to reasearch the majors at the college/university you are looking into, that way you can gauge which one you would be more interested in.

[doubleanti]

Do Electrical Engineering! Design the chip, don't write software for it! Hardware first!

[taylorguitarman]

Take the 'prereq' classes right away. They're easy to spot; they usually have an Intro prefix or end in I. Most of those will be the same for each option. If you don't get them done early you might have a hard time taking higher level courses later.
Then, talk with your profs and older students during the first year and see what kind of stuff you'll be doing. I got my BS in Computer Systems (Computer Science option) but I took about 3 extra classes and had all the requirements for an Information Systems option as well (and still made it out in 3.5 years). The course work will probably be the same for the first 2 years or so. You'll have time to decide which path you want to take.

I sort of did my course work in reverse, got my core classes out of the way first and then did all my generals. It's great to take a bunch of Intro classes you're last semester.

-Make sure you start doing internships as soon as possible so you can gain experience (a mistake I'm now paying for). It will help lots when you start looking for jobs.

[incognito]

Good Lord, can't they just call it "Computer Programming", what if you want to know programming AND networking, what would that be called? But I want programming mainly so what would this be.........? Oh yes yes it varies from school to school.

>>>>>Do Electrical Engineering! Design the chip, don't write software for it! Hardware first!

for some I don't think I would get the same kick out of it. I think I'd rather do Programming.

[MrWizard]

Look at this school. www.digipen.edu .. Very far from Florida but I made the move out there from Florida. Excellent school, any questions regarding it PM me.

[doubleanti]

yeah, well... i at least hope i made the right choice... we'll see what happens... all i know is that i love learning, anything, i love seeing the world and experiencing nature... and i love to travel, and i love understanding things that seemed far out at first... then open up five more things that seem far out...

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by doubleanti
and i love understanding things that seemed far out at first... then open up five more things that seem far out...

You mean like Chaos Theory?

[SilentStrike]

Hardware sucks. Took a computer architecture course recently (just finished), and although I am pretty sure I got an A... that stuff isn't fun at all.

[doubleanti]

Chaos Theory? Hm... well that's surely interesting. [you can get all kinds of neato mandlebrot-esque sets that look really sexy]... but I wasn't thinking about that.

Hm... thanks Silent Strike, it's only future and all...

[SilentStrike]

.

Hardware is truely hard . I prefer a higher level of abstraction.

[doubleanti]

lol i meant to say "it's only _my_ future"... but y'know... i've had it up to here ::raises fingure to neck:: with abstraction that's not myne! bah!