Slashdot Mirror
On the Differences Between MIS/CIS/CS Degrees?
Dark Ninja asks:
"I find that after having a professional IT job (C++ programmer/DBA)
for four+ years, not having a degree is a hindrance to finding a job. So with this in mind, I'm planning on attending
college soon, but I want to know the difference between an Management
Information System, Computer Information System, and Computer Science
degrees? Better yet, which ones do you suggest (ie. to allow
advancement, which allows for what jobs, etc)?"
And most MIS grads laugh at the CS people who shit their pants when giving public presentations, negotiating, or simply communicating with peers.
I strongly think that Steve Wozniak *is* a good communicator. He's great to listen to...his enthusiasm is infectious, and he really knows his stuff.
Any kid who has him as a teacher will probably go on to be a tech superstar. Seriously.
I agree with you on Gates, though...listening to him speak is like listening to Kermit The Frog without the clever and funny lines. And his second in command at MS is worst of all...his idea of communicating is "WOOOOO! GIVE IT UP FOR ME! WOOOOOOO!" and "Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers!"
--.\\-H--
Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
MIS: Take this if you want to manage geeks, and actually understand what they're talking about. Take this if you ever want to get promoted. Take this if you like dealing with bureaucratic bullshit for 8 hours a day.
CIS: Take this if you don't want anyone to understand what the fuck you're talking about. Take this if you can't figure out if you want to be a manager or a programmer, and are a wishy-washy pansy. Take this if you like computers, hate programming, and don't care about advancement.
CS: Take this if you like making fun of people in code. Take this if you like sitting behind a desk and staring at a screen for 12 hours a day. Take this if you like being a prick with a superiority complex, and don't need a girlfriend.
Well, this cartoon (the one on the right) says it all...
(Shamelessly stolen from mit.edu, years and years ago -- mail me if you know who drew it!)
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Warning: Slashdot may contain traces of nuts.
Sure, you might be able to learn any university course from a book. But you'll miss the widsom of professors and their corny stories. You'll miss the logistics and comradery of team projects. You'll miss out on exposure to arbitrary, externally imposed specs and deadlines (very handy). And you may not effectively learn how to procrastinate and drink competitively. Oh, and you'll miss out on taking arts, science, and business electives you wouldn't normally be exposed to. These could all be great opportunities, or great wastes of time, depending on what your pleasures and goals are. A university CS education is worth it if you truly love computers, data structures, algorithms, projects, and you value getting a broader, not strictly vocational, education. Otherwise, you're right -- buy some books, make your resume buzzword-compliant, and join the workforce early. If that's your thing.
MIS is not a CS degree. Most CS people laugh at these people. Sorry but it's true.
True, but that just makes us bigger dicks than we already are, not to mention pissing off our future MIS bosses.
And most MIS grads laugh at the CS people who shit their pants when giving public presentations, negotiating, or simply communicating with peers.
'CS people' generally do not exist to give public presentations, to negotiate, or to communicate with peers (under your definition of peers). Those are the ways of subspecies. 'CS people', among other activites, build the tools that make possible the meaningless labor of the 'MIS grad'.
Washington, DC: It's like Hollywood for ugly people.