CamaroLover

I really want to research some of this stuff up but I don't know if I'm looking at the correct things. I want to write programs, but not deal with the hardware stuff, and I don't like Physics. I like numbers and algorithms so I was thinking software engineering. Specifically in security software because I know that's needed more than others.

So am I correct in what field I should look for to see if it's offered in colleges? Software Engineering which would be under the broader category Information Technology? Right now I'm set on iBanking but I think that I would be more comfortable with my decision knowing that I have a much greater chance at a job with IT.

Another thing, for getting a job after college from IT (Software Engineering), is it possible to go from a school like NJIT or Rutgers to a company like Microsoft? Is it relatively easy or is it comparable to going from NJIT/Rutgers to Goldman Sachs?

jessiehl

IT, as I usually hear the term used when talking about jobs, college majors, and such (as opposed to, say, its official definition, which is much broader), != software engineering.

IT, in the sense that I mean here, is stuff like being a sysadmin, a network admin, tech support. At many schools, the degree for stuff like this is called something like "information systems". Software engineering is a subfield of computer science (or possibly computer engineering, depending on the school and where it draws that line, but since you don't like hardware, and do like math, you probably want computer science).

So yeah, look for computer science programs.

CamaroLover

That's what I thought about first, but this school NJIT has it under Information Technology.

NJIT - Undergraduate Programs: Information Technology

Under "Network and Information Security Concentration"

Would it just be different for schools and I should look at both IT and CS?

jessiehl

*looks at link*

What a bizarre setup. Anyway, their IT program still looks like it's focused on sysadmin/network admin/IT management stuff, but with a lot of odd concentrations, I guess so that you could work in the IT department in different industries. If you look at the classes in your desired concentration, they are still mostly admin-type classes. Though if you actually wanted to go into network engineering, it would probably work. But there's very little in that curriculum in the way of actual software engineering.

When I look more at NJIT's site, they have an actual CS degree. And it includes software engineering. It doesn't include options to concentrate in security (not surprising, for a regular CS degree at the bachelor's level), but it has room for quite a few electives (for which you could take security classes to supplement your CS classes), and a senior project (you could do one in crypto or something).

If you want to be a software engineer, a CS degree is better-regarded than an IT degree. Go with the CS degree. "Information science" or "information engineering" might be fine IF the school doesn't offer a CS degree, but "information systems" is about the same as IT.

CamaroLover

Ohh ok. Thanks so much

The main reason was that for the IT degree, it requires no Physics (like I said I absolutely hate, lol) but in CS it's only Physics I so I guess I can deal with that one class if it's a better degree in general.

SamK

The discussion on this thread is related to your question:

Value of compsci knowledge outside of compsci?