I am a first year computer science student at University of Florida. I know it is a bit early for me to think about dual degrees, but I would like to hear some opinions on whether or not getting a dual degree in CS and IST would be a good idea.
UF’s IST program is more business oriented. There are no overlapping coursework between CS and IST and they are in different colleges too. Besides some database and information systems classes, the rest of the IST coursework is management and the usual business classes. For CS, the classes are the usual programming, calc and physics, algorithms, and technical classes.
As for graduation, I have enough AP/CLEP/Dual Enrollment credits that I could graduate with both degrees in 4 years if I take about 15-16 credits per semester, including summer.
Would this be a good idea? I chose CS and IST because I really like the subjects. I don’t really have a clear goal in mind on what I want to do after I graduate.
Do you plan on getting a job in information systems or programing? (Hint: programing will pay substantially more…)
A better use of your time may be to get a minor in business or information systems, pursue more CS classes or additional minors (like Statistics, etc.).
Have you talked with an advisor? I’m assuming you’re in the college of engineering for CS (and not CLAS), so they may not approve a dual degree. Also the college of business tends to have limited access majors, so they may also not approve it. Talk with your advisor.
Another option, is to pursue the BS in CS, and then a Masters in Info Systems and Operation management. A third option is to complete the combine degree (BS/MS) in CS. A masters will be of much more value than a 2nd BS degree.
Good Luck!
I don’t really know what jobs I want to pursue. I am interested in computer science because of its problem solving and logics aspect (breaking down big problems into smaller ones and then creating simple solutions to each) as well as programming. I am interested in information systems because of the organizational and management aspect of it as well as the business side of it.
I initially did consider getting 2 minors, one in business administration and one in information systems but then I saw that the classes for both these minors build perfectly into an Information Systems degree. Correct me if I am wrong but I always thought that getting a second bachelor’s degree is better than having multiple minors, which is why I was thinking of getting a dual degree.
I am in CLAS (not engineering, but I still graduate with a BS) and my advisor said it is possible for me to apply for a dual degree on the CLAS side, but like you said, it will have to depend on the college of business if they have room for me. The business advisor I contacted has not responded to me yet.
As for getting a masters, I am not really sure at this point if I want to commit to getting a combined degree in CS.
Being in CLAS does make it a lot easier to pursue a dual degree.
If you do get approval from COB, then by all means earn both degrees. It’s questionable that having two degrees, will make you more marketable, but that’s really based on what jobs you pursue after graduation.
Getting a Masters, is really about keeping your options open. You’ll have a better sense in a year or so if it’s something you may want to pursue.
Make sure you join a few student groups. They are a great source of info!
https://www.cise.ufl.edu/academics/undergrad/organizations
Good Luck!
@Gator88NE Thank you very much for your advice. You’re awesome! 