Hello! I was pretty happy with getting admitted at the University of Richmond, and am now trying to figure out what I should do to get into the industry I want. My intended final result is some kind of upper-level business administrator in the tech field (pref. Computer Science), as it combines something I love and find great interest and satisfaction in (computer science, software development, etc) while being forced into something I think I would enjoy more than actual development. However, I don’t know exactly how to get there with the best qualification and major.
My CURRENT options (for which I would love to hear additional options; make a suggestion) include:
A 3-1-1 Duel Degree to get a science BA from Richmond and accelerated Masters in engineering from UVA
A 3-2 Duel Degree to get a BS from Richmond and BS in engineering at Columbia (4-2 is the same, but longer)
Just a major or concentration in Computer Science
COMBINED WITH EITHER (with an MBA end goal):
major, minor, or concentration in Business Administration or Economics (I've heard that BA is relatively useless at the undergraduate level because you'll get everything when going for the MBA, but I also hear UR has one of the better BA programs around, so...)
Finally, also consider that I will also be minoring in Japanese and studying abroad for it, but will end up being a full-time student, so it may not be too much of an issue. If you think this is too much, let me know.
What should I try to do to achieve the end goal I would like? Thanks to all for any help in advance.
There are bachelor’s and master’s degrees called Management Information Systems. Look up a few of these and note the types of courses that are included. They prepare people to manage the IT needs of a business, or be a manager at a tech company providing those services and products. You can then look at the degrees at your university and see what can give you a comparable preparation, or you can plan on pursuing such a degree at the graduate level.
I’m a junior at UR (double major in math and CS, double minor in music and dance) and I actually know several people with goals similar to yours.
What they’re doing is double majoring (actually technically dual degree) in computer science and business administration, usually with a concentration in management (business admin majors are required to have a concentration). This is actually really doable because you must take at least 17 units (basically classes) outside the business school as a business major, so most pick up another major and/or minor.
You’d have to plan your courses carefully with an advisor, but you should also be able to minor in Japanese no problem, especially if you come in with any AP credits (or other credits).
Another option would be to major is business administration (most likely with a concentration in management) and then minor in computer science and Japanese. The good news is you have some time to decide and explore because you don’t declare your major at UR or apply to the business school until your sophomore year.
It doesn’t really matter. You could become an upper-level admin/exec in the tech world with any of those majors. I work in tech and we have execs with all kinds of majors.
If you’re minoring in Japanese and planning to study abroad, a simple major in computer science will likely be easier to finish in the amount of time that you have. It’ll give you more options - for example, studying a whole year instead of just a semester, if you want.
I work in tech, too. I think @guineagirl96 's suggestion is the most direct route. Sure, people with other backgrounds make it to those management positions. But it is dead useful to have basic business knowledge, too. i’m not convinced the MBA is necessary (and I have one).
@guineagirl96 and @intparent
I’ll pretty much taken guineagirl96’s advice under full consideration and will probably do that (hopefully with a few courses credited with AP). I’m still considering the MBA, but I will note what you said about it when I go to consider my options. Thank you both so much for your advice.