Advice Needed: Choosing a Major

[Cognition]

Next Monday I will have to register for classes for my post high school degree, and I need some advice on choosing the major I want to pursue.

I'm stuck between Computer Science and Business Adminstration: Finance.

I do have a dream of starting my own I.T. firm - doing web design, remote technical support, support and installation (locally), web hosting, and even technical education. I feel that a Computer Science degree would be a great foundation for the technical aspect of starting such an I.T. firm, but a business education would be great for knowing how to properly start and manage this 'business' from a non-technical aspect.

The business school of my choice would be SMU Cox School of Business (since I live in the DFW area), but I could also acquire a Computer Science degree from their School of Engineering if I decided to go that route.

One thing that 'pulls' me to the Computer Science degree is the favorable job market opportunities for a new graduate. From all the (biased media) talks of job ALL going overseas, enrollment in Computer Science college departments had dropped substantially in recent years, leaving a significant demand for CS graduates, and with average salaries starting in the mid $50K's.

Yet and still, I'm still a great fan of business, having read many business books and started a number of meargerly successful entrepreneurial ventures in the past 5 years.

So, any advice, guys?

[Jay Brass]

Why don't you major in Computer Science, since you want to begin your own IT firm. Then minor in Business Administration: Finance. Or, you could achieve two majors.

[Cognition]

Why don't you major in Computer Science, since you want to begin your own IT firm. Then minor in Business Administration: Finance. Or, you could achieve two majors.

Thanks for your reply - that is good advice. But I think I'm going another route:

I'm going to acquire my Computer Science degree as quickly as I can by taking courses over the summer and taking a minimum of 18 credit hours per semester. I've already lost a substantial amount of time since I'm already 23 years old. By the time finish my degree, I'll be 26-27 years old with my peers having 4+ years experience over me.

In addition, I'm going to work on a number of I.T. certifications including CompTia A+, Security+, Network+, CCNA, MSCE, etc.

Simultaneously, I'm going to take the Starting a Business 8 week course offered by SMU Caruth Institute of Entrepreneurship. I'm sure that I'll be able to learn and develop a comprehensive strategy for starting my own I.T. firm. I just think it's ridiculous for anyone to say they need to spend 4 years getting a Finance degree in order to learn how to execute a startup venture.

In my last year, I'm going to take on a number of programming/development jobs as a freelancer to build up my 'experience', which employers will want to see.

My formal education, my I.T. certifications, and my experience should prove to be impressive to prospective employers as well as an invaluable learning experience as an entrepreneur.

Thanks guys for your advice!

[tazman9r]

Sounds like good options. I would love to offer specific advice, but it sounds like a lot of footwork researching the best of those options, and I believe you have done done that.

So instead I will just cheer from the sidelines. Go, Dude, Go. Go, Dude, Go.

[Cognition]

Well, I am back in school now. I took a couple of transferable courses over the summer.

I have decided to pursue my bachelor's in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science. Right now, I'm completed some basics/prerequisites at a community college and will transfer to The University of Texas at Dallas for one year, and then transfer (and graduate) from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business (deeming I can pay $40K a year in tuition).

Before I graduation from SMU, I plan to have already acquired my MSCE/MSCA. By the time I graduate with my BBA, I will have two Associates degrees (Business & Science), some junior level I.T. certifications, and then the valuable MSCE/MSCA certification.

Sound like a plan?

[jasaunders]

At most colleges, a computer science major deals much less with IT per se, and more so with software engineering/programming. It is a major difference, in that IT typically is more geared towards hardware, infrastructure and technology systems. Many colleges also offer majors in things like management information systems, which would be more closely aligned with running an IT firm.

Taking classes and obtaining your certifications, such as the ones you listed, would probably give you much more technical knowledge for running an IT firm. If you are unsure what to do, you may want to try talking to an advisor in the specific college to find out more about the computer science program and what courses you can/would take.

[Cognition]

At most colleges, a computer science major deals much less with IT per se, and more so with software engineering/programming. It is a major difference, in that IT typically is more geared towards hardware, infrastructure and technology systems. Many colleges also offer majors in things like management information systems, which would be more closely aligned with running an IT firm.

Taking classes and obtaining your certifications, such as the ones you listed, would probably give you much more technical knowledge for running an IT firm. If you are unsure what to do, you may want to try talking to an advisor in the specific college to find out more about the computer science program and what courses you can/would take.

Thanks for that, J. I'll look more into it and talk with a couple of advisers before solidifying plans.

I should have mentioned that I plan to go to law school (SMU Dedman) after completing my BBA. I can obtain my MBA and JD simultaneously.

With going to law school, I think I'm leaning more on finishing by bachelor's at The University of Texas at Dallas, instead of SMU due to tuition costs ($10K per year vs. $40K per year, respectively.)

Nevertheless, the plans are to attend SMU for my MBA and JD.