I got a BS in Information Technologies at BYU and I did a fair amount of research on the different programs when deciding on that major so if you have questions about their programs I can help. Basically they are about the same as the descriptions that Mac gave in the general descriptions of the different majors. So Computer Science is mostly going to be Software development and theory with a little hardware. Electrical and Computer Engineering is going to be mostly hardware with some software and theory.
The one difference at BYU anyway is that Information Systems and Information Technologies ARE NOT the same thing. Information Systems is in the business school and it concentrates A LOT on the business end of running an IT department. So if you are wanting to be an IT administrator/manager, then Information Systems is the way your want to go. Information Technologies, however, is in the School of Technology which is part of the School of Engineering and Technology. That program is much more technology based. They do still want you to take a couple business classes but for the most part, you will be learning surface level stuff about A LOT of different technologies, languages, etc. They don't go too deep into teaching you any one thing because they recognize that it is kind of pointless to do that. Instead they teach you a lot of different things so it is teaching you how to learn new technologies quickly and it helps you have a more broad understanding of the entire system. They created that program to try to solve some of the issues that Andrew brought up about the disconnect between school theory and real life application. The program wasn't perfect when I went through it (class of 2008) but it seems like they were making good strides to bridge that gap and hopefully they have continued to do that. I do agree with Andrew on a lot his points about "classically trained" developers but I still think there is a lot of value in the education process and the skills that it gives you in critical thinking. My recommendation to most people is to get the degree but don't think that the degree is going to get you a great high-paying job. You need to figure out ASAP what you want to do like programming, administration, etc. and then get as much real world experience in that as you can get while getting the degree. That experience is what is going to shape you into a valuable employee. Thanks, Derek On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 12:17 AM Mac Newbold <[email protected]> wrote: > I may simply be misinformed. I was recalling something like 20-25k per > year for BYU. When I checked > https://admissions.byu.edu/how-much-does-it-cost I found that's > definitely on the high side if you're LDS, but more or less accurate for > non-LDS rates, and that includes room and board. > > I was comparing to my UofU experience, with two semesters a year at about > 3000 each plus some books. But I didn't have room and board costs included, > as I lived with family until I got married. At > http://financialaid.utah.edu/paying-for-college/cost.php I find that it > estimates Utah resident costs are about 16k to live with family or 24k > otherwise. > > So the costs don't really appear that different. > > Thanks Aaron! You're right - there isn't much cost difference between the > two schools. > > Without looking it up, I'd still guess that Westminster is significantly > more than that, and that UVU, USU, WSU, and WGU would be between 10-50% > less in tuition, and probably similar costs for room and board. > > Thanks, > Mac > > > On Nov 2, 2015, at 11:08 PM, Aaron Luman <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Mac, can you explain what you mean by "They'll be pricy unless you have > a scholarship" (in reference to BYU)? > > > > This is the info that I see online: > > > > BYU: > > 270 / credit OR > > 9-11.5 credits is 2,447 > > 12+ credits is $2,575 > > > > UofU: > > ~560 + 200 / credit (Freshman/Sophomore) makes it > > 9 credits = 2,360 > > 12 credits = 2,960 > > 15 credits = 3,565 > > 18 credits = 4,165 > > Junior/Senior is slightly more > > > >> On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 4:25 PM, Mac Newbold <[email protected]> wrote: > >> If you're also considering school options, I'll give you a quick > rundown of > >> what I know: > >> > >> University of Utah: (full disclosure: my BS CS and MS CS are from here) > >> Really solid program, I think generally considered the strongest in the > >> state. They have some accredited specialty degrees as well focusing in > >> particular areas, if that interests you, as well as a track system that > can > >> let you customize your degree program. If you want to consider a MS > degree, > >> they have a 5-year BS/MS program (non-thesis masters) or the > traditional MS > >> (with a thesis). I also loved working for one of the research groups > while > >> I was there, and learned a ton from that. They also have TA > opportunities > >> that can be very rewarding too. As a public school, the tuition is > >> incredibly reasonable for the education you'll get. Any of my coworkers > who > >> did a CS degree at the UofU have uniformly been very high quality people > >> and very skilled. > >> > >> BYU: > >> I have a hard time keeping straight which programs are which, but I > think > >> CS is the one that makes the most sense here. They'll be pricy unless > you > >> have a scholarship. I've known some good/great devs who went here, but I > >> can't say it's been as uniformly excellent as the U grads I've worked > with. > >> > >> Neumont: (not on your list, but figured I'd chime in) > >> Accredited university focused around CS (and now business). Very > oriented > >> toward the practical, but as a CS program they still do some theory and > >> stuff too. Last year of the program is three 4-month Enterprise Projects > >> where you'll work with a team of your peers for a company on something > >> real. Definitely a strong way to build your resume fast. I think they're > >> expensive too, compared to the U. Most of the candidates I've known from > >> here are well qualified, and often the enterprise projects can lead you > >> into a full time role in one of those companies. > >> > >> UVU: > >> A strong contender, especially on the lower-cost end of the spectrum. > >> Probably less than the UofU in cost, and more focused on > vocational/career > >> training than the theoretical side. They have I think a CS and some > kind of > >> WebDev program as well, and I'd probably stick with CS here too for > better > >> breadth. I've known a lot of really solid folks from here, and it's > >> probably a lot more of a "small school" feel than your BYU or UofU > >> experience, even though it probably competes with them in terms of > actual > >> enrollment numbers. > >> > >> Utah State University (USU): > >> USU has had a strong engineering/CS program for a long time, and if you > >> like a smaller college town this is a great option. I don't know how > much > >> CS they offer at their extension campuses either, but that may be a > >> possibility. Public school, probably in the ball park of UVU and UofU > for > >> cost. Probably a close 2nd tier to UofU/BYU/UVU. > >> > >> Weber State University (WSU): > >> They also have a CS program. Not the same caliber as the others. > >> > >> Westminster: > >> Private university, and priced to match. CS program is small and close > >> knit, and last I checked they had about 3-4 faculty and under 100 > students > >> in the program at any given time. If you want a small private > liberal-arts > >> college this may be for you. CS program is reasonable but definitely > not a > >> top-tier option in my book. > >> > >> Code boot camps: > >> Dev Mountain, Coding Campus, etc. have some good options if you're > looking > >> to get started quickly, and reasonably priced. Not a 4 year degree, if > that > >> matters a lot to you. Very practical and hands on. > >> > >> Western Governors University (WGU): > >> I know some folks going back to school by attending here (for BS or MS I > >> think), and if you know your stuff already, you can pass an awful lot of > >> final exams in one term to be able to skip a bunch of classes. Priced > >> reasonably with a flat-rate per term model, and an all-you-can-eat > course > >> schedule. I don't know much at all about their CS specific offerings. > >> > >> Are there others missing from the list that I should know about? Anybody > >> with more experience with one of the programs want to speak up to > elaborate > >> on (or refute) my statements? > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Mac > >> > >> > >> > >> On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 5:07 PM, Kevin Jensen <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > >> > Right now I'm living in Price and am getting ready to either commute > or > >> > move up north. So I'm just trying to plan the next five years or so. > Thanks > >> > for the descriptions, Mac. That was pretty much what I was wondering > about > >> > the degree names. > >> > > >> > On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 5:02 PM Kevin Jensen <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > > >> > > No specific company. But as far as schools I was thinking the u, > BYU or > >> > > UVU. > >> > > > >> > > On Mon, Nov 2, 2015, 4:10 PM Jonathan Duncan < > >> > [email protected]> > >> > > wrote: > >> > > > >> > >> On Mon, Nov 2, 2015 at 2:44 PM, Kyle Waters <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >> > On 11/02/2015 11:56 AM, Kevin Jensen wrote: > >> > >> > > Which degree is preferred computer science or software > engineering? > >> > >> > > > >> > >> > > > >> > >> > > >> > >> > When I was at USU there was computer science, and computer > >> > engineering. > >> > >> > Computer science was part of the College of Science and mostly > focused > >> > >> > on programming. While Computer Engineering was part of the > College of > >> > >> > Engineering and focused more on hardware. Since I left I > understand > >> > they > >> > >> > moved Computer Science to the College of Engineering(where I > believe > >> > it > >> > >> > belongs), but I don't think they rename it yet. Are you looking > at a > >> > >> > school that offers both degrees? > >> > >> > > >> > >> > > >> > >> Additionally, are you looking at any particular company that > smiles more > >> > >> favorably upon a certain degree? > >> > >> > >> > >> In my experience, degrees are not as much of a selling point as > they > >> > have > >> > >> been in the past. But if your chosen school has a good program and > you > >> > are > >> > >> looking to improve your own skills, you would probably do well > choosing > >> > >> either degree. In other words, it depends on your goals and > desires. > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> > >> > >> > >> UPHPU mailing list > >> > >> [email protected] > >> > >> http://uphpu.org/mailman/listinfo/uphpu > >> > >> IRC: #uphpu on irc.freenode.net > >> > >> > >> > > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > > >> > UPHPU mailing list > >> > [email protected] > >> > http://uphpu.org/mailman/listinfo/uphpu > >> > IRC: #uphpu on irc.freenode.net > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Mac Newbold > >> [email protected] > >> 801-694-6334 > >> <http://www.codegreene.com> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> > >> UPHPU mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> http://uphpu.org/mailman/listinfo/uphpu > >> IRC: #uphpu on irc.freenode.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > > UPHPU mailing list > [email protected] > http://uphpu.org/mailman/listinfo/uphpu > IRC: #uphpu on irc.freenode.net > _______________________________________________ UPHPU mailing list [email protected] http://uphpu.org/mailman/listinfo/uphpu IRC: #uphpu on irc.freenode.net
