Software Engineering vs. IT (2 Viewers)

[dvse]

alrite, it's between UTS IT and UNSW S. Eng.

Comp Science/Comp Engineering looks a bit like it's too much in depth/different field.

Will decide, thankyou

The best advice would be to do BCom/BSc with accounting and computer science. That way you will actually understand both business AND IT, rather than the second hand crap found in IT courses.

 

[terminator69]

Software Engineering is a better path it open up a much more board field than I.T. plus if u work for the right cmopany u can travel around with the expensence paid for you ^_^ (i only heard tho, still studying since it my 1st year, but it awsome ^_^)

Until you get OUTSOURCED.

 

[Spik3balloon]

You can't differentiate any of these courses by their names.

A sidenote: BIT (Business Information Technology @ UNSW) != B.IT (Bachelor of Information Technology @ USyd).

USyd's B.IT is essentially a rebranding of the B.CST with a higher cut-off.

Look at each of the handbooks from the unis, the core units and electives and decide from there.

 

[Sleight_of_Hand]

so if one wanted to be a hardcore programmer/ systems analyst/ software tester, what course would that one do? (and where)

 

[terminator69]

so if one wanted to be a hardcore programmer/ systems analyst/ software tester, what course would that one do? (and where)

Computer Science.

 

[MrBrightside]

System Analyst can come from BIT's as well.

Pick a course that has interesting subjects and subject layouts. And will give you the career you want.

-If you want to be building, documenting, testing programs as a job sitting behind a screen then go for a comp sci / s.eng degree

-If you want to be involved with extremely low-level hardware stuff then go for comp engineering

-If you want to apply/network software and hardware together in the real business world to efficiently create useful information systems then go for a BIT/BScIT degree

Research the job prospects in your desired country of living, to ensure you will have a job after your degree. your now DONE for comp course selection. Study hard now and don't stop.

-start ups can come from any course, any uni.

 

[jniranjan]

Are there more jobs available if you do Comp Sci than B IT? I loved 2u maths, but I didn't like 3 unit that much, but maybe that was cause I was lazy. I LOVED physics, but only the ideas and motors topics. I love working with computers and helping people and solving problems problems for people. I've never coded apart from VB, which I didn't really enjoy. Most of it was just 'type this out, and see what the program looks like.' Would I enjoy Comp Sci?

My cousin who did Comp Sci is the IT lead for a large snackfoods company, and he applyies his knowledge to getting IT to work effectively in a business environment.

 

[MrBrightside]

Are there more jobs available if you do Comp Sci than B IT? I loved 2u maths, but I didn't like 3 unit that much, but maybe that was cause I was lazy. I LOVED physics, but only the ideas and motors topics. I love working with computers and helping people and solving problems problems for people. I've never coded apart from VB, which I didn't really enjoy. Most of it was just 'type this out, and see what the program looks like.' Would I enjoy Comp Sci?

My cousin who did Comp Sci is the IT lead for a large snackfoods company, and he applyies his knowledge to getting IT to work effectively in a business environment.

Hmmm you said you

-like helping people and solving problems
-have limited programming experience (Although not necessary to have, you must enjoy it if you want to do a comp sci degree)
-hated 3 unit

Going by that, I think a BIT course would suit you more as you get to help people face-to-face + develop systems to solve the needs of clients. Doing a degree on comp sci would be actually going against the flow, if you wanted a degree in business I.T. It is a completely technical course designed to create potential programmers but can lead onto other fields of I.T such as system analyst and a few other jobs. But if your more keen on working in a business with a I.T related job I would recommend the BIT course, as employers will look for that when hiring. a Comp sci course does not contain any kind of business subjects, therefore YES you will have the technical skills to do the work, but will not have the extensive knowledge of how the backbone of a business operates, which is what employers value the most. There is a bit of maths in the BIT course, so you should be fine with that, as you said you liked 2 unit. The comp sci course is 3unit and possibly 4 unit intensive, although it depends what uni you go to. UOW only requires 2 unit knowledge, whereas UNSW requires 3unit, 4unit recommended.

Also there is no physics in comp sci, unless you choose elective subjects that require physics knowledge. Physics is used in Computer engineering. and if you choose a BIT degree you can have electives to choose some subjects from comp sci if you wanted more technical subjects. Either way you will have jobs in the end, just of different types. In short, Comp sci - programming and creating applications with documentation I.e follows the Software development cycle, BIT - Managing and developing business systems to work in the most efficient way for internal and external clients, I.e follows the system development cycle.

Both types of graduates are needed in the workforce, comp sci create the applications which BIT's can understand and manage correctly in a business situation. in some cases BITs may actually modify an existing application to suit the business, usually involves writing scripts. BITs are taught business languages to develop BUSINESS applications, such as an app that counts stock in a database and alerts the client when a new order is needed. There's no point in creating an awesome program and then having no people to manage it.

Sorry long post, but it is worth the read. Good luck with your decision, hope you choose what you want.

 

[jniranjan]

Thank you very much for your post MrBrightside. I did VB in year 10, and it was mainly just the teacher asking us to try out prewritten code. We never really learnt the findamentals of code, like tags, etc. I've done the html tutorials on w3, and I've remembered most of what I learned, which is good. I quite enjoyed learning it, but i can't really make nice pages with just html alone. Maybe a combined business/s engineering degree would suit me? That's one of my prefs at UTS. I believe that usyd also has comp sci with an info systems major. hmmm, decisions, decisions. Whatever i choose, i should be able to easily to switch between i.t. and comp sci/s eng after the 1st semester, right? Once again, thanks for the post.

EDIT: I didn't hate 3u, i loved the calculus part, not so much the others. But I think my problem was that I just didn't practice enough, and I therefore wasn't fast enough under exam conditions.

 

[MrBrightside]

Thank you very much for your post MrBrightside. I did VB in year 10, and it was mainly just the teacher asking us to try out prewritten code. We never really learnt the findamentals of code, like tags, etc. I've done the html tutorials on w3, and I've remembered most of what I learned, which is good. I quite enjoyed learning it, but i can't really make nice pages with just html alone. Maybe a combined business/s engineering degree would suit me? That's one of my prefs at UTS. I believe that usyd also has comp sci with an info systems major. hmmm, decisions, decisions. Whatever i choose, i should be able to easily to switch between i.t. and comp sci/s eng after the 1st semester, right? Once again, thanks for the post.

EDIT: I didn't hate 3u, i loved the calculus part, not so much the others. But I think my problem was that I just didn't practice enough, and I therefore wasn't fast enough under exam conditions.

ahah I did the same coding in year 10 as well. Started off on VB6 just coding what the teacher told us to make, e.g. calculators, image randomises and counters (clocks), but we were basically copying it off a website. Also did a bit of HTML coding in year 11, although the authoring software pretty much does everything for you. So you're using a WYSIWYG format it's not that difficult to creat web pages (just got to know how to use the authoring software). and then in year 11 and year 12 I spent my time studying how to code in VB.NET using visual studio 2008 and 2010. I received 96% for my major project in year 12, but I wouldn't say the program is crash hot (but I did try my best with what i had to make the best program I could) lol - VB is very difficult to deal with moving objects on a screen, thus creating arcade based games was a fairly moderate task to pull off smoothly. I also included ~234 pages of documentation ranging from internal documenation source code listings, comments) to technical doc (algorithms and data dictionaries, log book) to external doc (user manuals). I couldn't of done it without the help of others. so great thanks goes out to all those that helped clear up bugs and assistance. - I don't think I would want to do it again lol There wasn't much maths involved in coding my major, just basic multiplication of dimensions, addition and timing. - I can upload it for you if you want to have a play around with it.

Hmmm combined degrees mean you pay for two degrees, you know that right? and they add more time to your degree. not sure how long it is atm for you, but it would prob be 5 yrs with a double degree. -Please don't take it in the wrong way or anything, but I don't really see a point in a DD, your going to go into a profession that is only orientated on one industry. e.g Business or engineering. yes to have knowledge on both industries is a plus, but is that extra time spent studying a DD worth it, when you could already be in a full-time graduate job of a single degree?

Usyd's I.T course is called BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. It is a very flexible degree, as it gives you the option to specialise in a major later on, e.g. Information systems (BIT) or computer science. However beware USyd also has a course called BIT - a 4 year degree, which is essentially the same as BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY but specialises in more advanced computing subjects. usyd took a different approach to other unis such as UTS and UNSW in creating I.T degrees.

should be able to easily to switch between i.t. and comp sci/s eng after the 1st semester

Not sure what uni you're talking about. But it's usually 1 year (I think) before you can change degrees - not sure on this one though, i think it varies from uni to uni - may have to wait for someone else to answer this.

 

[Rosieblake]

Software Engineering is best option. As it has more and wide scope.

With only about 40 percent of software developers holding computer science degrees and practically none holding degrees in software engineering, we shouldn’t be surprised to find people confused about the difference between software engineering and computer science. The distinction between science and engineering in software is the same as the distinction in other fields.[1] Scientists learn what is true, how to test hypotheses, and how to extend knowledge in their field. Engineers learn what is true, what is useful, and how to apply well-understood knowledge to solve practical problems. Scientists must keep up to date with the latest research. Engineers must be familiar with knowledge that has already proven to be reliable and effective. If you are doing science, you can afford to be narrow and specialized. If you are doing engineering, you need a broad understanding of all the factors that affect the product you are designing. Scientists don’t have to be regulated because they are chiefly accountable to other scientists. Engineers do have to be regulated because they are chiefly accountable to the Public . An undergraduate science education prepares students to continue their studies. An undergraduate engineering education prepares students to enter the workforce immediately after completing their studies.

 

[moxpsy]

UNSW will most likely be my choice if I can possibly get into a Sydney uni. I doubt that though so I think I'll be settling for a regional uni (Charles Sturt). At least the course (Bachelor of IT) at CSU though suits what I am interested in and the type of work I'd like to do in he future. A lot of the IT courses from Sydney seem a bit dry.