B.A Computer Science, B.S Computer Science, B.S Information Technology

Sylice

Which one is best for a Network Engineering or System Admin career?

N2IT

BS Computer Science is the best period. JMHO

Mitechniq

BS Computer Science is the defacto standard..

Legacy User

If you can do it, BS CS always looks good on the resume. The BA CS holds the same weight filling the CS requirement but doesn't look as good as the BSCS.

The CS degree goes over theoretical concepts and the IT degree is more of a technical degree which depending on the program the IT degree can help you on the sys admin side. IMO the CS degree won't really do much for you to prepare for a sys admin or network engineering job. Also, the CS degree program can teach you think logically thats why some big companies look for CS or Engineer graduates for their critical thinking abilities. With that said if you have the opportunity to do it i'd say BSCS all the way just for the resume.

my .02 cents

anoeljr

Well, I think any of those degrees would give you a good foundation to head towards the network engineering or system admin path. It also would be good to take some classes that are geared towards those jobs. CS would be the best for the resume and it's supposed to help you with your critical thinking skills. And actually, maybe you could take a look at computer and electrical engineering also. People drool over engineering degrees.

In the last few years, I've seen many people with Electrical Engineering degrees working as network engineers. It seems most of them took the network engineering route because they said they couldn't get a job as an EE since the market was so competitive, but they're enjoying it very much.

MrPieMan82

It depends. You have to compare programs. I compared B.S. of Computer Science, B.S. of Information Technology, and B.A. of Information Systems. Information Technology program was the only one with a Network Security concentration (Only one that had networking, period), so I went with that.

the_Grinch

The thing to remember is that while an IT/IS program might be hands on, most are not anywhere near current on the technology that companies are using. As an example, my program had us working on Windows 2000 workstations (XP was available) and Server 2003 (2008 had been out about a year by then). While that at least gives you a foundation, how much overall good it does you is questionable. Especially when you are dealing with an enterprise network vs the lab you'll play with in class.

Computer Science will give you a strong theoretical foundation that will definitely apply to any IT job you are doing. What do we all work with? Networks and systems. You'll get all that and then programming with a degree in Computer Science. If you can do the BS, I'd say go that route, if not the BA is fine. At the Masters level most schools typically say a degree in Computer Science or related degree.