Graduate TESC or……CIS?CS?

[ternzer]

Thanks to all the great people here, without you I wouldn’t be asking questions about graduating anything.
Ok, I am looking for some guidance here. Assuming I passed the business policy TECEP I have all my requirements to graduate with a BSBA-finance. BUT I don’t know if I should. I have an interest in continuing my education and getting something computer/IT/Technology based. I really like the CIS but if I graduate that option is out since you can only get 1 BSBA from TESC.

So here are my options:
1. Graduate, then get the CIS certificate (15credits more)
2. Graduate, then get the second BA CS degree (33credits more- I have till Oct.)
3. Wait, finish the 15 credits and graduate withCIS
4. Graduate, call it good.

I currently am highly qualified in financial services and manage a local firm. So my degree is not really needed for what I do. I am also our technology director and have an interest and like the idea of having the computer/technology as added qualification and as a backup plan for the future. Server and IT training along the way could be useful too. Which is why I likethe CIS because it fits well with my background and interest.

So..
does the CIS certificate hold thesame value if I have the BS?
Would the BA CS be more valuable inthe long run?
I am not so much concerned about the work involved but what is more usable long term

[scorched]

If I can offer some advise through a story.
I work for a really big computer storage company and I recently wrapped up an enormous project with one of the top 3 oil companies.
Normally I am solely responsible for analyzing the current IT operations to include financial analysis. But as stated this project was huge, so to get some help, my company offered up someone with the title of "Financial Engineer". Let me tell you this person was off the charts!! His bachelor in Finance and Cert in accounting worked well, because he also knew technology. His background wasn't technology, but he did know it and understand it.

So the advise is, don't worry about having a bachelor in Finance. You could easily acquire things like microsoft certifications or even post bachelor "CIS" certs, that would show you have the knowledge to sit and have discussions with CFO's/CIOs about technology and money! My job is crazy technical, but normally requires and MBA, of which I have nothing yet, so it's easier to have the BSBA, and some classes, a cert or whatever in technology rather than the other way around.

[ternzer]

I like what you have said, the financial engineer sounds fun.
that also supports my graduate now, get the CIS cert. idea.
that brings up another question -
If i want to be CIO, would the CIS/CS benefit me more?

[ryoder]

I think the BSBA CIS is an excellent degree for someone with relevant work experience, technical skills, and some exposure to management.
Not many people practice real computer science, but computer information systems knowledge is required. So I would go for the BSBA CIS first and then decide what your next step should be. The BSBA CIS is a real business degree but it has some core information systems courses that are required.

It will be a nice progression to move from that to the MBA.

My 2c

[ryoder]

If you are considering a BA CS, try to take some CS required coursework as part of your CIS electives. I took computer architecture at TESC and enjoyed it.

[dcan]

CIS is more "application" oriented for business/management. Take a look at the course list. CS is more theory. Computer Scientists write the programming languages, compilers, and algorithms. CIS people ("programmers") take that stuff and make real business apps with it.I'm doing a BSBA CIS but I'm pretty sure (if I can finagle tuition assistance properly) that I'm going to take 3-4 more classes and get a CS cert along with it.

For your CIO ambition, getting a CIS undergrad cert may give you a boost depending on your industry and career path. Plus it wouldn't require CEUs and re-certification like a lot of other certs do. To be honest though, for CIO level I would think you will really need to have a master's degree or grad certs. It depends on your field, but it may be hard to be taken seriously and considered an executive without an MBA, or at least an MSIT or similar. That's me talking though, not in the business world (military), so I may be wrong.

APU has grad degrees for $11,700 and grad certificates for about $5-6K. Check out the IT ones. For CIO type stuff I would focus on something like a grad cert in IT Project Management (available at APU and elsewhere) since that is what you'll spend your time doing. But you'll also need to be able to handle the strategic business and budget side since a CIO operates at a strategic level more than tactical. Of course, with a degree and background in finance that may be a cakewalk for you, so it's all your call.

One more... If you have $30K to blow, UMUC has a "Chief Information Officer (CIO) Executive Certificate". hilarious

[skyfall123]

I really like the CIS but if I graduate that option is out since you can only get 1 BSBA from TESC

I thought you could have two areas of study within the BSBA. Not 2 degrees. Two areas of study within the degree. Diploma and transcripts list both areas. 90% sure. Not common so it doesn't come up often, but you need to really double check before throwing in the towel. Page 179 here TWO AREAS OF STUDY WITHIN ONE DEGREE http://www.tesc.edu/files/Catalog2011.12.pdf

2 excellent AACSB degrees, MBA Technology and MSBA CIS

CSU just launched the online version of this highly regarded program CSU Online Plus - Computer Information Systems | Master's Degree | Online & Distance - Colorado State University
SunyIT has a 33 credit fast track if you have an undergrad business degree MBA in Technology Management

What is great about both of these, is that they are both all IT and Technology management....not just three or four courses.

For Masters degree in Computer Science it is hard to beat the flexibility, quality and cost of this one Department of Computer Science
Same goes for their AACSB Masters MIS http://mis.uis.edu/

[ternzer]

thanks everyone.
I have the executive experience as a VP for the last 7 years, so that's the easy part. Chances are that i will never leave my field but if i want to explore a second career later in life it would be in the CIS direction.
I will look into the 2 areas of study idea, that might just work. heck as slow as TESC is at processing transfers and TECEPS, i could have those credits done before they are done processing the remainder of my finance degree.

[scorched]

As always I am not without opinion, and I have a little soapbox for this one. A lot of the CIO's I consult to are MBA's with limited technology backgrounds. But in my opinion don't run out and get a too much technology like a CS degree. Stick with the MIS or CIS type of degree or certs, it's broader, covering way more aspects and still requires a programming language development knowledge. A CS cert or degree is designed for someone who wants a very technical role.
Funny thing about that mystical corner office, is that its supposed to be the merging of business and technology and always seems to be business only, so go for just enough tech and just enough business to do the blending so many others can't.

It is one reason for approx a 75% failure rate of IT projects, with failure meaning, anyone of the three project management objects of cost, quality, or time are not met. And something like 30-40% of all IT projects fail entirely! With the USA total IT spend projected to exceed $650B by 2015, that % of wasted dollars is simply staggering. I just encourage you as future CIO to not be afraid to hire the best and fire the worst. Like in my company, you get a 5, with 1 being the best on your annual employee review, and your fired! This is done from Manager, personal, and peer review, so the wasteful people don't last long.

A very simple list of skills a CIO should have:
General business (ie. finance, accounting)
Management
Applied Quantitative analysis (ie. SixSigma)
IT Governance
Proj Mgmt

ways to achieve:
SixSigma Blackbelt or Combination LEAN SixSigma - MIT has 2 day summer courses for LEAN Enterprise
PMP - Proj Mgmt Prof (biggest cert out there for PM)
Learn an Enterprise Architecture ( Zachman, TOGAF, etc)
The governance tends to follow the architecture but not always.
And something like ISO:20000, ITIL, COBIT, or the likes never hurts.

So finally I am big believer in knowing CMMI, Carnegie Mellon's: Capability Maturity Modeling Integration, originally used for software development but the newer CMMI-SVC is great for measuring and applying the new breed for performing ITaaS(IT as a Service). Most companies I consult to are shocked and usually pissed off that they barely rank as one or two on a scale of five in software development and/or services.
You can also apply ISO 20000, CMMI, TOGAF and ITIL together in way that is beyond the comprehension of most people in that corner office, or you can be the exception to the rule as the one in the corner office. There is a reason that in the technical writing DSST, or college class for that matter, for how and why to write an executive summary. It's truly not because executives are that busy, it's because they don't understand what I just wrote and need it summarized, as they will simply hand the document to the enterprise architect or director as a task.

Now some certification options for you to achieve this quickly: Some of these are for Federal but apply across the board, and there are more out there, these are what I have been tracking.
Start reading CIO.com for the latest news and trends
Carnegie Mellon: CIO Institute : Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College
This is for just the CMMI from CMU: CMMI | Overview
GMU:TechMan CIO cert
GWU: CIO University Certificate | Information Systems & Technology Management | School of Business | The George Washington University
UNC: Center for Public Technology
UMUC: Chief Information Officer (CIO) Executive Certificate - Graduate School - UMUC

Cheers!

[ternzer]

awsome info hmuchmo1. thanks!