Not sure what route to take for my education

[imported_XDude]

Hello. I'm currently trying to decide what I want to do as far as education goes. I'm 18 and currently enrolled in a community college earning their "PC Networking Technician II" 2 year associate in applied science degree.

I wasn't really sure what type of job I wanted to get but I would like to work in an office basically as one of the computer fix-it guys who keeps things going.

I am curious about maybe just getting my AA degree and transfering to do something else (computer science?) but I don't know if it would really be needed for what I want to do.

I'm going to talk to an advisor in a few days to answer some questions but I figured some of you here would know from experience.

These are the core classes I will be taking for the degree:

Hardware Component
CIS 130 Operating Systems (5)
CIS 161 Hard/Soft/Config/Upgrades (7)
CIS 162 Computer Diagnostics (7)
Credits Required 19

Network Component
CIS 270 Networking Essentials (6)
CIS 276 TCP/IP and Internetworking (6)
CIS 279 Network Client/Server (6)
CIS 280 Network Connectivity (6) or CIS 282 Network Security (6) or CIS 285 Current Topics in Networking (6)
Credits Required 24

Software Component
CIS 110 Visual Basic (5)
CIS 125 Internet Fundamentals (5)
CIS 150 Spreadsheet Applications (3)
CIS 251 Management Info Systems (5)

Any input as to what kind of jobs I would be qualified to work? And what might that pay?

Thanks a lot for any advice or knowledge.

 

[Goosemaster]

Computer science and what you have shown us are VERY different.

Almsot all sicentific, mathematical, and computer programming fields require a rudimentry set of courses that are frankly, far beyond what other majors regard as "rudimentary."

Altough it feels nice seeing the business being taken aback in awe when you anser the question of how much math you know and you reveal your core requirements, it is important for those who are not familar with the reality of the core curriculum to get up to date.

What matters MOST in making a decision is a combination of two things:

1)What you want your career path to lead you
2)what you are willing to do (realistically) to achieve that.

For example, I have been strugglign with engineering because I planned my career path but did not adaquately prepare myself for the level of work and commitment that I would have to put into it. Slowly I am rising from the ashes of failuare, so don;t make the same mistake.

That siad, examine what you want your career to include. Are you interested in IT work, Programming etc. What you have presented results in a rudimentary PC technicans knowledge, as experience is even beyond the posted curriculum. For true computer-science level degrees, or msot any technical degree, you will need the following,..I will include the content, as some colleges organzie it differently:

MATH:
Precalculus
Calculus I with Analytical Geometry (Limits differentiation, integration)
Calculus II with Analytical Geometry (Complex integration(infinite sumation), inbtegration techniques, series, polar mathematics)
Calculus III with Analytical Geometry (Multiple Integration, introduction to 3dementional math, prefection of integration and differentiation to many degrees, 3d graphiing and analysis, rudimentary vector operations, vector caclulus )

Linear Algebra ( Matrices, Vector interpretation via matrices, Linear independance etc)

Differential Equations ( polynomial interpretation, PERFECTION of Calculus differentiation and integration techniques, higher order Differential Equations)



SCIENCE:

Chemistry (intro course only...usually the equivalent of the first engineering chemistry course?


PHYSICS:

Physics I - Statics and Dynamics, emphasis on statics ,mechanics
Physics II - Statics and Dynamics, emphasis on dynamics and electricity, mechanics


Programming

Visual B ( >NET or whatever)
Java (depends)
Fortran (depends)
Assembly(depends0


And much more?



The sciences are rspected for a reason. That said, be prepared for it or don;t bother. I am sticking with it, and it will make for great stories whe nI am an old man after having been a successful Electrical engineer

 

[Goosemaster]

oh, and I took 4 classes, all that was the CCNA curriculum(for the hell of it, and I have yet to take the test), and just the maths I mentioned utterly decimate it in terms of actual work involved, especially out of class.

The CCNA is a very respectable degree, but it is a very different type of curricula than what I described. The science feilds, such as and including CCNP and CCIE, are what really test the endurance of the mind if you are interested in networking


good luck.

 

[Goosemaster]

hope i din;t bore ya

 

[imported_XDude]

Sounds like you're beyond what I want to do . I'm not interested in programming or any of that. I would like the kind of job that involves maintaining the computers/networks in an office and I'm not sure if I'm headed in that direction with what I'm taking. Just the kind of job that pays the bills and saves for retirement, no Mercedes, BMWs or half million dollar houses . I just put computer science there because people keep telling me that, but I don't know what other education might suite me better, I think I'll just stay where I am with the classes mentioned... I'm also not sure what job titles to look for when I go looking for a job some day or what they may pay.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: XDude
Sounds like you're beyond what I want to do . I'm not interested in programming or any of that. I would like the kind of job that involves maintaining the computers/networks in an office and I'm not sure if I'm headed in that direction with what I'm taking. Just the kind of job that pays the bills and saves for retirement, no Mercedes, BMWs or half million dollar houses . I just put computer science there because people keep telling me that, but I don't know what other education might suite me better, I think I'll just stay where I am with the classes mentioned... I'm also not sure what job titles to look for when I go looking for a job some day or what they may pay.

Thanks for reading.

:thumbsup:

 

[dfinder]

what ever you want to take , you take.. i can say good luck