Member Avatar for hellolin

Hi everyone here, I am just out of military and going to a community college at the moment, I am currently studying toward the Computer information systems BS degree program here offered in Cal State LA, I have couple questions below:

1. what kind of job will I usually end up with and how much is the pay to begin?
2. I heard that right now the IT job market is wide open, and it is not hard at all to find a job, is that true?
3. One reason why I choose this program is that it is computer ralated but not math orentied, It does not even require me to take Calulus classes which is what I like about it. But then what is the difference between a heavy math reqiured degree like CS and the CIS degree that I am pursuiting with?
4. Since I just started my study here at a community college, I am only taking some basic general education courses to get my classes done before I can transfer to CAL State LA, for my future study or career, what can I do now to get a head start? Like what software I need to start to self learn and what area of programming should I be looking at, if that is required at all?

I know someone must asked those questions here before, but time has changed and it is 2011, so the standards must have changed as well, if you care to help me out that would be great!

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Practical, concrete reality check for (and thanks to for the welcome): a B.S. in Computer Information Systems most often leads to roles such as help‑desk / computer support, junior developer, web developer, systems or business‑systems analyst, database support, or entry IT operations work. Pay depends a lot on role and location: support roles are generally on the lower end, developer and specialist roles pay more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a substantially higher median for computer and IT occupations overall than for general jobs, and shows wide variation by specialty. BLS — Computer & IT occupations. (bls.gov)

Short answer to “is IT wide open?” — demand is strong but not uniform. BLS projections show faster‑than‑average growth for computing roles, but hiring still depends on the skill set, location, and what you can demonstrate (projects, internships). As for CIS vs CS: Cal State LA’s CIS (B.S.) is built around applying IT in business — databases, systems, apps, project and process understanding — while its Computer Science program emphasizes algorithms, deeper theory and more math (discrete math, calculus and theory courses). If you picked CIS to avoid heavy calculus, that’s a common and valid path toward practical IT jobs. Cal State LA — BSCIS learning goals. Cal State LA — Computer Science undergraduate program. (calstatela.edu)

What to do now (actionable, while at community college): follow the CSU transfer articulation on ASSIST.org so your courses map cleanly; start small projects and put them on GitHub (a portfolio matters more than a long résumé line); learn one language (Python is a good beginner choice), SQL, basic Linux, Git, and web fundamentals (HTML/CSS/JS). If you want faster entry into support/networking/security roles, consider vendor‑neutral certs like CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+ — they still help on resumes for entry roles. ASSIST (CA transfer tool). CompTIA certifications overview. (assist.org)

Summary: CIS gives a practical, business‑aligned route; CS is more math/theory heavy. Build a few projects, use ASSIST to plan transfer, and target one clear skill set (support, dev, or networking/security) early — that will make job hunting much easier.

Member Avatar for hellolin

Nobody can help out here?

Member Avatar for ayagi

hi! welcome to the world of IT.

there are lots of opportunity awaited for you.

just love what your doing.

you can be a programmer :)
you can be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.

goodluck :)

Member Avatar for hellolin

Yeah thanks for the scarism, would like some real help lol

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