Applications Development Major

AtwaKom · 06-11-2009, 12:42 PM

I wasn't sure where to post this but this seemed as good as anywhere.

I'll be heading back to school in the fall. I'm transferring credits from a college in Ohio to a CC in California to finish up a couple classes for my core stuff before transferring to Cal St LB. So, I'm researching online for what exactly I want my degree in and this peaks my interest.

After completing basic courses, Information Systems undergraduate majors can specialize by selecting one of the following tracks:

Applications Development - This track prepares graduates for careers as business systems analysts, applications programmers, support specialists, software trainers, database designers and administrators to name just a few. A minimum of 18 units consisting of IS 340, IS 355, IS 380, IS 385, and IS 485, and one elective course from the following bucket: IS 320, IS 464, IS 470, IS 480.

Any there any classes you guys can recommend that I should pick up to make the transition to this major a little smoother? I have all my science, math ( except the one I'm taking this fall) english, humanities ( except 1) done. I was thinking something that would transfer and help get the proper mindset for the field.

Sorry for the wall o' text.

Phelps McManus · 06-11-2009, 02:21 PM

Try and pick up some Visual Basic. Business people spend a lot of time in Excel and eventually they want to do something fancy. The ones who know VB/VBA get noticed.

Next up would be SQL. You don't need to be a DBA for it to come in handy every once in awhile. Whether you are cobbling together some Access database for a specific project or you are writing Crystal Report queries to an existing system, this is a good skill to have. Knowing how to properly design (normalized) database tables is a big plus too.

Excel, Access, VB/VBA, SQL, and Crystal Reports are all good buzz words to have on a resume. That said, I only learned one of those in school: SQL. The rest I learned as a very bored summer intern.

The only transitional course I can think of for you is boolean algebra. Otherwise, these are all high level languages. You don't need to know computer science bullshit like registers, pipelines, memory pointers, threads, etc. I know plenty of Business/Physics/Math majors who are proficient at them.

AtwaKom · 06-11-2009, 04:22 PM

Thanks Phelps, I'll try and learn VB and maybe SQL over the Summer/Fall. Appreciate the pointers.

Kuriin · 06-12-2009, 01:08 PM

SQL's an easy language to learn. I highly suggest the "Head First: SQL" as there are plenty of exercises to do. They also have a "Head First: PHP and MySQL"

06-11-2009, 12:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
AtwaKom I'm a Rocket Man Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Bay, So Cal Posts: 761 +11 Internets	Applications Development Major I wasn't sure where to post this but this seemed as good as anywhere. I'll be heading back to school in the fall. I'm transferring credits from a college in Ohio to a CC in California to finish up a couple classes for my core stuff before transferring to Cal St LB. So, I'm researching online for what exactly I want my degree in and this peaks my interest. After completing basic courses, Information Systems undergraduate majors can specialize by selecting one of the following tracks: Applications Development - This track prepares graduates for careers as business systems analysts, applications programmers, support specialists, software trainers, database designers and administrators to name just a few. A minimum of 18 units consisting of IS 340, IS 355, IS 380, IS 385, and IS 485, and one elective course from the following bucket: IS 320, IS 464, IS 470, IS 480. Any there any classes you guys can recommend that I should pick up to make the transition to this major a little smoother? I have all my science, math ( except the one I'm taking this fall) english, humanities ( except 1) done. I was thinking something that would transfer and help get the proper mindset for the field. Sorry for the wall o' text.

06-11-2009, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phelps McManus I'm dangerous! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,376 -22 Internets	Try and pick up some Visual Basic. Business people spend a lot of time in Excel and eventually they want to do something fancy. The ones who know VB/VBA get noticed. Next up would be SQL. You don't need to be a DBA for it to come in handy every once in awhile. Whether you are cobbling together some Access database for a specific project or you are writing Crystal Report queries to an existing system, this is a good skill to have. Knowing how to properly design (normalized) database tables is a big plus too. Excel, Access, VB/VBA, SQL, and Crystal Reports are all good buzz words to have on a resume. That said, I only learned one of those in school: SQL. The rest I learned as a very bored summer intern. The only transitional course I can think of for you is boolean algebra. Otherwise, these are all high level languages. You don't need to know computer science bullshit like registers, pipelines, memory pointers, threads, etc. I know plenty of Business/Physics/Math majors who are proficient at them. __________________ There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary and those that don't.

06-12-2009, 01:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kuriin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: South San Francisco, CA Posts: 3,333	SQL's an easy language to learn. I highly suggest the "Head First: SQL" as there are plenty of exercises to do. They also have a "Head First: PHP and MySQL" __________________ Live like you'll die tomorrow, Dream like you'll live forever

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06-11-2009, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
AtwaKom I'm a Rocket Man Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Bay, So Cal Posts: 761 +11 Internets	Thanks Phelps, I'll try and learn VB and maybe SQL over the Summer/Fall. Appreciate the pointers.