OMIS versus CS and CE:
What's the Difference?
The study of computer technology is of growing appeal, both for the intellectual
challenge and the career opportunities which it can facilitate within our increasingly
technology-driven society. In response, Santa Clara University offers three undergraduate
major programs in this broad and rich area: Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), and
Operations and Management Information Systems (OMIS). While these
programs naturally cover some common ground, they differ in their areas of emphasis.
Natural comparisons to make are between CS and CE (which is addressed at this link), and between CE or CS and OMIS, which is discussed below.
The program in Operations and Management Information Systems, housed in the Leavey School of Business (LSB) and administered by the Operations Management
Information Systems Department, specifically
emphasizes the application of computing technology in business settings. As such, in
addition to obtaining a solid grounding in technical fundamentals (e.g. Programming
Languages, Database Management, Systems Analysis and Design, Systems Programming), an
OMIS student will engage in a course of study that provides the necessary contextual
knowledge, which includes basic business competencies such as Accounting, Finance,
Economics, Marketing, and Production. Elective units are awarded for additional technical
specialization within the department (e.g. Object-Oriented Programming,
Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence) as well as exploration of school-wide
offerings that can enhance the appreciation for managerial and behavioral concerns that
are essential to the successful use of technology in business. In fact, there is hardly an
activity studied in the business school whose practice within modern companies is not
profoundly impacted by computer technology.
In contrast, the programs in Computer Engineering or
Computer Science place greater emphasis on the
technical aspects of hardware and software design
or the mathematical analysis of algorithms and theoretical foundations.
For example, a CE or CS major may
create an operating system or develop a new algorithm, while an OMIS major is primarily interested in how the
properties impact the deployment of business software applications. A CE or
CS major may
design computer systems which can efficiently store and retrieve data, while an
OMIS major will define what data to store and how it should be organized, and then create a
database program that will enable a business user to extract meaningful information. The skill sets required for CE or CS activities are reflected
in their curricula's greater attention to mathematics, natural science,
and engineering courses, while the OMIS major's curriculum focuses
on the use of computers in business applications.
OMIS graduates begin their careers in a broad range of roles, which include software
systems analysis, technical marketing, and management consulting. They often later migrate
to other business functions where they may take a more managerial role with respect to a
technology-based business activity, but nevertheless are effective in extracting value
from that technology because of their technical background.
