Let me first discuss the technical differences.
- CS takes a more balanced approach between theory and application while IT focuses more on application
- CS offers you an opportunity to learn variety of topics related to computers. IT offers you an opportunity to discovers innovative uses of those fundamental concepts.
- CS generally require a decent background in math while use of math in IT is limited to data analysis / processing / statistics, etc
- You may call IT as one of the sub-divisions of CS, however there are certain things that are unique to IT like integrated programming, system administrations, maintenance, etc.
While these differences exist on paper, in India the line of difference between IT and CS courses is very blurry.
Here are the similarities :
- None of them involves hardwares. You may have to take one or two courses on digital systems where you will study about ICs and logic gates. That’s it. You won’t learn how to repair computers in any of them.
- Most of the courses offered in both the branches are related to programming. You will have to program on a daily basis in both the branches.
Now in Indian context :
- IT branch was established to compensate for the increase in demand of CS. In India, demand for B.Tech in computer science has increased exponentially over the last two decades .Information Technology is relatively a new area of engineering. Most of the IT branches across India were established after 2000 to cater this demand.
- Many might argue that the number of seats in CS branch should be increased rather than establishing a new branch. I agree with that argument to an extent. But I guess, cost management and operation is easier if there are two branches of 100 students each rather than 200 students in the same branch. Moreover, originally these two branches were supposed to be much more different than they currently are
- I am not aware of any engineering college in India, that offers only IT and not CS. Whenever IT exist, CS also exist while the reverse is not true. Edit : IIITA has only IT
- CS and IT have more common courses in Indian universities than those outside India. Both the branches are offered a lot of common electives also.
- Several other aliases like Software Engineering and Information Systems have popped up.
- In elite colleges like NITs, IIITs, DTU, etc. the number of opportunities available to IT and CS is exactly same. In my entire 4 years of engineering, I was never denied of any opportunity (research, placement, competition, internship, etc) just because I was from IT.
- Students joining tend to believe that IT is inferior to CS. May be it was. But now you’ll only be limited by your hard work and your potential. Not your branch.
As a case study, let us consider NITK, Surathkal which is one of the best IT branch in India. The branch was also one of the earliest IT branch (established in 2000). Until 2007, it didn’t even have its’s own classroom or labs. The number of seats was also limited. Until 2010–11, it was inferior to CS in every possible measure of quality. However now:
- The branch is well established with it’s own building and top-notch infrastructure.
- Companies do not differentiate between IT / CS. Since 2013, there has been no company that was only open for CS and not for IT. A few companies (none of them are tier-A) do have different GPA cutoffs for CS and IT branches.
- Students from IT branches have participated and won numerous programming contests and hackathons. Students have also participated in programs like Google Summer of Code. I think, in this regard IT has a better track record than CS in NITK.
- Students from IT branch have received PhD and MS admits from top notch universities - MIT, Cornell, CMU, Georgia Tech, UIUC, etc. CS branch has a lot more alumni and thus a lot more good admits but IT is getting there.
- Till the end of second year, all the CS / IT core courses are same. Common courses include - Data Structures, Algorithms, OS, Database, Automata, Compilers, Networking, Digital System, Unix Programming, Software Engineering, etc.
- IT students can take upto 12 credits worth of courses (3–4 semester long courses) outside their own department and all of them can be from CS department.
- As far as student activities are concerned, IT and CS are considered synonymous.
- Most of the IT courses have lab / practical component with usually 30 - 35% weightage. CS courses usually have less practical components.
- IT focuses more on modern technologies. You will learn things like - Angular JS, Android Programming, Functional Programming, Wireless Sensors, Cloud Computing, etc. These are all part of IT curriculum.
Conclusion :
If you can get CS go for it but if you like programming and your rank can’t fetch you a CS seat, then IT won’t disappoint you. If you are hard working, you will get what you need to become a successful programmer from IT branches.
The comparison matters only if you are not hard working and you keep looking for something to put the blame on. There are great programmers from Civil and Mechanical branches also.
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