I'm a Canadian student about to start a Bachelor of Applied Computer Science program, and I'm worried I'm choosing the wrong path. I'm not interested in becoming a software engineer or spending my career building business applications. My real passion is systems administration: I've run a homelab for years and enjoy managing complex Linux servers, networks, and computer systems.
I sometimes get the impression that computer science degrees are mainly for aspiring software developers, while systems administration and cybersecurity are treated as fallback careers. Is an applied computer science degree still a sensible choice if my goal is to become a sysadmin or systems engineer? Would a two- or three-year IT, information systems, networking, or cybersecurity program be more appropriate? I'd also appreciate hearing from people who completed a university computer science degree and intentionally moved into infrastructure work.
4 Answers
A computer science degree can absolutely lead to systems administration, especially if the program includes operating systems, networking, databases, scripting, and systems design. Modern infrastructure work involves automation, infrastructure as code, configuration management, and troubleshooting software at scale, so programming knowledge is useful even if you never become a traditional application developer.
That said, the degree probably won’t teach you the day-to-day job directly. Use electives, internships, co-op opportunities, and your homelab to build practical experience with Linux, networking, cloud platforms, Git, Python, Ansible, and similar tools. The homelab is a real advantage if you can explain what you built and the problems you solved.
I completed a computer science degree in Canada, started in support, and eventually moved into systems administration. The degree wasn’t directly applicable to every daily task, but it gave me a stronger foundation in how operating systems, software, networks, and data structures work. Scripting and automation became much easier to learn, and the degree opened doors that experience alone sometimes wouldn’t.
Keep building experience alongside school. A junior support, NOC, operations, or infrastructure internship can be more valuable than waiting until graduation. You don’t have to prove that you’re a failed software engineer; infrastructure is its own career, and there are plenty of paths into systems engineering, DevOps, SRE, security, and technical leadership.
You don’t need a university degree to become a sysadmin, and many experienced administrators started through self-study, support work, certifications, or a college diploma. In today’s market, though, having a degree can help you get past screening systems and qualify for roles that list a four-year credential. Experience still matters most, so don’t assume the degree alone will be enough.
Be realistic about the market as well. Entry-level infrastructure jobs can be competitive, and remote positions are especially difficult to land. Look for co-op placements, part-time technical work, or junior help-desk and operations roles while studying. Certifications can supplement the degree, but a portfolio of well-documented projects and reliable work experience will usually make the biggest difference.
If you already know you want hands-on IT infrastructure, an information technology, information systems, networking, or cybersecurity program may be more directly aligned than traditional computer science. These programs often cover administration, hardware, networking, cloud, security, and business systems sooner.
The important comparison is the actual curriculum, not just the program title. Your applied computer science program sounds more relevant than a heavily theoretical CS degree if it replaces advanced mathematics with systems and management courses. A bachelor’s can also help with job requirements and later promotions, while a shorter diploma may get you practical skills and entry-level experience faster.
This was my experience too. I disliked the software-development interview grind, but the programming and systems concepts from my degree became extremely useful once I started automating administration tasks.