Kyle Schwartz isn’t your typical undergraduate student. When he’s not studying or completing online coursework, you can find him on his family’s small farm, where he works in the garden and harvests honey for his family’s beekeeping business. When Schwartz began planning for college in 2022, finding a degree program that fit his life was a necessity. 

Being able to continue managing his responsibilities on the farm was a major factor in Schwartz’s college search, but he also required a program that was both accessible from his rural location and within his budget. Finding a college that checked all the boxes proved to be a challenge, and Schwartz began to wonder if going to school was off the table. 

“I didn’t feel that I would be able to afford college, and I actually wasn’t planning on going at all,” says Schwartz. “Then I just decided to send in an application to SEMO.”  

SEMO Online made going to college possible for Schwartz: He received both an acceptance letter and a merit-based scholarship from the school. “That made SEMO the most affordable option for me,” he says.  

Choosing the BS in Computer Information Systems 

An online student since kindergarten, Schwartz has long enjoyed the flexibility of online learning, getting to spend plenty of time outdoors while bringing his laptop along for the ride. The natural world is filled with possibilities to make new discoveries, in Schwartz’s view, a quality he also recognized in the computer information systems field.  

“I’ve always liked science. I’ve always liked researching and discovering new things,” says Schwartz. After realizing how much science and research serves as the foundation for the BS in computer information systems (CIS) program, Schwartz knew he’d found the right degree.  

The ability to focus his learning with the program’s artificial intelligence (AI) track was another draw. “AI seems like a field where, if I could eventually get a job in machine learning or one of those areas, I would be able to research new and undiscovered things and contribute to that field,” he says. 

The CIS program ended up being the right fit for Schwartz, aligning with his interests while also allowing him to feel confident about his job prospects after graduation. “I didn’t want to not be able to find a job after college,” he says. “Having knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning seems like a skill that can really put you ahead of the crowd.” 

Amplifying the Positive Impacts of AI 

Schwartz, like many people, has had evolving views on the use of artificial intelligence. It’s a divisive topic, with the release of AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini only widening the rift.  

Schwartz avoided these tools during his first years in the program — he wanted to learn how to code on his own, without any shortcuts. But speaking with his instructors has helped Schwartz understand how these tools can serve to advance human knowledge, rather than detract from it. 

“One of my instructors told me that artificial intelligence is like a calculator is to math, and if you learn how to combine it with your skills, you’ll be able to work faster,” says Schwartz. “So it can speed up processes, whether it’s inputting data, programming, or analyzing.”  

Schwartz found AI tools to be particularly useful in searching for programming codes in machine learning libraries, a common use case for those in CIS roles.  

Making a Difference 

Schwartz is motivated to shape the evolution of AI for the better by helping it move in a direction that allows it to make a positive difference in the lives of others. “AI can help people broaden their horizons and fix problems faster than they could have before,” he says. “Being a part of the field, maybe I can help steer AI in a way where it’s doing more good.” 

Hands-On Projects with Real-World Applications 

When Schwartz first started classes at SEMO Online, he had very little experience with the tools, technologies and programming languages he was about to learn. But the CIS program provides a comprehensive introduction to these topics to set students on the path to success. 

“I think the program does a really good job of introducing you to the technologies, teaching you the more complicated part of getting started,” says Schwartz. “Typically, every course has hands-on projects where you’ll apply the knowledge you learn.” 

Schwartz’s projects varied by instructor. The most common assignments were programming projects using multiple languages, but Schwartz also completed assignments that involved following a specific set of instructions using a virtual machine and training a machine learning model using a Jupyter notebook to determine if mushrooms are poisonous or safe to eat. 

Personalized Project Opportunities 

With only a few semesters left in the CIS program, Schwartz now has a long list of hands-on projects he’s completed. But he does have some favorites to date, including an online game called Splash Dash that allows players to navigate as various sea creatures while collecting floating trash from the sea. Schwartz built the game using the C# programming language and the Unity game engine. 

Schwartz also has found some ways to use the skills he’s learning to support his family’s small business as it grows. “My dad usually has enough customers at work that we can sell our honey there,” he says. “We have been growing our hives, though, so we might start selling elsewhere eventually.” 

Using his skills in web development, Schwartz is prepared to expand awareness of his family’s honey to a new customer base online. “I developed an e-commerce website for our beekeeping business. It was mostly all my own pictures and products that we actually built. And, even though we don’t mass-produce them and sell them, it was sort of a neat application, because I could potentially use the website someday,” he says. 

Advice for Prospective SEMO Online CIS Program Students 

Schwartz has extensive experience with online learning, and he’s discovered some strategies over the years that can help prospective students be successful at SEMO Online. 

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions 

“Most instructors prefer to have conversations with you and know that you’re learning the material. I think some students worry that they’re bothering the instructors when they ask questions, but most instructors would rather see you do well in the course and learn.” 

2. Schedule Your Time Wisely 

“Be sure to schedule your time in a way that works for you. It’s very easy for due dates to sneak up on you, because you’re not physically attending classes. So having that mindset to make sure you’re getting work done is important.” 

3. Be Prepared to Study and Learn 

“Getting started can be kind of daunting. I had no programming experience, so being thrown into the programming classes, it all seemed a bit more complicated than it was. But once you start grasping the basics, it will get easier as it goes on. The way the degree is set up, you use the skills that you learned in the past with each new semester. I really think it helps build your knowledge and your ability to apply that knowledge.” 

Begin Your Journey with the BS in Computer Information Systems at SEMO Online 

Are you ready to get your start in a growing technology field? SEMO Online’s BS in Computer Information Systems program can provide you with the foundational knowledge you need to start exploring new computing and data techniques as well as hands-on training with top tools and programming languages. 

With cutting-edge concentrations in artificial intelligence, business administration and cybersecurity, the CIS program allows you to customize your degree to fit your career goals. And you’ll learn from supportive faculty who bring real industry experience to the classroom.  

It’s time to discover your potential at SEMO Online.