<p>I was just wondering what the difference between Bachelor of Arts Computer Science and Bachelor of Science Computer Science.. Will I still be able to be as qualified for a job as a Bachelor of Science - Computer Science by taking Bachelor of Arts - Computer Science?</p>
<p>Short answer: You won’t be as employable with a BA.</p>
<p>Long answer: The BS in computer science has a lot more math and hard computer science than the BA. If you’re aiming at actual CS jobs like those at Google, Facebook, Microsoft, etc., then the BS helps MUCH more while applying.
The people who typically go for the BA (if I understand correctly) are those who have degrees in other disciplines like chemistry, biology, etc., and could use programming knowledge to become much much more employable in that field.</p>
<p>It’s a bit more nuanced than blue_box’s response.</p>
<p>It’s not exactly true that you won’t be as employable with a BA. I mean, Edward Snowden dropped out of high school and was making $122k in CS. Self-learners are rampant in the computer science industry, and those in the industry know it and won’t really care whether you have a BA or a BS. </p>
<p>That being said, the knowledge that you gain in a BS program can help a lot in your future career. I would recommend it, but don’t stress out if you can’t get it.</p>
<p>I disagree. Self learners can succeed in the industry with enough effort, but the obstacles are huge and for every Snowden / Gates / Zuckerberg who dropped out of whatever and became rich, there are many more people who did the same and failed.
OP can probably get the same job with a BA as he (she?) would get with a BS, but he would have to prove that he’s of the same technical caliber as BS students through extracurricular programming work /etc.</p>
<p>Which is pretty much what I said:</p>
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<p>Really? That means most computer science grads from Berkeley aren’t as employable? Berkeley CS has more BA CS graduates than BS CS grads. </p>
<p>In 2011, Berkeley granted 98 BA in CS and 56 BS in CS.
<a href=“http://profiles.asee.org/profiles/5145/screen/21?school_name=University+of+California%2C+Berkeley[/url]”>http://profiles.asee.org/profiles/5145/screen/21?school_name=University+of+California%2C+Berkeley</a></p>
<p>Many very strong computer science programs offer a BA in computer science - Harvard, Cornell, UT Austin, UC San Diego, among others. (In fact, Harvard only offers an A.B. in CS.)</p>
<p>The primary difference between BS and BA are the outside science sequences, where the BS usually requires freshman engineering physics and another separate 8 hour science sequence, and perhaps one more math course total. The computer science coursework is nearly identical (maybe 1 or 2 fewer CS courses.) Few required courses (most outside CS) allows one space to double major in a second area or to complete pre-law or pre-med more easily.</p>
<p>Anyone who could complete a BA in CS could certainly do a BS in CS.</p>
<p>That said, the BA in CS is more oriented toward double majors, which means a lot more upper division coursework and thus intellectual breadth than a BS in CS. I’d guess most BA CS graduates are in fact double majors, often in math, economics, biology, linguistics, philosophy…</p>
<p>Any employer who would reject a BA in CS hasn’t done their research.</p>
<p>Nope. Berkeley’s BA in CS is actually their ‘pure’ CS degree, while their BS in CS is actually a combination of CS and engineering and is in the school of engineering. The Berkeley BA/BS difference doesn’t compare at all to UNC’s, where the UNC BA in CS is a diluted version of the BS.</p>
<p>[Computer</a> Science - Two Ways | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Programs/two_ways.html]Computer”>http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Programs/two_ways.html)</p>
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<p>No. The math reqs are very different.</p>