<p>One is a Bachelor of Applied Science and one is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Other than the course requirements being different (BAS allows more electives which we can pursue as a minor, I think, and BSE takes 2 Computer Science classes that the BAS doesn't), how are the two different when it comes to reputation / careers? I've heard people saying that the BAS is regarded as a "cop-out," but I don't really see why, other than the two specific Comp Sci courses that are not required. Is one actually better than the other when it comes to post-graduation?</p>
<p>From a CS employment perspective, the CS courses you take and how well you know the material are what matters (so if you do the BAS degree but take the same CS courses that you would have taken if you did the BSE degree, it generally wouldn’t matter). In some uncommon cases, the differences in non-CS course work may matter (e.g. if you are looking at doing something where CS is applied to a specific non-CS subject where extensive knowledge of the non-CS subject is required).</p>
<p>If you want to take the patent exam, an ABET accredited CS degree fulfills the prerequisite; otherwise, you need to include specified other sciences in your course work to fulfills the prerequisite.</p>
<p>I see, it seems that the BAS is not ABET-accredited, so I guess it would affect if you wanted a job where you needed the ABET accreditation. Also, what kind of employers look for ABET accreditation and what jobs specifically NEED ABET accredited degrees? (software engineer, etc?)</p>
<p>Nowadays, many schools have now blurred the lines between B.S. and B.A. degrees. While there are still schools that will require more credits in major for the B.S.-version of the degree, there are quite a few schools that require the EXACT SAME credits in the major while requiring more “other math/science credits” for the B.S. and more “arts and humanities” (usually extra foreign language) for the B.A.</p>
<p>On top of that (like also mentioned in this thread) the CS courses will be the same. In most cases, a school is not going to offer an “Operating Systems” course for the BAS students and one for the BSE students. The BAS and BSE students will be in the SAME class.</p>
<p>In other words…it does not matter.</p>
<p>I think UCBAlumnus will give an example on the ONLY time when an ABET accreditation is needed for CS.</p>
<p>I can tell you (as a software engineer for 20+ years)…ABET accreditation means NOTHING in CS.</p>
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<p>Can’t think of any beyond the patent agent or patent lawyer where ABET accreditation per se is helpful in CS employment.</p>
<p>For the patent exam, the prerequisites are listed in <a href=“http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf</a> starting in section III (page 4). If your CS degree is not ABET accredited, see III.B.iv and III.B.x of that document for course requirements.</p>
<p>Oh, I see, that’s weird, though. Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>I’ve considered accreditation, including ABET accreditation, when evaluating candidates. However, I typically don’t infer anything negative about Arts & Sciences programs that lack ABET-CAC accreditation; based experience, I do think it matters for programs housed in engineering departments.</p>
<p>Sounds like either program should be just fine, frankly. Just make sure you take the right courses.</p>
<p>If the patent exam thing is not a concern, the only thing ABET accreditation does for CS is that it states that the CS major at the given school meets a minimum standard of quality.</p>
<p>A non-ABET-accredited CS major would need more careful individual evaluation by a student choosing schools to study CS at, in order to avoid very limited CS departments or those where “CS” is more like a business-oriented IT/MIS/CIS major. But some very good CS majors exist without ABET accreditation (e.g. Stanford, CMU, L&S CS at Berkeley), so lack of such should not be an automatic disqualifier. Indeed, if the school offers both an ABET-accredited and non-ABET-accredited version of the CS major, and both versions take the same CS courses, then there should be no concern about the quality of the latter.</p>
<p>I always point out that here in the Washington DC area, the University of Maryland-College Park has the top CS program in the area BUT at UMCP, the CS department is housed in the College of Computer, Mathematics and Sciences…which eliminates it from being ABET-accredited. The CompE program is housed in the EE dept.</p>
<p>One thing to note is that although a CS program may not be ABET-accredited, their curriculum may be structured like the details given on the ABET site…which is where I get my CS-degree-breakdown that I list on many of my prior posts.</p>