<p>I want to major in Computer Science, and have read that it is available in both CAS and CoE. I plan on doing the Primary/Alternate thing for the two of them, but I'm having a hard time deciding which to make the Primary choice.</p>
<p>I definitely prefer the humanities and arts to the dedicated math and engineering courses found in CoE. However, I've read that some jobs require a BS in Computer Science, and CAS only offers a BA in it (or so I've heard)...</p>
<p>Any recommendations as to what I should do...? =/</p>
<p>CAS only offers BAs, true. But no matter what degree you get, you will be taking the exact same courses (not that all CS majors take the same courses; but requirements for the major are the same for both degrees, so there really will be no "difference.") Whether you get a Bachelor of Arts or Science is inconsequential; I'd strongly doubt that anyone would care about the name of your degee if you've explained this.</p>
<p>Yeah, when it comes to the actual CS curriculum, there is no difference. I wouldn't know which college my peers are in except for by recognizing who took Math192/Chem211/etc. with me. Choose the college that you'd rather be in (I chose Engineering since all the AP credit I came with would be more useful and the actual requirements weren't as annoying to me). If you have any other questions about CS at Cornell, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>My son was just accepted for computer science and initially he thought he would apply to CoE but after a visit to Cornell in the fall and meeting with admissions reps in CoE and CAS, he decided that he actually was more a CAS type than a CoE type. He is not so interested in the hard sciences and he likes the humanities and social sciences better. Also, in CoE they look very closely at your math/science grades and test scores and in some cases those were his weaker subjects. He asked the CAS admissions rep if there were any substantive differences, other than some of the overall distribution requirements for CoE and CAS and like the other posters have said, there is no difference in the Computer Science curriculum. Everything available to Comp Sci majors in CoE is available to those in CAS. So, in the end he applied primary to CAS and to CoE as an alternate but he was accepted to CAS and is very happy with his decision.</p>
<p>cornell75, I think I will do exactly the same action as your son, as we seem to be pretty similar. Here's for the College of Art and Science.</p>
<p>One quick question to anyone who sees this: I wasn't able to locate the SAT II tests needed for a Computer Science major. Does this mean I can take any ones, or am I just not finding it?</p>
<p>Ahhh, I had exactly the same dilemma. After months of flip-flopping, I went with Engineering as my primary choice. Basically, I figured I don't really want to take a foreign language, and although I enjoy history and music a lot, my senior year classes are very much math-sciencey, so I might have even have a better shot at Engineering.</p>
<p>The SAT II requirements are by college: I would definitely take either Math I or Math II, and then for engineering you should probably take physics or chemistry, while for CAS any second test should be acceptable.</p>
<p>For CoE, it is math and a science. For CAS it is any two SAT IIs. I think though if you are applying for computer science even in CAS, it is probably good to take math. My son had Math Level II, Bio-M and Literature (which he took to see how well he would do, not because it was required by anyone). There is a chart for all of this in the admissions section of the website under First Year Students, then Timetable and Requirements.</p>
<p>Bringing up a really old topic now, but didn't want to make a new one because that's lame.</p>
<p>So I'm currently in Engineering doing CS, and strongly considering transferring to Arts to double major in CS and Biological Sciences. The only major hitch is that I'd be getting a BA -- but a BA in two majors that both have Sciences in their names, which is quite ironic, imo.</p>
<p>But basically -- is it a concern of employers whether or not you have a BS or BA? I feel like the whole Cornell name kind of would win out over that distinction, but I'm still somewhat worried about it -- especially since I have already completed all the Engineering-specific required courses (Math sequence, physics sequence, engineering chem...).</p>
<p>If you can do the math, get the BS. You'll qualify for any position that requires just the BA (and they'll show a preference to the BS), plus you can apply for the BS positions.</p>
<p>Also, if you want to move get a grad degree in law, you can't become a patent attorney with the BA. Likewise certain careers in government (patent examiner or certain government programer jobs) are also out.</p>
<p>In short, the BS gives you more possiblities, while the BA reduces them. Even if you get the BA from a good school, you need to consider your career a few years down the line. So get the BS.</p>
<p>For post-graduation employment, there's virtually no difference--as long as you're in CS, you'll be exposed to the same employers in Arts as you would be in Engineering and vice versa.</p>
<p>I have to disagree. The BS opens up more doors within the fields of computer programming and outside of it. For example, with the BS, one can get a job in the financial sector doing something besides computer programming. No such luck with the BA. Why? Because they want someone that can do the math.</p>
<p>Get the BS if you can do the math. Don't be fooled into thinking your employers will be impressed that you took some courses in some liberal arts area. They won't. Theyre much more concerned about the type of degree and your GPA, and the BS is more valuable than the BA. You'll have more entree level job opportunities and higher pay. The BS degree proves that someone can write, program, and is competent in math. The BA (while not a bad choice) only proves that the person can write and program, and raises a red flag about their ability with math.</p>
<p>Occasionally, people argue that the BA makes someone more qualified for management positions. This isn't correct. Nobody hires someone for a management position right out of university. They expect the person to work for a few years first, and the BS makes it easier to find your first job and keep it. Also, after your first couple of years, the employers are more concerned with whether someone has experience in management than that they took a few business writing classes in undergrad.</p>
<p>
[quote]
For example, with the BS, one can get a job in the financial sector doing something besides computer programming. No such luck with the BA. Why? Because they want someone that can do the math.
<p>However, I know a higher up at one of the financial firms and he told me a good percentage of the financial analysts are engineers, physics majors, or BS comp. sci. I also have a friend who graduated as engineering major and worked at an accounting firm for a few years.<br>
Both of them told me they're concerned as to whether the applicant took Calculus and Calculus based Physics.</p>
<p>However, I do agree with you about critically analyzing things you read on the Internet. Id say that more than ½ the time, the people posting are misinformed and completely wrong.</p>
<p>In light of the above, why dont you call some software companies, financial firms, or a company in whatever field youre interested in working and ask the HR department (or in the case of a small company whoever does hiring) yourself. You might also check with some recruiters and see what they have to say (check Craigs list, search the internet, or read the New York Times classified.) They'll be happy to talk to you. Who knows, you might even land an internship, and I guarantee youll get better information than from a chat board or the guy whos the head of the BA comp. sci program.</p>
<p>My point was that whether you get an BA in computer science or a BS in computer science, you are still taking the same core courses and are offering the same skill set.</p>
<p>As a CS major at Cornell, I can tell you that a BA is not too different from a BS. The core classes you take are the exact same as Cayuga said. All that differs is the required courses you take. The engineering school requires you to take math/science courses, whereas the arts school requires you to take foreign language courses, etc. Other than that, you take the same exact core computer science courses! If you like math and physics, study CS at the engineering school. If you have broad interests, i.e linguistics, economics, etc. study CS at the arts school. One thing to add- it is easier to double major in the arts school.</p>