I’m an incoming freshman to BU (go terriers ) and I was accepted in to the CFA / CAS Dual Degree Program. I haven’t declared my major but I’m intending to do graphic design and computer science. I haven’t yet talked to an academic advisor but I just tried putting a little road map for myself and it seems i have to put almost 20 credits my sophomore and junior (maybe even senior and spring semester freshman) years to accomplish it. Maybe I’m planning wrong though… so has anyone done Graphic Design/ Com Sci Dual Degree before that would like to share insight? Is it even possible to do both of them? Any CFA/CAS people from Boston have advice to share- i have a little college credit under my belt already:
I have a 5 on English Lang and Comp so that would knock out a Liberal Arts Course for me
I also took the Calc BC exam so I don’t have to have to take a prelim math course
I went to a art summer program and I think I got 3 credits from it.
I know the avg credits/semester is like 15 so I guess 20 would be pushing it; any info would be greatly appreciated
I can’t speak from a cas/cfa point of view, but from a cas/sed pov. 16 credits is typical, although you can take up to 18 credits without an extra charge. Above that is considered an overload, unless you maintain a 3.3 GPA in which case you can take the extra credits, up to 20, with no additional cost. Doing a dual degree requires a lot of commitment and more classes than just one degree would, so yes you will have to overload most semesters if you are coming in with little to no credit already. That doesn’t make it impossible, it just means you will be taking a heavy courseload most semesters, and depending on scheduling conflicts, may have to take a summer class or two. It all depends.
I graduated many years ago with a CS degree from CAS.
While I was not a dual major, I graduated in 3 years and definitely had time to dual major if I wanted.
I preferred to go on to work and/or grad school rather than get a dual major.
I had many AP credits plus spent summers in Boston taking classes.
Note that 2 concurrent summer courses is like being a full time student.
This costs a great deal to go to summer school, between dorms and extra tuition.
Assume another $10,000 for a single summer of 2 courses and a dorm.
More advice, while it’s good to think and plan ahead, you may be a bit premature in your thinking.
Good to explore both, but very few people would equally enjoy and achieve in these two very different majors. Many students think they will double major and end up dropping one of them, and not just because of the # of credits. Often you find one is not quite what you thought it would be. Many students have trouble picking one major that they will enjoy and succeed, but you are going to get it right twice ! I hope you are correct, but that is rarely the case.
Thanks for the advice, I’m still keeping my options open for maybe a minor as well
@AwesomeAxolotl how hard is it to maintain a 3.3 GPA at BU? I know I’ve some articles on grade deflation…
@blevine do you know if you can get any financial aid for doing a summer session; and don’t have to live on campus during the summer I’m assuming…?(I have family in the Boston area so commuting would be an option)
Housing is most of the cost in summer school, so since you can live at home that might work out.
Another option, take less critical but very common classes at a community college near your home,
which usually has lower tuition. Make sure the specific classes are eligible, would have to research
with BU (often department) so you don’t waste your time. Fresh/soph level intro classes in many subjects
would work out, but not any upper level courses. Look at BU and CC syllabi and compare.
