Hello, currently I’m wondering if it would be better to do a BA in Computer Science or a BS in Computer Science, given that I would already be majoring in Economics. I would really like one to complement the other, and there to be an overlap of classes. Any advice and suggestions are appreciated.
Is there any reason you feel the need to double major?
BA versus BS is a college-specific question, assuming that the college offers both BA and BS versions for the CS major.
Whether either is better if you have a second major in economics is also college-specific. Whether it is worth it to have two majors, as opposed to one major and electives in the desired courses in the other subject, is yet another question.
BA and BS have slightly different requirements. Sometimes the BS degree will be ABET accredited (while the BA degree is never ABET). However, ABET doesn’t mean a nearly as much when it comes to CS as it does with other engineering majors.
If your economic degree is a BA degree, you may find it easier to earn a BA in CS (likely more classes overlap). If it’s a BS degree (which typically requires more math), then the BS in CS may be a better fit.
Talk with an adviser at your school. A lot of school specific requirements and policies come into play when you look to double or dual major.
if a school offers both a BS and BA degree in CS, then most likely the BS program will have more technical depth in CS, while the BA program will provide more opportunities to take non-CS courses, such as Econ. So the more BA program is likely to accommodate a double-major more easily. However, this is only a generalization, so you need to check the specific requirements of your school.
If you are still looking at schools, note that some have developed joint programs combining business and computer science, such as the Lehigh CSB program or the USC CSBA program. At Lehigh, most CS majors go the CSB route, so it’s totally normal to combine CS and business into an integrated program of study.
Often times, particularly in the case of the BS being ABET accredited, the BA actually has the same number of CS courses as the BS, and employers really won’t care about the distinction (BS/BA or ABET). The differences are often to do with additional science/math courses for ABET.
As others suggested, a combined business and CS degree would be good, which a decent deal number of places offer.