<p>Is there a big difference in terms of how it is looked at by graduate schools/employers?</p>
<p>I know most engineering/science majors all of a Bachelor's of Science tag to them. </p>
<p>However in my school, you can either get a BA or BS in Math, depending on how many advanced math classes you take.</p>
<p>How much difference does the BS upgrade over BA make?</p>
<p>I don’t think it matters much and when I reflect on it now (I was a Math major undergrad), I would have taken the B.A. route. The B.A. in Math (at most schools) requires about 2 or 3 less math courses which could be used to specialize in other areas. Even though, I still took quite a few upper-level computer science courses, I could have lighten the rigorous load of a few semesters and STILL have the adequate preparation for software engineering.</p>
<p>Well not so much from the preparation aspect, but more from the “how it looks” aspect to employers and grad schools…Is their a difference? If so, how much?</p>
<p>Not much at all.</p>
<p>Let’s say you are a Math major with a CS emphasis and applied for a scientific software development position. As long as you have courses in:</p>
<ul>
<li>Programming</li>
<li>Operating Systems</li>
<li>Numerical Analysis</li>
<li>Other Applied/Computational Math/Physics/CS courses…</li>
</ul>
<p>…an employer could care less if you have a BA or BS.</p>
<p>Let me add this…UCLA has the #12 ranked graduate mathematics program and all they give at the Masters level is an M.A.</p>
<p>i think employers generally look at transcripts more that your titles…that said maybe a B.A. might give a worse first impression?</p>
<p>Transcripts would also have the courses and grades on there…so an employer would see the computer science electives (or engineering or statistics or economic electives, etc).</p>
<p>
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<p>I can really only speak to engineering, but in engineering it is a big difference. Schools that offer both a BA and a BS generally design the BA to be an engineering-like experience, not engineering. Typically the graduates take less classes overall and have many more free electives.</p>
<p>The point of the BA in engineering is to get the engineering label (which is a positive in professional school applications) without the lower GPA and longer time to graduation (which are negatives in professional school application). Also, some people use the degree to merge two fields - for example earning a degree in business and in “engineering” in order to work in technical sales. Either way, the intent is not to practice engineering.</p>
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<p>Actually, very few do (usually only highly technical positions, small firms, highly specialized positions, and R&D). The idea is that the company is relying on the reputation of graduates from that school to assess your level of education.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that to be hired in large corporations, you usually have to be interviewed by 4-6 people these days. Many of those people aren’t in your field.</p>
<p>Thanks GP Burdell and Global Traveler. You guys answered my question well!</p>