Can I handle Computer Science Major? Can I major in CS without emphasizing math?

Most schools say you need to choose a major and some say you can not change. Right now I am in between computer science and Business Undecided. I need help choosing one.

I am a Senior in HS.
I am a girl.
I am in Ap Computer Science now.
I have not the best Math Sat Scores, but really good english sat scores.
I am only in Pre-Calculus Honors right now.

Would it be realistic to major in Computer science for me.
Is there a way to major in computer science and not have a large emphasis in math???
I want to major in computer science and focus on programming not math related stuff.

Please let me know!! I need to decide my major by next week.

colleges I’m applying to maybe ::
University of Portland
Gonzaga
Santa Clara University
Chico State
UC Santa Barbara
Cal Poly-SLO
San Diego State University
UC Santa Cruz
Loyola Marymount University
New York University
Syracuse University
Boston University

What are your stats? Without knowing it’s hard for anyone to give actionable advice? Are you in state at CA?

Computer science is fundamentally a mathematical discipline, but there isn’t a lot of math required for a standard major most computer science programs. Even the more theoretical programs only require two-three semesters of theoretical CS (which is essentially a type of math) along with calculus up to multivariate calculus, linear algebra, differential equations. The theoretical courses include discrete math, probability, analysis of algorithms, and a course on foundations of computer science. These courses introduce simple models of computation (and what types of problems can be expressed in these forms and what types of problems computers cannot solve at all), and the design of correct and efficient algorithms.

Business undergrad requires very little math.

Why do you think you are bad at math? I’d suggest looking at Barbara Oakley’s book “A Mind For Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)”. She started studying remedial math at the age of 26 and became an engineering professor. She also wrote a shorter article: http://nautil.us/issue/17/big-bangs/how-i-rewired-my-brain-to-become-fluent-in-math. Essentially, some people need more repetition and drill to gain fluency with math than others. Others who you think are really good at math, might have had this repetition in their younger years. Asian cultures emphasize repetition and drill for basic math concepts and those who grew up in this culture do well with math.

I’d suggest one of the less theoretical programs, which would emphasize direct applications over math. Boston University, NYU and UCSB will teach to the level of excellent math students who have no trouble, and you might have a hard time catching up. But you still need to understand the math, and I suggest more practice and drill to gain fluency with the theoretical concepts. I would suggest Cal Poly-SL, Chico State, or Santa Clara.The CSUs should be more practical and geared towards teaching the skills to be a strong programmer in industry. Cal Poly will probably have a lot of strong math students, though I think you might be able to do fine there.

My new Sat scores comes next week but as of now I have a 710 in english and a 560 in math. I have always been in Honors math courses and I am not struggling in programming in my Computer Science course which is math. But my SAT math scores are currently pretty bad, my news scores could’ve gone up only like 100 points, but still not the best math scores.

Have you heard of Informational Studies

do you know if they have a lot of coding still, because I enjoy coding.

yes I live in CA

What is it about computer science that attracts you? What type of programming have you done and what did you enjoy or not enjoy about it? There are many different majors beyond just computer science. Especially with talent in English, there are a number of avenues you could pursue. I like the list of programs that RIT offers as a starting point to explore what you might like to study:

http://www.rit.edu/gccis/academics/undergrad

You could consider CIS (Computer Information Systems)/IT/IS which has CS and Business type courses so the best of both worlds.

Information Systems

Information systems specialists focus on integrating information technology solutions and business processes to meet the information needs of businesses and other enterprises, enabling them to achieve their objectives in an effective, efficient way. This discipline’s perspective on “Information Technology” emphasizes information, and sees technology as an instrument to enable the generation, processing and distribution of needed information. Professionals in this discipline are primarily concerned with the information that computer systems can provide to aid an enterprise in defining and achieving its goals, and the processes that an enterprise can implement and improve using information technology. They must understand both technical and organizational factors, and must be able to help an organization determine how information and technology-enabled business processes can provide a competitive advantage.

You still need to take several Math courses for this major but not as Math-intensive as a CS degree.

Here is a link for SDSU’s Business admin-Information Systems major 4 year course to give you an idea:

https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/pubred/!mymap.disp/!mymap.disp

Link for SLO’s IS program: http://www.cob.calpoly.edu/undergrad/management/information-systems/

UCSC has an Information Technology/Managment :

program:https://admissions.sa.ucsc.edu/majors/techinfomanage

UCSB does not offer these type of programs. I suggest you look at the course curriculum’s of all schools of interest to see if you can handle the math involved.

Good Luck.

@oceanbeach7

No offense to @Gumbymom, but I’d suggest applying as a computer science major. It’s often hard to transfer into the CS major and it’s fairly easy to transfer into information science if you find CS difficult. You like programming, and at many programs (including SLO - which I think is a reach due to your SAT math score), most of the CS courses will be about programming and not about abstract math. In your operating systems classes, you will do a lot of hard core debugging. If you put a serious effort, I think you could do okay in the few required theory courses and graduate with a computer science degree. This will help you in terms of getting a software job.

I’d look into RIT in New York. Your math SAT is within their interquartile range and they do a good job at teaching students who didn’t excel at math. Their graduates get good jobs. Hopefully you can get in and afford it. Clarkson and maybe Drexel are also good choices.

My son is a freshman at RIT majoring in computing security - the first year is almost identical to straight computer science major. He too only had Honors Pre Calc in high school The (untimed) math placement test put him in the hardest Calc 1 class - and he proceeded to fail. He said he was the only student who didn’t have AP Calc in high school, and many of those kids were failing too. He just dropped the class, and will be taking a slower sequence that stretches the material of 2 regular Calc classes over 3 semesters starting in the spring. His roommate is in the 3 semester sequence, and my son said he’s looked at what they’re doing and feels like it won’t be overwhelming. I like that RIT offers multiple ways to get through the sequence.

On the upside, he’s doing really well in his Intro to Computer Science class - which many kids are struggling with.

SJSU in California might also be a good choice. It’s not nearly as math-heavy as the Bay Area heavyweights (Berkeley, Stanford) or other top UCs (UCSB, UCI) but their curriculum is very good and they are very well recruited.

@frontpage: No offense taken, just giving the OP some other suggestions. I agree that applying as a CS major, getting accepted and then switching in IT/CIS etc… is much easier route than vice versa. Plus if OP does not raise their test scores, several schools on the list would be very tough admits (UCSB/SLO) for CS.

Am I missing something? Some are suggesting CS(560 SAT)…a recipe for disaster imo.

SJSU would be a Reach for the OP since the CS major is highly competitive especially with a 560 SAT Math score. SJSU’s Software Engineering might be an option: http://cmpe.sjsu.edu/files//public/media/resources/bsse_120-unit_plans_2016_4-year_plan.pdf

SE is still a Math heavy major.

I really hope your SAT math score goes up. It’s really practice for many people. Take an SAT practice math section every day for the next month. Retake the SAT and hopefully your Math SAT score will be over 600, ideally 640 or so. Then, many of these schools will no longer be a reach.

The CS major is a tough admit even for kids with top math scores at schools like SLO and UCSB (and I assume others).

The CS major at any reputable school is going to require calculus and will be heavy with math-based theory. Going the CIS route as @Gumbymom suggested would be a solid match for your interests. It’s an excellent field for people who want to program without getting bogged down in the mathy stuff.

Parent here, who has a CS degree from one of your target schools,
two sons studying CS in college now, and I recruit programmers out of college at my company.

CS degree started off as a specialty within the Math dept at most older programs.
They are indeed math intensive.

Will be difficult to get into the more competitive schools, whether
in CS or InformationSystems (in a bus school) if you don’t raise that SAT.
Once you get in, you would do much better in a bus school info systems program.
Much less rigorous math in that program in most colleges.

I would ignore the advice to start CS and transfer to info systems later.
Better to start off on a path that suits you best.
Most of the people I know in CS took BC calc in hs and aced it.

Best of luck

If you enjoy coding, then go ahead and apply for CS.

Yes, CS has a lot of math, but it’s not as bad as physics or engineering. And some people do fine in math classes (they can grasp the concepts), but just aren’t good at timed math tests (like the SAT). If that’s you, then you’ll do fine in CS.

I would first try to apply to CS and then switch to IS if CS is too much. To get an idea of the difference in terms of math, pick a university that you’re interested in, say, UCSC, and check their graduation requirements for the two different majors – you’ll get an idea of how much math is required in one vs the other.

Retake the SAT and try to get your math up. Take lots of practice tests. If you can get it to 650 you have a better shot, otherwise quite a few schools on your list will be tough to get into.

I am with @insanedreamer . The biggest challenge of most CS programs today is getting in, due to the degree of competition.

I’m a software engineer at a large and reputed west coast company. I took several CS courses, along with higher math courses.

CS is no breeze but at the tier-2 CS programs (like most on OPs list), there are only at most 3 required hard-core theoretical courses (calculus, discrete math, design and analysis of algorithms). For the less mathematically inclined, one can pass these class (perhaps with a B or a C) with effort as long as they don’t overload with math/theory/hard science classes. Of course, if you are carried away by math and theory, you can go much further, but it is by no means necessary. I personally really enjoy theory, but I realize it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Unless you are taking electives in graphics, optimization, theoretical robotics, theory of computation, computer vision, or machine learning (which are all optional), there is no reason I see that CS is particularly math intensive.

I have only been doing Java but I enjoy it so far @InigoMontoya

@insanedreamer I am just thinking ahead that I have a better chance getting into a college with a CIS or MIS major instead of a CS major based on my scores

Yes, at least at those schools which have more restricted admission for CS. Certainly your chances at some colleges on your list (NYU, UCSB, BU) are quite low at present. But if what you want to do is coding as a career, then it may be worth considering that getting into CS at a “less prestigious” school might get you further along than CIS at a “better” college. In the end, getting hired to do programming will depend on your demonstrable skills more than where your degree comes from.

I’d say it’s worth trying for CS at UCSC for example.