Colleges that will allow me to get degree in Comp Sci and Econ

College Search & Selection
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<p>Hello all, I am currently a junior from IL and I have started the search for colleges. I would like to get a degree in both Computer Science and Economics. Can someone please suggest some colleges that don't have an issue with me doing this? Honestly, I rather do Comp Sci and Finance, but I heard that almost no schools will allow that.</p>

<p>Background info:
I'm in the top 15% of my class currently (hopefully be top 10% by end of junior yr) and I have taken one AP exam so far (Human Geography). Currently, I am in AP CS and AP Physics B. Senior year I plan on taking 5 AP classes (Physics C, Calc BC, English Lit, Gov, Econ(Macro & Micro). I have taken the ACT twice so far (once in june, 30) and also in September. I will receive the scores tomorrow. I am on executive board for FBLA right now and hopefully debate and science club next year as well. I am also in NHS. I have volunteered over 100 hours at my library.</p>

<p>Here are the colleges currently on my list:</p>

<p>UIUC
Wisconsin
Michigan
Purdue
Cornell</p>

<p>Please suggest some more, also I don't really have a preference in terms of location and money is not an issue.</p>

2

<p><a href=“http://www.denison.edu/admissions/departments/cs.html[/url]”>http://www.denison.edu/admissions/departments/cs.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.denison.edu/admissions/departments/econ.html[/url]”>http://www.denison.edu/admissions/departments/econ.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>(This is a much smaller school than what you’re looking at above. I just thought I’d throw it out there because my son is an econ major there and I know their CS department is actually pretty good for a liberal arts college. Also, I’m sure a double CS/Econ major is possible there.)</p>

3

<p>You should consider that the combo degree will most likely lead you to a job in sales, marketing, or IT. Most schools (including LACs) offer a BA in CS and a BA in economics and you can double major. However, it is much more difficult to find a school that offers a BS in CS and a BS in business or economics. A BS in CS is the best degree for someone who wants to work in the computer industry in development, so most BA programs will not be highly ranked. In fact, if the school is highly ranked in CS (like UIUC) it’s because they offer a BSCS degree that’s good, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the BACS degree has the same clout.</p>

<p>Some scenarios: Strong econ dept, weak CS dept (BACA/Econ) - go into I banking or marketing or financial consulting.
Strong CS dept, weak econ dept (BSCS, econ courses on the side) - go into computer science development job
Strong CS dept, any econ dept (BACS/Econ) - go into IT job, or with extra CS courses on the side go to grad school in CS</p>

4

<p>I don’t know if it’s a fit for you or not, because I know too little about you, but MIT has Bachelor of Science degrees in CS, Econ, and Business/Management (in which you can concentrate in Finance).</p>

5

<p>My recommendation is to go to one of your “current list” colleges and major in CS. All are excellent engineering/computer science schools. It’s likely you can minor in economics as well. If you do well, you can get hired by a major consulting company and they’ll pay for you to get your MBA. </p>

<p>I like all of your schools.</p>

6

<p>I’m doing the economics+computer science thing and I’m at Cornell right now. Good stuff.</p>

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<p>What about UChicago? Obviously it will be a huge reach for me, but they have a top notch econ department and a decent CS department as well. </p>

<p>Well it be difficult to handle both if I want a BA in econ and a BS in comp sci?</p>

8

<p>^ Yes, it would be tough IMO.</p>

<p>I would suggest this:</p>

<p>If you get into UChicago, major in econ.
For the other schools you listed, major in computer science.</p>

9

<p>At University of Chicago, the BS in computer science requires at least a concentration in another field, and economics is one of the fields that is suggested. I do not think it would be difficult to double major. At U Chicago, computer science is one of the fields within the math department, by the way. It is heavy on theory, probably a bit short on hands-on application for most students.</p>

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<p>You can double major at USC in CS and Business, if you are accepted in the Marshall School of Business .</p>

11

<p>Carnegie Mellon is excellent in both, if you’re up to a challenge.</p>

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<p>So for USC, it only works if you’re in Marshall School of Business? You can’t double major in CS and business if you’re in the School of Engineering?</p>

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<p>I think you can. Here are some links that give some guidance-</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2007/schools/engineering/computer_science/undergraduate.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2007/schools/engineering/computer_science/undergraduate.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2007/schools/business/undergraduate.html[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2007/schools/business/undergraduate.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/academic/majors/[/url]”>http://www.usc.edu/admission/undergraduate/academic/majors/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>It would take at least 5 years to get a BA in Econ and a BS in CS. It’s not the same as a double major; it’s actually two degrees.</p>

15

<p>c8nmgr, you have to be admitted by both schools to do the comp sci/ busi admin major, but the major is technically under the engineering dept.</p>