<p>I have found conflicting information on the quality of U Chicago's CS program is. It doesn't even rank in the USN&WR rankings, because it's not an "Engineering" program. But CRA (<a href="http://www.cra.org/statistics/nrcstudy2/rankcs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.cra.org/statistics/nrcstudy2/rankcs.html</a>) actually ranks the U of C program pretty high, comparable with NWU. So what's the deal?</p>
<p>Computer science programs run the spectrum from being a branch of pure mathematics, and therefore being highly theoretical, to being a highly applied discipline that is nearly indistinguishable from engineering. I would have to imagine that UC's CS program is on the theoretical side, and hence is not really considered an 'engineering' program. But those distinctions matter little in the real world.</p>
<p>On the contrary, Chicago's CS program actually leans toward the applied side. I believe they don't offer an MS in CS, only the MCS which is a degree for working professionals much like the MEng. Northwestern does not ordinarily admit MS CS students at all, only PhD.</p>
<p>Well, I don't think that the presence of the MCS program really means that the program is truly 'applied'. It may simply mean that Chicago sees the program as a way to generate more tuition. It seems to me that the Chicago MCS program is a self-encapsulated program with coursework devoted strictly to program students. Students in Chicago's computer science bachelor's or PHD programs are, with few exceptions, not allowed to take courses that are devoted to the MCS program and count them for credit. </p>
<p>Let me give you an analogy. Many business schools run highly theoretical PhD programs. They also (obviously) offer professional MBA degrees. The MBA programs in no way impinges upon the theoretical nature of the PhD programs, because they are basically 2 entirely separate programs. Stanford GSB, for example, runs arguably the most theoretical PhD business program in the country, more so than even that of MIT Sloan. Yet the Stanford MBA program is obviously highly applied. They are 2 entirely different programs that just happen to exist in the same school. The presence of the highly applied Stanford MBA program does not make the PhD program any less theoretical. Stanford business PhD students generally take few MBA courses and vice versa. </p>
<p>But anyway, that's all neither here nor there. The point is, many perfectly fine CS programs are not counted within engineering rankings.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification.</p>
<p>Would the Chicago CS program be like an LAC program? and what about ABET-accredition .. is it a big deal if you dont study from an accredited program?</p>
<p>Chicago CS isn't accredited by ABET, but neither are Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, so I don't think it matters much.</p>
<p>ABET accreditation is important in traditional engineering disciplines (which are subject to state licensing laws), but not in computer science (which is unregulated). Many highly-regarded schools do not have ABET-accredited CS programs (the entire Ivy League, for example).</p>
<p>UChicago is well known for its bone crunchingly hard curriculum and its very difficult math/science courses.</p>
<p>Needless to say, a UChicago CompSci degree is well respected.</p>