<p>What’s the difference between Computer Science under the letters and sciences and Computer science under engineering? I heard that you have to apply to the computer science in the engineering department in your second year as a computer science B.A. But do you really need to? Would there be a difference between the job opporunities for a BA and a BS? And if you have to apply to the BS, what happens if you can’t get in? Is there a difference between the classes also? easier? more difficult?</p>
<p>According to Harvey (one of the Profs @ Berk, teaches (right now anyway) CompSci 61A, there's no real difference <em>EDIT</em> in the job opportunities <em>EDIT</em>. The GE is the difference between the majors themselves, but Harvey said that the only job he's ever heard of that required a BS in CompSci was @ the US Patent Office. So, unless you want to work in the Patent Office, you're probably good. Though, if you're interested in Comp Sci, I would suggest talking to Harvey, he's a nice guy.</p>
<p>BackToReality</p>
<p>but can I stay in the Letters and Science department or do I have to apply to the engineering department?</p>
<p>Umm... you have to apply to the major... that shouldn't involve the College of Engineering. Again, e-mail Harvey or the Undergrad Advisor if you want to be absolutely sure. Downey's nice, though it takes him a little longer to respond to e-mails then Harvey, but Downey's the guy to ask (Undergrad Advisor). </p>
<p>BackToReality</p>
<p>PS What do you want the BA for? The classes are exactly the same. Period stop. The only difference is the GE, that's it. The BA/BS difference is usually decided by whether you like the Engineering school, science-y end of Berkeley, or the humanities end. Also, it's easier (though I wouldn't say easy) to double with the BA. Warning: This is all word of mouth, if a current Berkeley student could verify my info, that'd probably be good. However, I've got a pretty good memory, and this is what I remember from my talk with Professor Harvey.</p>
<p>Actually, by far the big difference has to do with when you get admitted. </p>
<p>The BS program in computer science is basically options 3 (Computer Systems) or 4 (Computer Science and Engineering) in the EECS department. Every EECS student gets to choose which of the 5 EECS options to do, and most do either 3 or 4. The BA program in computer science is run by Letters and Science. </p>
<p>The key difference is when you get admitted. Doing a BS in EECS means that you must be a fully admitted EECS student, as either a freshman or a transfer. If you are a fully-admitted EECS student, then to earn the BS in computer science, all you have to do is pass your courses (i.e., get at least a 2.0 in your overall and your technical GPA). Passing Berkeley computer science courses is certainly no cakewalk, but all you have to do is pass them.</p>
<p>Contrast that with the BA computer science program. You can't just decide one fine day that you are going to major in the BA computer science program. It's not that simple. You actually have to complete many of the requirements of the major, and then apply to get in - with the significant risk that you won't get in. Hence, the point is, it is far far riskier to try to get a BA in computer science, because you might complete a whole bunch of CS work, and then be denied admission to the major. As you can see from the below statistics, there were some people who presented quite good GPA's and who were still denied admission to the CS BA major. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Peer/lowerdivision/admissionsstatistics.html#legend%5B/url%5D">http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Peer/lowerdivision/admissionsstatistics.html#legend</a>
<a href="http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Peer/lowerdivision/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Peer/lowerdivision/index.html</a></p>
<p>Clearly that's a far riskier position than the EECS guy who just has to pass his courses. If you don't end up getting into the BA CS major, then you will wind up either transferring to a different school, or majoring in something you don't really want to major in. Either way, it's not an ideal situation. </p>
<p>Now of course, it should be said that getting admitted into EECS in the first place is substantially more difficult than getting admitted into L&S. Hence, there is no free lunch. If you apply to EECS, and you get in, then you are clearly better off than the guys who want to do the CS BA major, because those guys run the substantial risk of not getting into that major. On the other hand, by applying to EECS, you run the risk of not being admitted into Berkeley at all (because you can only apply to either EECS or to L&S, but not both). </p>
<p>One relatively minor other distinction is that the BS program in EECS is an accredited engineering program, whereas the BA program is not accredited. This may be important if you ever want to attain Professional Engineer (PE) status. I don't think that PE status is hugely important for computer-science people, but I think you should be aware of it.</p>