<p>Would it be beneficial, in any way, to double major in computer engineering and computer science.? Or would a double major in cs and math look better to employers.?
Thanks.</p>
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<p>I plan on pursuing a career in software engineering.</p>
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<p>If you want to program itty bitty gadgets like embedded systems a computer engineering degree or knowledge would be helpful (i.e. can tell the difference between a logic analyzer and a microwave oven - I can’t). </p>
<p>If you want to program things that generally boot when you power them up without the help from the Jaws of Life then computer engineering may be an overkill.</p>
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<p>Just a CS degree will do. Software engineering is a METHODOLOGY and to be frank, would be better learned ON THE JOB. It would be better for you get as many CS and/or Math/CS courses under your belt and let the employer teach you software engineering.</p>
<p>You don’t need to double major. There are all sorts of reasons why potential software engineers take different academic paths. Some like CS but want just minimal math. Some like CS with lots of math but not necessarily as much as a Math major. Some Math majors want to “pick and choose” their CS interest areas and not be required to take all the CS courses.</p>
<p>My path was even different than above. I did not get admitted to the CS program that was part of my school’s engineering college (needed 3.3+ GPA)…so I slightly changed my major to Computational Mathematics (which is similar to a hybrid Math/CS degree) and kept it moving.</p>
<p>Having said all of that…a plain 'ole CS degree is more than enough for software engineering.</p>
<p>Thans for the response Global Traveler. Would I also be able to work in computer hardware engineering with a CS degree? Given that I take enough hardware courses in college to have enough knowledge of computer hardware.</p>
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<p>Oh yes, definitely. Many schools require their CS majors to take digital circuits and computer architecture courses…which are prerequisites for more advanced hardware courses if the CS major desires to take more.</p>
<p>@GlobalTraveler Okay. Awesome. But would an additional major/minor make me more marketable?
There’s one more thing I am currently debating. I am a high school senior currently taking calculus with analytic geometry 2 through the local communityty college. I have a 98A in the course but I’m not fully understanding the material (I usually cram before tests and memorize how to do specific problems). Should I consider retaking this class or any classes when I get to actual college (I start in the fall:class of 2017) if I feel this way.? How great do I have to be at calculus to do well as a cs major.?
Thanks.</p>
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<p>If the community college course is reasonably rigorous, sure, skip it. If it is relatively easy, repeating Calc I may be a good idea. </p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief CS majors rarely deal with Calculus based math once they get past the math courses. Numerical Analysis maybe… There’s all kinds of real fun math we had to deal with that did not involve calc (discrete math, finite math, statistics, operations research, probability, and the like).</p>
<p>@DCruz95,</p>
<p>I would not focus on a “minor”, I would take the courses that you want or want to bolster your resume with and if it ends up a minor, good…if not…good also. It may even end up more credits than a minor without even given you a minor for that specific school. Still, getting in the courses matters.</p>
<p>…tell ya what I did…and I DON’T RECOMMEND THIS BUT HEY, I AM A ROLL THE DICE DUDE…</p>
<p>In the late 80’s, this was the CS program at Michigan State…</p>
<p>Programming I (Pascal)
Programming II (Pascal)
Fortran for Pascal Programmers (a 1-credit course)
Discrete Structures
Assembly Language (Took C programs and converted to Assembler and analyzed them)
Information Structures (more C Programming)
Systems Programming (even more C Programming)
Operating Systems (Unix)
Theory of Computation
Digital Circuits/Digital Circuits Lab
Computer Architecture
Compiler Design I
Compiler Design II</p>
<p>I was a Computational Mathematics major. I knew I wanted to go into software as a backup plan so I took the CS courses BUT EXCLUDED:</p>
<p>Theory of Computation
Digital Circuits/Digital Circuits Lab
Computer Architecture
Compiler Design I
Compiler Design II</p>
<p>I added Computer Networks, Database Systems and Computer Graphics (all CS electives) and put on my resume “Major: Mathematics/Computer Science”. Technically by MSU’s rules, I did not major in CS. Furthermore, I believe that one needed Theory of Computation if they wanted an “official minor”. I didn’t take that course. I didn’t see where the study of turing machines was gonna get me interviews. I didn’t put “Computational Math” because that major was so new, I had to always explain it back then, so I kept it simple and said Math/CS. Of course, now with big data so big, I may just bold the “Computational Mathematics” and may make it 20 point font, LOL.</p>
<p>Still, I said all of that to say…get the relevant courses. Forget if it nets you a minor or not.</p>
<p>@turbo93 thanks. It’s a calc class offered by the cc but I take out at my HS with others. Also in the class are ap calc bs students. I guess I would say it’s pretty decent
@GlobalTraveler Alright. I understand where you’re coming from. Thank for your advice. Do you agree with @turbo’s response about the calculus class question I had.?</p>
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<p>A second major is rarely valuable. You spend an extra year in school incurring debt and it will make no difference to your initial salary. If you must get a second degree, then a Masters will pay off more. However, as others have said above, for software engineering, the best training is on the job. You can always go back and get a Masters once you have work experience.</p>
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I agree with the above. I don’t understand why the potential engineering students on this forum are always talking about double majoring or having a minor. For engineering, I really don’t think there is much benefit for it. On the other hand, a masters can be quite beneficial in the job market. </p>
<p>However, if you are uncertain which major you will ultimately choose, it can be helpful to start out considering a double major, when selecting your freshman year courses. That way you would be in a position to graduate on time for whichever major you ultimately choose.</p>