Having doubts on my potential major

College Majors Math/Computer Science Majors
1

Hi everyone,

For the longest time, I thought that I’d want to major in computer science because I enjoy programming. However, thinking about it carefully, I realize that I’m not really interested in super theoretical topics or research; I’m more interested in how I can use coding in real world situations.

I’m thinking of attending ASU Polytechnic. They have a Software Engineering major, which seems more aligned to my interests than the CS major in Tempe. However, there’s another major at Poly that’s caught my eye called Technological Entrepreneurship and Management (TEM). It combines engineering and business and supposedly “prepares students to launch technology-based ventures and tackle social and corporate issues to impact the world around them.”

In addition to engineering, I have an interest in business, particularly in entrepreneurship and the start-up scene. However, I’m a little afraid to commit to this major for a couple reasons: one, it doesn’t require as much advanced math as the Software Engineering major, which might prevent me from applying to some jobs; next, it’s a brand new major, so there’s not much guarantee that the classes will be excellent, and there’s no way for me to determine if this major will actually prepare me for the real world; finally, I still love to program, and it’s a marketable skill at the moment, but this major’s course map doesn’t really include any CS.

Neither of these majors is offered as a minor, and I’m going to be in Barrett as well as some other academic programs so I don’t think I’ll have time to double-major. Poly seems to have a lot of resources for student entrepreneurs, regardless of their major.

If anyone has any insight into the following question, I’d greatly appreciate it: would it be better to do the TEM major–which seems the most interesting to me, but has risks–or do the Software Engineering major–which I find fairly interesting, and is probably safer in the long run?

Thanks

2

School choice aside :wink: you need to decide whether you want a technical degree or a more business-focused degree. From a quick look at the TEM you would be training to basically understand technology fundamentals, probably not getting the skills to do a deeply technical job. You would likely work more on the business side with this degree. Entrepreneurship is good to have, but often people want an entrepreneur to have some sort of skills background.

What you said in your post makes me think that you want a more technical degree. If that’s true, the software engineering degree and computer science degrees are very similar degrees. The SE likely adds in a little more focus on things like requirements gathering, testing, and project management on top of the coding. Sometimes CS has those too so you really need to check the required and ootional classes.

If you have the math skills, and I assume you do the way you are talking, I would recommend taking the more technical degree. There is always time later to augment those skills with business (like an MBA), but it is more difficult to add technical skills later without that background (not impossible, but harder).

After you graduate you might want to work in a business IT department (as an application programmer or similar) where you would have more contact with the business, rather than working for a tech-oriented company.