<p>I applied and was accepted to U of I's Mathematics and Computer Science program. I didn't apply just as a back-door route to highly-ranked CS; I figured that, with a 3.73 GPA, 34 ACT, and all honors and AP classes, I would've been admitted to regular CS anyway, and this program just looked more appealing to me. Is it, though, a CS "lite" program, and if not is it widely seen that way? Will a degree with this name be seen with the same respect?</p>
<p>The engineering college and engineering degree has the highest prestige. The CS major in LAS has only been around about 6 years (it was a minor before then) but thus far it appears to be having, as planned and hoped for, quite a lot of success in internships and placement if not quite as good as engineering yet. The major may be “engineering” lite but it is not CS lite. The engineering student has to complete chemistry and physics courses not required of the LAS major who must complete some higher level math courses not required of the engineering major but all the CS courses offered are the same (the engineering college’s CS department actually has the control over those courses although it acts in conjunction with the math department when creating or changing courses).</p>
<p>Nice to know. Thanks!</p>
<p>Mathematics and computer science is a good combination. Thinking abstractly, aiming for a result.</p>