Hey all, rising senior here looking into CS + Business dual degree programs! I was wondering what the value that these programs hold in terms of what you learn and employment opportunities after graduation! A concern for me is that I won’t have the chance to take as many CS classes as I’d like to in order to get a good job, but the truth is my heart lies in business and I hope to start a tech company or be a tech executive in the future (check out my chance me!)
So far I’m looking at UPenn M&T, UCB MET, UT CSB, USC CSBA, WashU Joint Degree Program, and a few more! For context, if I don’t get into these I’ll probably end up going to Georgia Tech (my instate school), and if not there, Purdue!
Lots of executives and entrepreneurs do not have business degrees, or only got them later.
Some engineering employers feel that those engineering applicants with second majors in business are trying for fast tracks to management instead of wanting to do engineering, so such applicants are less desirable. It is possible that this may apply in computing as well.
Instead of trying to cram a whole business major into the schedule, an alternative is to choose a few business-adjacent breadth electives, such as sociology of work, financial economics, etc…
I would agree that if you want to do CS don’t major in business. But if your goals are more broad it’s different.
The time to cash in on a business degree with a tech undergrad is later after working a few years. The MBAs with a STEM undergrad are quickly picked up.
But if you are planning to do this there are programs out there such as at Lehigh. And their grads have success (same at Bama) but not necessarily in the job role you think.
Thank you for the suggestions! Oh no, I wasn’t assuming GT, I was just saying that if I don’t get into any of my reaches, my match school is GT (I’m in state and am interning for them as well as enrolled in their dual enrollment program), and if I don’t get into GT, my next choice would be Purdue. I’m only applying to 2 safeties (UGA, Purdue) and 2 matches (GT, UT)
Again you haven’t shared stats but I sure hope they are off the charts. What you call safeties are not easy. UGA is very difficult. UT = Texas is near impossible oos. Purdue for CS not far off If it’s UTK ok.
Just saying I hope you are a 3.9/4.5 wtd with 35 act.
Texas is very difficult for direct admission to CS. It is also generally very difficult for non-Texas residents, because most admission spots are taken by Texas resident students with top 6% class rank (though that automatic admission does not mean automatic to the desired major).
Purdue has gotten significantly more competitive for admission to CS recently.
Since you are in Georgia, you might want to look at Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech if you haven’t already. #1 ranking, instate cost, great outcomes, and you could probably add on additional computer science courses. Good luck and confirm your budget with your family before you go further with expensive options.
Just so that you have an understanding how competitive OOS at the good public CS schools can be, my DS had a friend (4.0, 36 ACT) get rejected at UIUC. He is now at CMU.
Can u provide the link. Looks like you have a lot of posts.
It may be although UGA is hard to get into and does not treat instate different than OOS in admissions.
If I was a stud I would ensure I applied to one school below UGA just in case. This year there were posts that 4 with 35s got deferred and or rejected. My daughter got in. Had a 32.
As you can see the stats are surprisingly high. Add a limited major like CS and while odds can be good it doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk.
I would view a CS + Business degree as a watered-down CS degree. Better to get a CS degree and then an MBA later on. But work at least three or four years before you go for the MBA degree.
That was my fear for a program like CSBA. What do you think about programs like M&T or MET where it’s actually two degrees that you receive, rather than a single combined one?
UCB MET basically has you take an overload every semester to get all of the requirements for both majors into 8 semesters.
CS or engineering + business seems to be a common high school aspiration that seems to have much less value in post college career generally, although it may have some value in very specific areas (but may also have negative value to other employers).
There are schools that offer undergrad certifications that you may be interested in as well. Northwestern offers a certification from Kellogg and their quarter system makes doing that a bit easier without diluting the CS courses.
Lehigh has a minor in entrepreneurism.
Purdue has a certification in collaborative leadership.
Etc…
I will also caution you as using Purdue as a safety for CS. The admission rate is dropping every year and is now a reach for most students.
I agree with views that a separate undergraduate business degree/major is actually a hindrance to some elite employers looking for CS graduates. On the other hand, a dual degree or double major may be helpful for employers looking primarily for business majors with tech background or in technical consulting. If you “hope to start at a tech company”, as you indicated, it may be better to stick with a purer CS degree even if your ultimate goal is on the business side. It’s far easier to learn about the business than about CS (and there’s nothing to keep you from taking some business classes without getting a business degree/major in the meantime).
CSB at UT is near impossible to get into. Their program is currently entering it’s 3rd year, is very small and the expectation is that you have a decent CS background but also decent business background as well upon entering. You are part of the CS Honors program and Business Honors Program. However, it is such a great program that if you get in you are set. It’s also very demanding that unless someone comes in with a lot of the gened requirements covered, they may have to take summer school in order to finish in 4 years.
From an employer perspective, it really depends what you’re interested in and where you want to go. I have a child in the Canfield Business Honors program at UT who is double majoring in Accounting and minoring in MIS. Also was recently accepted into the MPA program that she will begin this fall during her junior year. She has had no problem getting an internship each summer, including after her freshman year which was last summer and again this summer. The MIS degree has made a huge impact on employers. The Honors program of course has opened the door, but the MIS has sealed the deal. So having the combination even though MIS isn’t CS is really attractive to employers. My other college student is a CS major double majoring in Operations Research and minoring in Business and has a big interest in FinTech. Same idea that companies seem to like this combination. Not just a “coder”, has other interests, and capabilities.
The bottom line however, is do something because you love it, not because you think it’s the way to get a job or because it’s a way to make $. Happiness should be a big priority.