<p>So Berkeley has both a Computer Science (L&S) and Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences major. Looking through the employment of the class of 2007 (Career</a> Center - What Can I Do With a Major In...?), it seems that the majority end up becoming software engineers. I was wondering how I'd benefit from majoring in EECS over just plain comp sci (esp. if I do become a software engineer)? What job positions incorporate both the uses of electrical engineering and computer science?</p>
<p>I believe the difference between the L&S CS and the EECS is the required classes for the major.</p>
<p>From what I have heard, the L&S version is watered down and much easier than EECS which is in the engineering college. If you actually want a job as a software engineer, you should go with the real stuff in the college of engineering as an EECS student. As an EECS major, you can choose to either focus on CS, EE, or both. The advantage of course is that you will be exposed to a wider variety of concepts in much more depth and be able to work with the hardware aspects and software aspects of things which can be very valuable (though most people go on to work with one or the other).</p>
<p>As far as I can tell looking at the curricula, it's mostly a BA vs BS difference. The EECS major (if you wanted to do software, you'd probably take the CSE track within that) is a BS, with more math and science requirements. The CS major in L&S is a BA, requiring less math/science and more humanities/social science for the degree.</p>
<p>Personally, I'd go with the BS, on the CSE track. A good math and science background is useful in many areas of CS. It will give you more options.</p>
<p>Can you elaborate a little more on why getting the BS would give me more options? Do you mean there are more jobs out there, more positions (other than software engineer), or...? Btw, thanks for the response.</p>
<p>A BS, in general, is a more in-depth or more technical degree than a BA, when both degree programs are offered by a single department. A BA will give you a college degree, but since the BS requires a greater number of classes, or classes of higher complexity, or a combination of the two, the BS will likely give you a higher level of preparation for whatever you'll face after graduation. Employers know this. Given the choice between the two, they'd rather see you go for the BS unless you have a good reason for doing otherwise.</p>
<p>Aside from what aibarr said (which is true, though if your school only gives a BA option they don't hold it against you), a stronger math and science background in CS will make you qualified for a wider variety of positions. For example: Bio and chem will make you more likely to be able to get a computational bio job (plenty of bio labs and biotech companies need pet software engineers). You need prob/stats to do anything with machine learning or data mining. You need some linear algebra for graphics. If you don't take these classes - and if you're taking them, you might as well get the BS - you are essentially shutting yourself out of software engineer jobs in certain fields/industries.</p>
<p>I don't really know why but I REALLY want to work at Google as a software engineer out of college, though I know I should keep my options wide open. I'm more into the whole casual work environment thing than bio labs.</p>