Love Computers, History, and Politics - Is there a degree for that?

Hello all,

I have loved computer science for quite a while. I am the programmer on my robotics team, like to tinker with computers in my free time (software and hardware), and love actively participating in tech forums. I was interested in going into a computer science or some type of engineering degree, but math…

My math is killing me. I got 2 B’s in my Algebra 3-4 (called 2 for some) and I have some trouble in current Pre-Cal class.

I am worried that if I do go into Computer Science or Engineering, math is going to prevent me from progressing/ enjoying my career.
So it got me thinking…

Would it actually be better to go some other route of study and career idea?

I am in the Model United Nations club at my school and love reading about history, world politics (I am like non-stop on reading policies and major news articles of Election 2016) , and laws that shaped the World and America. My English and Histor grade has been stronger than my math. I have been getting A’s in my sophomore AS classes and A’s in my AS CWS/ MWH 2 grades, and an A in the recent semester of APUSH. But, it was the opposite for freshman year (B’s in English and A’s in math). Currently, I enjoy my AP US History class more than my math class.

Even my science grades this year are a bit scary - B- (barely) in AP Chem.

Currently, I am a junior.

So, back to my orginal question…

Is there a degree that involves Computers, History, and Politics?

Two Bs in math is not bad. That’s not “killing you.” You seem really interested in CS and I wouldn’t give up on that yet.

You might be interested in a major in science, technology and society or science & technology studies (STS). Typically, this is a blend of scientific studies with social science & humanistic perspectives on where science fits in society. You learn about the history of science and scientific/technological innovation; you might read about how literature and science have shaped each other; you might learn about how national and international politics are shaped by technology and how tech influences policy. You also take coursework in computer science, engineering, chemistry, biology, and/or physics.

Here are some top programs for examples:

Stanford: https://sts.stanford.edu/major-sts/core-requirements
MIT: http://web.mit.edu/sts/
Cornell: http://sts.cornell.edu/undergraduate/sts-major/sts-requirements.cfm
RPI: http://www.sts.rpi.edu/pl/bs-sts
Pomona: http://www.pomona.edu/academics/departments/science-technology-society

Just as a note though, STS programs tend to lean more heavily towards the social sciences and humanities side than the science side - although I think it depends on the college (Stanford, MIT, and I think Cornell have more balanced programs). So you’ll want to think carefully and potentially design your own program or add a minor or concentration in computer science to make sure you have the science classes you need or want, if you are interested in heavier science coursework or a career in software development.

My son loves all those same things and plans on majoring in CS and specializing in cybersecurity or homeland security .

Maybe consider Geography. There are different tracks.

http://www.utexas.edu/cola/geography/undergraduate/Overview.php

Geography is an excellent recommendation. One of the professors in my department specializes in humor studies and mines massive amounts of data for his research.

Urban planning/ studies is a similar field which relies on computer science, history, politics, and a host of other subjects to give students a comprehensive education.

Most schools also offer the ability to design your own major which might be especially useful if you wish to combine the fields in an unorthodox way.