<p>Which degree is more versatile? Since CS is based on math, I'm guessing CS is more versatile than math. </p>
<p>It's just out of curiosity.</p>
<p>Well... it kind of depends upon what your aspirations are... They're pretty different fields, and very different courses of study, and you do really different things with each of the two degrees...</p>
<p>To the OP: it depends on how you define 'versatile'. I choose to define it with a large component of being able to give you a decent job without requiring graduate school. Under such a definition, I think CS is clearly the more versatile.</p>
<p>However, one could argue that math as a skillset is more versatile than CS as a skillset. That's because, in many ways, CS is just a subset of math. So looking at just the skillset, math could be said to be more versatile.</p>
<p>Yet, I believe the better way to look at it is to look at math/CS as a DEGREE. And the fact is, CS is a more demanded degree. There are many companies who will say that they are looking to hire people with BSCS's. Very few companies are looking for people with BS math degrees.</p>
<p>I disagree that few employers seek Math grads. I think many employers do hire Maths graduates. </p>
<p>But I agree with sakky that you should take maths and computing together. There is a reason that some sort of double major or combined program virtuallt always exists with maths and computing because the two subjects complement each other really well.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think many employers do hire Maths graduates.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Oh? Which ones, other than banks or consulting firms (which hire from many different majors)? I know a number of engineering graduates and humanities graduates who got hired as investment bankers.</p>
<p>So other than these firms, I'd be hard-pressed to name, say, 10 firms, that hire lots of BS math graduates.</p>
<p>Most CS majors I know also major in math. Math graduates are usually hired to supplement engineers. My calc 3 professor me how he helped aerospace engineers at NASA in their calculations. But you have to be pretty damn good to land these jobs. So I would go with a cs degree if you want more job opportunities, unless you have supreme confidence in your mathematical abilities.</p>
<p>Insurance and Human Resource companies hire math and stats majors. These people are needed to calculator risk and probability. The NSA also hires math majors. You can also be a math teacher with a degree in mathematics.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My calc 3 professor me how he helped aerospace engineers at NASA in their calculations.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And for that you usually need a PhD. I'd agree with sakky - at the B.S. level, opportunities for CS majors are higher than those for math majors.</p>
<p>The NSA hires math majors, but they prefer MS and PhD (strongly preferring the latter) for the more 'interesting' positions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Insurance and Human Resource companies hire math and stats majors. These people are needed to calculator risk and probability
[/quote]
</p>
<p>At the master's and Phd level, sure. But I'm just talking about the bachelor's degree. </p>
<p>Guys, I'm just talking about the bachelor's degree level here. Keep in mind that math and CS are quite similar majors. At schools like MIT, many of the CS classes, especially the theoretical ones, are ALSO math classes, in the sense that they are cross-listed in both departments. Furthermore, you can get a bachelor's degree in CS and then later get a PhD in math. </p>
<p>But it's a matter of branding. Whether we like it or not, there are more jobs available for somebody who has a BSCS than for somebody who has a BS in Math. Personally, I think the distinction is somewhat silly, because, like I said, the 2 majors are, often times, almost the same thing (just a difference of a few classes here and there). But, what can I say, I don't control what recruiters want. You open any newspaper or you peruse any online job board, and you will see far far more demand for people with BSCS degrees than BS math degrees.</p>
<p>My B.S. degree in in Computational Mathematics which is basically a math major with a concentration in CS.</p>
<p>It's NOT the degree that will get you hired, it will be your degree emphasis that will get you hired. By me taking so many extra CS courses as electives, I was able to interview for jobs just like any other CS grad.</p>
<p>I may be biased, but I will state 2 things about the advantage of going the Math/CS degree route:</p>
<p>1) Being a Math major allows you to "pick & choose" the practical CS courses that are more marketable. That means choosing Database, Software Engineering, Networking courses and skipping Compiler Design, Digital Circuits and Automata/Computational Complexity courses.</p>
<p>2) By having a primarily Math degree....a Math major can be hired more times as a Computer Scientist but a CS major cannot usually be hired as a mathematician.</p>
<p>If I could play the role as an undergrad advisor for the Math/CS types, I would say...in order of recommended route:</p>
<p>1) Major in Computational Mathematics...then take extra CS courses
2) Major in Applied Math...then take extra CS courses
3) Major in Traditional Math...and TRY to fit in some CS courses</p>
<p>Options 1 & 2 will allow you to not be required to take such math courses as Real Analysis, Complex Variables and Topology and you will have room to take more CS courses.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It's NOT the degree that will get you hired, it will be your degree emphasis that will get you hired. By me taking so many extra CS courses as electives, I was able to interview for jobs just like any other CS grad.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, no, here I would have to disagree. I agree with you that it isn't the degree that will get you hired, but it often times is the degree that will get you in the interview room in the first place. I remember back in Berkeley how many job interviews at the career center were strictly available only to CS or EECS students. If you weren't in one of these majors, you couldn't even get the interview. That includes related majors like math or even applied math. In fact, I remember a couple of Applied Math majors complaining that they could only get a few interviews (and mostly for banking or consulting) because the computer job interviews were open only to CS/EECS majors, and whenever they tried to sign up for them, their resumes were kicked back by the career office stating that they were ineligible. That's despite the fact that they knew a lot of computer science (as Applied math has a lot of computer science in it).</p>
<p>
[quote]
a Math major can be hired more times as a Computer Scientist but a CS major cannot usually be hired as a mathematician.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I disagree with this also. I actually know several CS and EECS students who later went on to become mathematicians (after getting graduate degrees in Math or Applied Math). The point is, I don't see any advantage that Math has over CS when it comes to switching careers. It seems that, either way, you can switch around. </p>
<p>
[quote]
1) Being a Math major allows you to "pick & choose" the practical CS courses that are more marketable. That means choosing Database, Software Engineering, Networking courses and skipping Compiler Design, Digital Circuits and Automata/Computational Complexity courses.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is true, but being a Math major also forces you to take Math courses that are REALLY unmarketable. Let's face it. Complex Analysis, Abstract Algebra, Real Analysis, and things like that are simply not marketable. Compiler design and Computational Complexity/Automata are not highly marketable either, but they are more marketable than those Math courses. </p>
<p>
[quote]
1) Major in Computational Mathematics...then take extra CS courses
2) Major in Applied Math...then take extra CS courses
3) Major in Traditional Math...and TRY to fit in some CS courses
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I would say that the first option is STILL to major in CS (or EECS if you are at a school like MIT that only offers EECS and not CS as a standalone major). I would follow that with your 3 suggestions.</p>
<p>"I remember back in Berkeley how many job interviews at the career center were strictly available only to CS or EECS students. If you weren't in one of these majors, you couldn't even get the interview."</p>
<p>Yes, I remember Michigan State having that kind of rule also. Many times you had to give chat with the placement services head to gain approval. MSU's problem was that it had very similar majors in totally different colleges (Food Management in Agriculture, Comp Math in Natural Sciences, etc) and when the interview said "only CS majors" the CS-oriented math folks had to ask for permission. After awhile the rules were lifted.</p>
<p>...but I see your point....probably depends on the school</p>
<p>No I am talking about at the B.S level.</p>
<p>B.S. degrees here are talked about. What about B.A. degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science? If the B.A. degree comes from a big school like Berkeley, does it not matter than that it is a B.A. degree as opposed to a B.S. degree? Or are employers have a preference for B.S. degree holders?</p>
<p>The difference between the BA in CS and the BS in CS is basically negligible. What HR screens tend to care about is that you have a degree in computer science, and they don't care what the degree is called. I suppose there is some small advantage in terms of branding in having a BS over a BA, but the difference is so small as to be negligible. </p>
<p>But there does seem to be a significant advantage in branding in getting a degree in computer science or EECS or computer engineering vs. getting one that is in math or applied math, even if you end up taking the exact same courses. </p>
<p>Again, I would reiterate that math and CS are highly related disciplines. At a school like MIT, many of the CS classes, particularly the theoretical ones, are also math classes in the sense that the classes are cross-listed in both departments. So that basically means that a student who majored in math taking those theoretical classes is basically no different from a student who majored in EECS who also took those classes. But for the purposes of getting past HR filters and into the interview room, it matters what your major is, even if the classes are all the same.</p>
<p>Sakky there are many areas were a HR would rather hire a math major over a CS major. They are too different degrees and are hired for different reason. I would agree that their are more job opportunities for CS majors though.</p>