Need advice: Computer Science + Communications major?

Parents Forum
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<p>Which of the following should I pursue?
A) BS in Computer Science
B) Double major - BA in Computer Science and BA in Communications (concentration in Media and Technology Studies and Production)</p>

<p>About me:
I am interested in a career that involves creativity. I love creative projects, such as fiction writing, video production, web designing, etc. My fascination with computer science lies within the creative potential of computers, such as web design, software design, and especially video game design. The technical side of it isn't very appealing to me, and the thought of staring at code for hours sounds grueling. I want to be the designer, not the programmer.</p>

<p>When I stumbled across the course listing for communication studies, I fell in love. Creative writing, multimedia production, even a course in game design (no such course exists in the computer science department). Communication studies seems to hold within it an interdisciplinary collection of all my interests. However, communications isn't as powerful of a degree as computer science in terms of demand and value.</p>

<p>Thoughts about choice A:
-Better preparation for careers in computer science
-Better preparation for graduate school
-More competitive for computer science jobs?
-Looking at the course names, most required courses seem gruesome, complex, and unappealing (which may or not be because I don't know what the terminology used in the course names mean)
-No need for a double major? One of them would probably not be put into good use?</p>

<p>Thoughts about choice B:
-Wide selection of communications courses, many of which are very appealing to me
-Communication Studies seems like it would be much more enjoyable than computer science
-I would be building skills that I enjoy using
-Wider array of job opportunities (jobs available to me in CS and in communication)
-Maybe there are jobs out there for which a CS+Communication major would be in high demand?
-Worried I won't be competitive in computer science jobs because I have a BA instead of a BS in computer science
-Wouldn't have opportunity to pursue graduate school in computer science, though opens up opportunities for graduate school in communications</p>

<p>Question to consider: Do Computer Science and Communication Studies complement each other well? In what instances?</p>

<p>What do you think? Should I choose A or B and why?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>What about doing a BA or BS in computer science (choosing those courses that cover the concepts commonly needed in industry jobs, as well as electives of interest) and taking communication studies courses of interest?</p>

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<p>I just interviewed someone yesterday who had a double-major in computer science and communication. I work in IT and for this particular position, both technical and communication skills, especially communicating to non-technical people, are very important. </p>

<p>To be honest, I didn’t even pay attention if he had a BA or a BS in computer science (I know the school he graduated from offers both). And it probably wouldn’t matter if he had a double-major in communication or just took relevant courses. What was important is that he had skills in both areas.</p>

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<p>So do you think that I should go after the major requirements in communication or just the courses that interest me most and complement my computer science degree the best (Game Design, 3D Modeling and Animation, etc)?</p>

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<p>If you don’t want to be a programmer, then stay away from Computer Science. I guess you’re interested in the higher level stuff (System Design/Architecture). A Software Engineering major is probably more suitable (Though it’s not offered everywhere), but even this field is very tech oriented and will go into advanced programming topics. So if you’re not ready to dive into deep subjects, you’re better off steering away from all computer majors.</p>

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<p>I have to say, as someone who sometimes hires in the tech area, I would LOVE to see a resume like yours. I am tired of mumbling engineers who want to sit in their corner and do their technical stuff, and don’t want to (or can’t) communicate about their work to others. It is a field that attracts a lot of introverts – so an extrovert who is also technical can really shine. Even if you do not end up exactly in the area of tech that you are aiming for, I think it does improve your ability to find employment for sure.</p>

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<p>Sounds to me like you should major in communications. I am not sure you would like computer science since you say you “don’t like the technical side,” and hate programming. You are creative and verbal. Maybe you could take graphic design with communication classes.</p>

<p>Have you looked at the courses required for computer science majors, whether BA or BS? How are your math and science aptitudes?</p>

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<p>computer science is a real, hard, and rewarding major (for most)
communications falls under the I want to go to college and take the easy route. (basket weaving)</p>

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<p>+1…</p>

<p>It is sad that many engineers can’t be bothered to communicate properly… As the exception I have found that my assignments tend to be more customer facing and more diverse (I’ve done things like training videos, classroom materials, and the like in addition to my routine developer tasks).</p>

<p>Keep in mind that the video/media production aspect of communications is a major time waster :). Those super-slick ads or sales pitches or training videos can take hours for each minute…</p>

<p>There are comp sci programs that focus on digital media or new media, so you may want to focus on the technical aspect or the human aspect of it (i.e. the technical being the editing process, shooting, rendering… while the human aspect would be production management and the like). The technical side of video and media production is painstaking, to learn a high end amateur or professional grade editing package is not for the faint at heart (we’re not talking Instagram)…</p>

<p>I’d look for a BA Comp Sci (i.e. with less math and more electives) and take as many classes in Comm as I could get away with, incl. a double major if available.</p>

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<p>

I hire in the CS area as well and I agree that the ability to communicate is important, BUT - being able to communicate doesn’t require a degree in communications. Many people are natural communicators or not and it tends to be related to their personality and not simply skill set. Some of the CS people follow the non-verbally/non-written communicative stereotype but plenty don’t. </p>

<p>I can usually ferret out the ones with poor communication skills in the interview process. It’s not really that difficult. Even if the candidate had a communications degree (or courses in it) I’d still have to do the ferreting since it’s no guarantee that the person would have the communication skills I think are necessary.</p>

<p>However, for a software development position, the MOST important aspect is the ability to develop software and this capability is weighted much higher than the communications abilities even though I want both and they’re both important. </p>

<p>Another key point that another poster mentioned - if you’re planning to do a CS major, at least one at a college with a rigorous program, you need to realize you’ll be spending a lot of time doing actual programming and not just talking about it. Since it sounds as if you’re not very enthused about computer science, I’m wondering why you’re selecting it at all.</p>

<p>Instead of trying to map everything out at this point, especially given your apparent lack of interest in some of this, you might want to either select something else or you might want to start out with the BSCS and see how it goes in your first semester or two. You might find that you like it (even working with code for hours on end) and want to end up pursuing it along with other courses you’re interested in, or you might decide you hate it and drop that major for another one, perhaps even communications.</p>

<p>I don’t think you need a double major. A major in your primary area of interest along with a minor (or relevant courses) in your additional interest areas is fine.</p>

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<p>I think the double major might bring your resume to the top of the pile. Yes, there are selected courses in either field that might meaningfully supplement a major in the other field, just about as well as the true double major.</p>

<p>There are other ways to attain skills (or to demonstrate them, once an employer has invided you in for an interview). But there is usually no interview without an standout resume, and saying that you’ve completed a major in a certain discipline is a very clear, concise way of conveying something substantial to a person who is reading through a pile of resumes.</p>

<p>Even a minor in one of the fields is more concrete than selected courses.</p>

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<p>My S is very much like you - he is very interested in cs and creative writing but not in the technical stuff, although he is interested in programming, which you’re not. First of all, stay away from computer engineering - there’s nothing there that will interest you. I also don’t think you’ll be looking for a tech job in the future (I’m not sure why people always bring that up when cs is mentioned) - those people program and fix computers, and that’s not what you want to do. You’re looking for something more creative, just like my S.</p>

<p>I would either get a double major, or maybe major in communications with a minor in cs. From what my S tells me, most computer jobs in what you’re looking to do are given to people with majors other than cs, but having the cs background will make you more marketable. Even Google and Amazon look for people outside the cs world.</p>

<p>Hope that helped!</p>

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<p>^^ fyi - Designing and developing (including programming) software is a very creative process. I don’t know why people think it’s just some kind of rote process with no creativity. Usually the only people who think this have no idea about the field.</p>

<p>People with CS/CE degrees rarely work at ‘fixing computers’ - that’s a job for a technician. </p>

<p>And programming is technical.</p>

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<p>“And programming is technical”</p>

<p>I know that’s why I said “although he’s interested in programming” meaning programming IS technical.</p>

<p>I think you misunderstood what I said. I never said designing and developing software is not creative. It IS creative and part of CS, but NOT so much computer engineering, which is more about hardware. I think you need to reread my post.</p>

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<p>^^ I was referring to your reference to your S -

  • i.e. if your S is interested in programming then is IS interested in the technical stuff although maybe he doesn’t realize it. Sorry if I misinterpreted your intent in the statement.</p>

<p>For a CE (or EECS or CSE - depending on what the particular college calls it) - this is also a creative area. Designing circuits is creative, architecting the computer area of the hardware design is creative and software development is creative (I’ve done all of these). </p>

<p>For many/most CE type of majors there’s a very large emphasis in the software development area which is where most of them will probably end up anyway. There’s usually a large overlap between the CE and CS majors with the majority being the software/math area and with the CE taking a bit more EE courses than a CS major and the CS major taking a bit more software courses than the CE. Of course, the details of the major programs can change with the particular college.</p>

<p>The bottom line for the OP though, is that both the CS and CE majors require a lot of technical work and acuity so if the OP isn’t interested in that it may best be avoided. </p>

<p>For an incoming freshman who likely is still feeling out and trying to figure out what to do but who thinks they might have an interest in the area they can take some courses and get get a flavor of it which can help them determine where to go from there.</p>

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<p>twneal - have you looked into programs such as digital media? that might be a good fit.</p>

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<p>I would not let a technician near my custom computers :). There’s plenty of creativity and troubleshooting skills to be learned from putting together computers (not the ho-hum variety, but purpose built home theater, home automation, high performance, media server, gaming, and a myriad other custom type PC’s).</p>

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<p>^^ My point is that one doesn’t get a CS/CE degree to ‘fix computers’. The people whose positions are to fix computers are by and large technicians, not people with CS/CE degrees.</p>

<p>I made the statement to be clear on the point to others reading this thread who may not be very familiar with the business or particular degrees.</p>

<p>(I fix my own computers as well but I know many excellent software developers who know very little about how to fix a computer)</p>

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<p>These classes are most likely to be found in the art department, some of them perhaps cross-listed with CS classes. Perhaps CS lite with graphic design rather than communications? Learning to use the Adobe Suite package – Photoshop, Dreamweaver and the video editing software.</p>

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<p>Okay, there is creativity in circuitry and programming - you got me there. But it’s not the creativity that the OP is looking for. Someone like that is better off looking for classes like graphic design, web design, app design, and game design. The “softer” side of cs.</p>