<p>I am looking into a degree in Computer Science and noticed I have three options: BA, BS, and an engineering degree. What are the major differences between these three? Which one will give me the best job oppertunities after undergrad?</p>
<p>i didnt kno there was a CS engineering degree.</p>
<p>I think he means CSE</p>
<p>I didn't think there are people who actually consider getting a BA in CS.</p>
<p>I thought all CS undergraduate degrees were a B.S.</p>
<p>BA vs BS, no difference for job opportunities</p>
<p>Berkeley offers a B.A. in Computer Science and it sure pays off.</p>
<p>BS just sounds cooler. :P</p>
<p>Whats the major differences between doing CS in a arts and sciences school at colleges and getting a CS degree from the engineering school?</p>
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This CS major is for students enrolled in the College of Letters & Science (L&S). There is no difference in the CS course content between the B.S. and B.A. programs. The difference is in what else you take: mainly engineering, or mainly humanities and social sciences. In particular, an interest in hardware suggests the EECS route; an interest in double majoring (for example, in math or cognitive science) suggests the L&S route.
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Berkeley offers a B.A. in Computer Science and it sure pays off.</p>
<p><a href="http://career.berkeley.edu/Major/CompSci.stm%5B/url%5D">http://career.berkeley.edu/Major/CompSci.stm</a>
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<p>The main reason why the Berkeley B.A.C.S. pays off so well, and in fact, the major difference between the BA and the BS is simple - the BA does not guarantee admission to you as a freshman. In other words, just because you want to get a BA in CS does not mean that you will be allowed to. You have to complete a bunch of lower-division prereqs AND THEN apply to the program. Plenty of people try to get into the major and are denied. If you got in, it's because you did well on those lower-division prereqs. </p>
<p>The BS EECS program, on the other hand, admits you as a freshman. While it is harder to get admitted into the EECS program as a freshman than into the College of Letters & Science, once you're in, all you have to do is pass your classes to graduate with the degree. Even barely passing your classes (i.e. with a 2.0 GPA) is good enough. On the other hand, some people with up to 3.5 GPA's in the lower-division CS prereqs are denied from entering the BA program. </p>
<p>Hence, what that basically means is that everybody who graduates from the BACS program is good, because the mediocre students don't get into the program in the first place and so have to find something else to major in. Hence, when you're looking at the salaries of the BACS grads, keep in mind that you're effectively only looking at the salaries of the top guys - the guys who were good enough to get into the major in the first place.</p>
<p>And that points to the most important difference between the two programs. In the BS program, your spot in the major is secure. In the BA program, it's not.</p>
<p>I doubt employers look at it with such depth. Its probably because those who get the BA are less nerdy and are able to do better in interviews and the soft categories.</p>
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I doubt employers look at it with such depth. Its probably because those who get the BA are less nerdy and are able to do better in interviews and the soft categories
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<p>In the case of the Berkeley BACS students, trust me, they're pretty darn nerdy. In fact, in many cases, they're actually MORE nerdy than the BS students, probably because they're also the ones who have done well. There are some rather mediocre BS students who nonetheless have pretty decent social skills, probably because they spend more time partying and less time studying.</p>
<p>So on average the BA students are nerdier than the BS students?</p>
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In the case of the Berkeley BACS students, trust me, they're pretty darn nerdy.
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<p>Bully Sakky. :)</p>
<p>what I've got from this Berkeley's website <a href="http://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm%5B/url%5D">http://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Major.stm</a>
Berkeley graduates for all majors, highest average salaries:</p>
<h1>1 Computer Science - 62,449;</h1>
<h1>2 Electrical Engr & Computer Science - 59,131;</h1>
<h1>3 Industrial Engr & Operations - 57,044;</h1>
<h1>4 Mechanical Engr - 53,543;</h1>
<h1>5 Chemical Engr - 53,175;</h1>
<p>Lowest average salaries:</p>
<h1>1 Theater, Dance& Performance - 24,329;</h1>
<h1>2 Conservation & Resource Studies - 26,348;</h1>
<h1>3 Peace & Conflict Studies - 27,360;</h1>
<h1>4 History of Art - 27,865;</h1>
<h1>5 Latin American Studies - 27,921.</h1>
<p>if go Berkeley and aim for big bucks, definitely go CS major!</p>
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So on average the BA students are nerdier than the BS students?
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<p>Yeah, probably, for the simple reason that 'nerdism' is correlated with good grades. And you NEED good grades just to become a BACS student in the first place.</p>
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if go Berkeley and aim for big bucks, definitely go CS major!
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<p>If you can get into the major, that is. What if you can't? Plenty of people who get decent grades nonetheless can't get into the program and are thus forced to major in something they don't really want to major in. </p>
<p>nationally starting salaries for Chem E is the highest, I think.</p>
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Plenty of people who get decent grades nonetheless can't get into the program and are thus forced to major in something they don't really want to major in.
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True.
Even you succeeded to get into the CS major in Berkeley, how you can handle the high stress well while you're in the program is another story. I guess that's why there's high drop rate or even high suicide rate for tough programs in top schools like MIT(is that true? scary!) I think someone has to convince him/herself that he/she either is really good or extremely interested or totally committed in order to succeed in such a major in Berkeley. For myself, I know I'm not any of those, so even I have some chance to be admitted to Berkeleys CS major, I probably won't go for it.:(</p>