What is the value of Computer Science and Business double major degree?

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>Hello,
I am a recent transfer student and I am kind of in a pickle. I attended community college for two years and began attending university this fall. I was accepted as an undeclared Junior, eventhough I applied to the school of engineering under the computer science major. I was rejected from the school of engineering because of two reasons:
-I had not taken calculus 1
-All of the credits I was told were going toward computer science, actually went toward business and information systems</p>

<p>To make things worse, I must get a B in calculus to be eligible for the school of engineering. I am okay at math, but I didn't get a very good professor and my class got off to a rough start (I was sick half the semester, and MyMathLab did not work for me until late in the game). I might be able to pull off a C, but a B is unlikely now. Normally I would just retake the class, but as a junior I am running out of time to declare a major and get major related credits. </p>

<p>Since I have a lot of business credits, I'm thinking about taking something in the school of business as a primary major, and computer science as a secondary major. Perhaps human resources, information systems, or product innovation. I have clearance to take compsci 101 for the current semester, and I am making As in the class. I need to take more computer science classes if I want to graduate even kind of on time. Maybe listing compsci as a secondary major or even a minor temporarily could buy me that time. I am a good programmer with decent skills and I am getting scared that I won't be able to make this degree because I wasted time in community college.
So I have some questions:</p>

<p>-Is a double major valued in the workplace?
-In the event that I can't make a B in calculus, would a business primary major with a computer science secondary major be just as good for programming jobs?
-Is buying time with a double major and switching them later (from a business degree with a compsci secondary major, to a engineering/compsci degree with a business secondary major) worth the effort or even possible?
-Even if I don't do this, I don't want to throw away my credits. Are minors worth anything? </p>

<p>I would appreciate any answers I can get. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Double major is doubling your chances to make a living when you graduate. You have more options, and in this economy the more options the better. If you can’t find opportunities in one field, try the other.</p>

<p>Computer degrees are in high demand - if you can swing it you should. Read some math books on your own or get a tutor if your teacher isn’t helpful enough.</p>

<p>Double majors take a LOT of credits. You should start planning out every semester ASAP if you want to do it. Another thing that may be an option at your school is an “undergraduate certificate” At my school it takes 26 credits to earn one of those, a lot less than a second major but also more than a minor.</p>

<p>You should discuss your options and how to handle the math with an advisor. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Hmmm, a CompSci minor and a Business major COULD work depending on what you want to do… I’m currently doing a coop at IBM and there are definitely positions that could use a business degree with programming knowledge. You have your programmers (they code the product, fix defects, etc), and than you have “team-lead” type positions. Team Leads are kind of the bridge between the manager and the programmer… They still are very much involved with the code and have programming tasks, but also manage a small team of people and pretty much drive where the team is going and what they are working on. A business degree would be extremely valuable for this position if you still want to code, or a manager type position.</p>

<p>What I’ve found is that work experience/portfolio is much more valuable than a degree (that isn’t to say a degree doesn’t help, but IMO its considered second to your experience). If you can show them code that you’ve produced and they can get a sense for what type of programmer you are, I think that would be much more valuable than spending the time to actually get the CompSci major…</p>