I have a BS CS and a BA Math, and I'm currently going for my MS CS. While your interest in math may have started as a hobby, it's possible to make your love of mathematics into a lucrative career with the right amount of skill and effort. Only after a student has taken several AMS courses should he or she decide on Applied Math as a second major. January 2019. is there a good resource for these types of ideas? It trains you to think very methodically and logically (particularly in proof based courses) which are necessary to be a good programmer. Two areas I was thinking about was Computer Science and Economics two subjects that have I have been highly interested in. The amount of parallels that exist between formal proofs and well written software is insane. For those double majoring in Engineering and a Science, I congratulate you for your immense ability to pull off such feat. For academia? Hello, I am a physics undergraduate, currently in my junior year. These majors also work in biotechnology, national security, market research, astronomy and space exploration. Of the eight upper level courses in Mathematics required for the major, then, two (526 and 574) can be used to satisfy requirements already present in the Computer Science curriculum, and three would normally be used … I graduated with a bachelors in Math two years ago and I am now an Accounting Assistant even though it's not really what I wanted to do but just the first place to offer me something after a year of searching. CSCI-UA.0101 Introduction to Computer Science (Fall / Spring) prerequisite: CSCI-UA.0002 or CSCI-UA.0003 or placement exam 2. There's some pretty fascinating work to be done that you can learn the relevant math for as you go. Currently, I am a rising sophomore pursuing and Computer Science and Mathematics double major with a minor is Economics at Virginia Tech. Theoretical CS is basically math, and cryptography is based on algebra and number theory, so there can be considerable overlap between CS and math. Double majoring in physics and computer science is hard, but it definitely has it’s benefits. Certainly possible at many schools. no pun intended. That said, if you like computer science as well as math, you sort of might as well. First Year Orientation; Transfer Orientation; All incoming students are required to watch the orientation video above before requesting an advising appointment. Undergraduate Incoming Students. The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Mathematics and Computer Science is designed for students who seek careers in computer science and/or computer related fields requiring a strong mathematical background. The topic made me strongly consider , dual majoring in math. Double Major with Computer Science Beyond the mathematics courses required for the CSE major, a double major with AMS requires a course in multivariable calculus, AMS 261 or MAT 203, and five additional upper-division AMS courses, besides AMS 301 and 310. Discrete math is useful for theory-heavy courses like automata. Kick that Math degree to the curb. Would also like to say, as a PhD in computer science and a professor - I really really wish I had double majored in math. I was a double major in math and computer science. This is a very silly notion, that for anyone the most interesting things that one can do as a programmer are maths related. What can I do with just a bachelors in CS? Mathematics - Computer Science Webpage Transfer to Mathematics - Computer Science. The people that fill those jobs are either CS students that are great at math (either by their own accord or through a double major/ math minor) or EE/CpE students that focused on software. My only concern is the large amount of additional debt ill be taking on and if I'll be able to find a job quicker and more pertinent to my degree's then I did after I graduated with just my math degree. Understanding the math? What they're skipping is that just majoring in math isn't going to teach you programming. So it can only help knowing some math so that the ideas at least make sense at some level. I didn't complete my degree, but I sure as hell didn't learn how to code in school. As a math major, you've decided to pursue mathematics as your academic focus, and before you graduate, it's important to know which career path you want to pursue. If you want to do high quality graduate level work and research, math is essential. Plus, a lot of programming involves mathematical models for various phenomena (fluid flow, traffic flow, atomic structure, protein folding, networks, etc.). Neither of which are necessarily technically challenging, but lean to requiring a more social/psychological take on things. BTW, isn't it possible for you to double-major in applied math and statistics? It’s also not uncommon for students to double major in math and computer science. Beneficial for what? The Bachelor of Science with a Major in Mathematics and Computer Science is designed for students who seek careers in computer science and/or computer related fields requiring a strong mathematical background. That said, there are always exceptions. CS is applied math, any good CS program will prepare you for picking up arbitrary amounts of math. Some of the best students in the department are double majors in computer science, engineering, physics, or statistics. Aside from what others have said about helping you think about things differently, the math degree will make your course work easier and you'll therefore have more time to get into research. Computer Science Theory and Application. Double majors are normally awarded within the same school or department. MATHEMATICS DOUBLE MAJOR FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS. Another popular combination from the list above is a combination of economics with math, political science or engineering. I've been writing software for about 20 years. A2A. The Mathematics and Computer Science double major provides a scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications. Is computer science all about mathematics? Many of the courses may overlap (more in some schools than in others). I love the perspective my Math B.Sc. That being said, just a math degree will enable you to do more than just a CS degree. I don't think that's necessarily true. Computer science majors, on average, were hired at $71,500, while the high salary for that major was $102,000. I understand the first two, but why diff eq? Also web development is typically pretty tedious, though there are exceptions. Economics and Math/Political Science/Engineering. Technical Minor: A math minor consists of Calc I –IV, Linear Algebra (640:250), and three upper level (300 or above) math courses. (As an aside OP, psychology might also be a useful thing to study as minor for a CS degree, though I see people below suggesting it as well). So, a student in the ME dept is already required to take Calc I – IV and Calc V. If (s)he took 640:250 and another math course to fulfill the two technical ele… BTW, isn't it possible for you to double-major in applied math and statistics? Purdue admits to individual majors. I've had jobs in a variety of domains/industries/sectors. It is probably one of the most common double majors there is. Choosing a computer science emphasis with your statistics degree as required in your program will make you more employable though (the same could also be true for the applied math program, depending on how the program is structured). I double major should never be undertaken if it delays your graduation unless you plan to go graduate work in the second major. Major 1 : A major that you are passionate about. But in the end, you will likely earn top dollar. There are hundreds of thousands of CS jobs around while the math jobs are severely lacking in number and pay, and although some might take math majors, the majority want either CS or CompEng. However, well-prepared students wishing to earn a double major are encouraged to take MATH 574, which will be counted in lieu of MATH 374 for the Computer Science … originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn … Personally I think I've gotten enough math after doing things like compiler design, AI and learning functional programming. There are people there who claim that CS courses became trivial after having majored in math. It seems like the consensus there is that while math is not as valuable of a degree as CS in terms of job market value, it trains one to think better than a CS major. For those double majoring in Engineering and a Science, I congratulate you for your immense ability to pull off such feat. Im very late to the party but if you still exist, could you tell me how the job market differed after you got the CS degree. That said CS would have made it easier for you to pick up R. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. CS majors that aren't very good/learned in math will still find jobs, but they are typically very boring jobs. The most interesting and fun programming jobs require math. The program is flexible and provides the students with a well-rounded education. Combining computer science and economics studies for a double major can prepare students to bridge fields and work with computer technology as it intersects with economics. That's not a coincidence either. Developing approaches to applied math fields/problems? Most CS graduates are trained for the first 10%, lack skills for the planning and thinking 20%, have had trouble with team projects in the 40%, and have likely never done any of the 30% devops. This may make it an approachable task. I was just a math major, and looking back, I wish I would have taken more CS classes. There are more things in the world that are interesting than just maths and different people will like different things. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. We don't do the minor/major system in Norway, but if I had to chose I'd do something different for a minor like mechanical engineering to focus on robotics. Double Major Information Undergraduate Double Majors. Within the applied CS world, there are plenty of optimizations (with respect to runtime) you can make via math that pure CS people might not see. Replies to: Double Major in Math and Computer Science #1. ucbalumnus 85292 replies 760 threads Senior Member. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/2wo3hj/how_beneficial_is_double_majoring_in_computer/. Graph theory is useful for networking and distributed systems. As a basic example of stuff not just anyone can do is isn't really maths related and is hard/interesting is optimising some piece of infrastructure mercilessly for your server architecture. Economics and Math/Political Science/Engineering. Student must also have earned an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher (as required by LSA for Honors), and must have a final major GPA in Computer Science of 3.5 or higher. Yes, these hardest college majors will present challenges. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. This track offers students the opportunity to study the theory, experimentation and engineering that form the basis of the design and use of today’s computers. Strangely, many of the largest companies in silicon valley test for the top 1% of CS candidates and forget that most of the job is not about solving O(n) problems with cool new data structures. Employers want people who are smart and grounded in their field. When I considered changing majors to computer science at one point, when I inquired I found out that I would be unable to transfer credits from my science classes it was a no-go. Computer Science majors are required to take MATH 374 (discrete structures), and it is possible to earn credit for both MATH 374 and MATH 574. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers several vehicles through which students may pursue multiple majors, including double majors and dual degrees. Math just eats people up and spits them out. Edit: also aero engs, and physics folk with solid programming chops. Students wishing to complete an Honors major in Computer Science must have earned a 3.2 or higher GPA in the four required pre-courses for the major (MATH 115, 116, EECS 203 and 280). You must use axioms (built in keywords and structures) and other proven theorems (other well tested functions that have been shown to always work) together to build towards the result you are trying to prove (or the goal your function tries to achieve). Finance/Computer Science v. Finance/Economics Double Major (Originally Posted: 04/26/2012) For a while now I have been wanting to broaden my horizons and pick up a double a major. Very. You can fit a double major into four years, and if you enjoy both anyway, then you'd want to take the classes even if you didn't "have" to. Furthermore, 48 percent of computer science majors had a double major, which is 113 out of 235 students. Furthermore they also claim people who go into software engineering with a strong math background will tend to be stronger programmers than people who worked on CS alone. (Multiple majors cannot be declared across colleges. ... education (secondary teaching), and traditional mathematics. Economics is a smart choice as a second major because it prepares students to apply the skills from their first major to … Even us peasant engineers sometimes cross the boundary. So, yeah, dual majoring would definitely help there. I came across this topic while searching "computer science" in the r/math subreddit. Some people are just naturally gifted at programming and the thought processes come quite naturally for them, even without extensive training. A2A. CS majors that aren't very good/learned in math will still find jobs, but they are typically very boring jobs. There are people there who claim that CS courses became trivial after having majored in math. Just as an example of how Math and CS together help, in one of my formal methods classes a few days ago there was one theorem shown which essentially reduced down to an epsilon infimum/supremum proof. I majored in math, and followed it up with another degree in CS. Furthermore they also claim people who go into software engineering with a strong math background will tend to be stronger programmers than people who worked on CS alone. What are your thoughts on getting a bachelors in Math then a masters in CS? If you're very interested in math go for it. By looking through millions of job listings and 2,895 mathematics and computer science major resumes, we were able to discover which are the preferred jobs for mathematics and computer science majors. https://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/2wo3hj/how_beneficial_is_double_majoring_in_computer/? The Mechanical Engineering curriculum has 2 technical elective requirements. It is not uncommon for advisors to discourage double majors like these. On the other hand, CS grads from top universities can architect reliable software that's both efficient and well-documented. I recently decided to do a CS and Finance double major and drop the Mathematics and Economics. A student pursuing a double major must complete all university and college requirements. We share and discuss any content that computer scientists find interesting. People from all walks of life welcome, including hackers, hobbyists, professionals, and academics. Have some gold :) Totally agree with this. Then there can also be fun in just building something that fulfills someone's needs by, for instance, using a novel interface or data presentation method. Economics is a smart choice as a second major because it prepares students to apply the skills from their first major to … Indeed, CS seemed pretty easy compared to my math degree. Is a double major in CS and math or double major in CS and statistics more applicable? See Curry-Howard Correspondence. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Here is my unsolicited advice for your life: Do get a Masters in CS. But is it also common in today's math education? ... presumably in high school and middle school teaching math or science… This is the kind of idea that seems ludicrous to me at best. Some CS courses become much easier. More than anything, math helped me to think deliberately, which made courses like data structures easier. thanks :). CSCI-UA.0202 Operating Systems (Fall / Spring) prerequisite: CSCI-UA.0201 5. I majored in math and minored in CS (and Physics), but work primarily in CS. I feel far more creative and less like a labourer. Departmental distinction: To graduate with distinction requires a specified minimum grade point average in all Computer Science and Mathematics courses listed below. I would recommend taking some pure math courses alongside your CS ones as electives, even if you don't commit to the full major (math and CS both require a lot of effort). CSCI-UA.0102 Data Structures (Fall / Spring) prerequisite: CSCI-UA.0101 3. It seems like the consensus there is that while math is not as valuable of a degree as CS in terms of job market value, it … Consider going for a PhD in CS and then moving into Data Science. MATH-UA.0… A2A. It's never new or exciting. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I came across this topic while searching "computer science" in the r/math subreddit. I've found that my math degree helps a lot with my theoretical classes (I'm interested in Programming Languages/Formal Methods), and it's very, very easy to understand the theory taught in those classes when the proofs are all ones you've seen but in different forms. Before I dive into the reasons to double major, let me briefly touch upon the 2 majors I think every college student should pursue. Linear algebra comes in handy in graphics. A double major, or dual major, is the act of pursuing two majors, with both typically falling under the same degree. Also equally strangely, self-taught individuals seem to excel at software development over those trained. You don't have to double major. Another popular combination from the list above is a combination of economics with math, political science or engineering. Judging by the comments in this thread though, a lot of you seem to suffer from an inferiority complex. Why is there so much career flexibility as a math major? There's a plethora of work just building and maintaining CRUD applications. The day and the life of the average software developer looks much like this, though: 30% validating, packaging, and deploying software, 40% communicating (instant message, email, face to face, meetings). But for those with a mathematics and computer science major, career opportunities tend to be plentiful. DECLARATION REQUIREMENTS. Unfortunately, the 10% is also pretty damn hard. education brings to my CS problem solving. Having said that, there's been few times in 20+ years of development that my math degree has been directly useful. Many math majors go on to careers in patent law, software engineering, data science, financial analysis and economics. Is it worth it to double major in math and computer science? If both majors are in the same college, the student must complete all department/curricular requirements for each major. Very ironic you created this thread. Press J to jump to the feed. There are five upper level math courses to choose from in their technical elective list. This is the kind of idea that seems ludicrous to me at best. Why would you kick the math degree to the curb? If you major in cs and minor in math you're still golden. Both untrue in my experience. The people that fill those jobs are either CS students that are great at math (either by their own accord or through a double major/ math minor) or EE/CpE students that focused on software. Getting a broader perspective? The Departments of Computer Science and Economics permit double majors to use courses in the corresponding concentrations to satisfy the requirements of both majors. This is certainly true with many of the greats in math history. Many engineering majors have math courses in their technical elective list. In the course of fulfilling the degree requirements, LAS students may complete the minimum requirements for a second program of study in LAS. CS works mostly with discrete mathematics. That said, if you like computer science as well as math, you sort of might as well. Core Requirements (7) 1. Consider matching the Masters in CS with an MBA or a JD. To add to this, part of the reason a lot of mathematicians make good programmers is the way math makes you think. This will be lucrative and will expand your math knowledge. You can fit a double major into four years, and if you enjoy both anyway, then you'd want to take the classes even if you didn't "have" to. The problem with this question is that "beneficial" is a very imprecise word. In this vein, CS + Math > CS alone if you want to go to grad school for CS. A GPA of 3.25 is required for Distinction, 3.5 for High Distinction, and 3.75 for Highest Distinction. The curriculum at the time was built w/ prerequisites in such a way that you pretty much had to follow a 4 year plan from day one to graduate on time, which was important. MATHEMATICS DOUBLE MAJOR FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENTS. CSCI-UA.0201 Computer Systems Organization (Fall / Spring) prerequisite: CSCI-UA.0102 4. However, well-prepared students wishing to earn a double major are encouraged to take MATH 574, which will be counted in lieu of MATH 374 for the Computer Science degree. 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