loldanielol

How difficult is it? Can anyone offer some insight?

terenc

Change of College (into COE) — UC Berkeley College of Engineering.

Also, if you're interested in the CS side of EECS, and not the EE aspect, there is absolutely no difference in CS curriculum between the EECS major and the CS major in L&S.

If you want a blend of EE and CS, it is important to note that EECS majors are NOT given priority to EE courses over L&S CS majors (they both have equally high priority)

If you want to emphasize EE rather than CS, then you should probably consider switching.
The College of Engineering still has a humanities requirement, though it is less long and more flexible. However, there are numerous science class requirements.

sakky

One practical difference between the two is that the CS specialization within the EECS program is a fully ABET-accredited degree, whereas the BA computer science program in L&S is not.

Granted, relatively few software developers will find accreditation necessary.

terenc

^That is not a very "practical" difference, because ABET accreditation or lack of it has really no effect for someone graduating from Berkeley. Career outcomes for L&S CS and EECS graduates are identical, according to Berkeley's career survey.

excelblue

I've known people who have switched from EECS to L&S CS to avoid the physics requirements. Other than that, why?

sakky

Well, I can certainly think of one highly practical difference. Those with an ABET-accredited engineering or natural science degree are immediately eligible to take the USPTO (patent) bar to become either fully certified patent agents or - with a law degree - fully certified patent attorneys. {Yes, you can take the USPTO exam immediately after you graduate with an ABET-accredited engineering degree and become a fully qualified patent agent. Indeed, I'm surprised that Berkeley and other schools don't publicize this career path to their natural science & engineering students.}

But the Berkeley CS L&S program is not an ABET-accredited engineering program nor is it considered to be a natural science degree by the USPTO, but is considered to be more akin to a math major, which is also conspicuously excluded by the USPTO. {Such a classification may be understandable when you consider that most CS departments are indeed historically outgrowths of math departments and many upper-level CS curricula do indeed conform to the theorem/proof structure reminiscent of math courses.} A L&S CS graduate could still quality to be a patent agent, but would require add-on qualifications such as additional science courses or years of engineering work experience.

Now, granted, I agree that those who don't care about patent careers probably will never need to care. But all I would say is that the seemingly unending patent disputes and transactions within the high-technology industry - just yesterday Nokia announced that they are prepared to sell their immense patent portfolio and Apple revived its patent injunction lawsuit against Google/Motorola - indicates that, whether we like it or not, the ability to operate in the patent system is likely to become one of the more valuable technology job qualifications you can hold in the near future.

momfirst3

^^^ Hmmm, that is very interesting. I have a son who is fascinated by the patent side of things. He is a junior in EECS and I bet he had no idea that becoming a patent agent was even possible. I am going to forward him your post.