jellybelly

I was reading some of the threads and this major suddenly seems really appealing to me - never considered it b4 though, so I have some questions:
(I looked at: UCSD: Cognitive Science - Home >
Undergraduates > Major > Requirements before coming here)

1. What's the diff. between Cognitive Science B.A and B.S? Besides the reqs.
2. Is this an impacted major? Will I be able to switch into it relatively easily?
3. Anyone in this major? Could u tell me more bout it?

Thanks in advance

Arctic

B.A is a bachelor of arts and a B.S is a bachelor of science. A B.S looks WAY WAY WAY better than a B.A.

This is not an impacted major and should be easy to switch into.

Im in this major but I havent taken any classes for it, i start in the fall.

jellybelly

thanks Arctic - so B.S. would mean more science courses and B.A = more humanities courses?

Arctic

yea, the B.S also requires one more math class than the B.A. If you want to get any reasonably paying job you should get a B.S.

im gonna specialize in human computer interaction

dollybee10

SWEET! Yeah I totally plan on switching to the cognitive science major ASAP. So glad it's not impacted!!!!

Arctic

it seems pretty sweet, my parents keep bugging me about what kind of job i'll be able to get though

CWalker

A BS does not necessarily look better than a BA...many universities only offer one or the other in a given major so anyone outside of UCSD wouldn't know the difference. With that said, I went to UCSD and worked in the Cog Sci Dept...very few people said that the BS was "better." It really wasn't an issue.

Slorg

I've never heard that BSs were "WAY WAY WAY" better than BAs. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think cognitive science is an interesting major.

hotelmoscow

a bs is usually held in better regard than a ba. if you can pull it off go for the bs.

team.katie

this question came up during orientation and our group was told that a B.S. for those who want to get an eventual Doctorate while a B.A. isn't

astrina

that's not a hardcore requirement -- for example, berkeley only awards BAs in chemistry, but let me assure you that their chemistry department is tops in the nation and their students are more than suited for PhD work.

it's more of what you focus on as an undergrad -- you can always take supplementary courses to make up any deficiencies when you decide on postgraduate studies.

Chairman Meow

astrina: Berkeley awards B.A. in chemistry if you're in the College of Letters and Sciences. It awards B.S. too, if you're in the College of Chemistry.

Even this is from the Berkeley College of Chemistry site, it will probably hold true for UCSD Cognitive Science as well:

"The Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry is intended for students who are primarily interested in careers as professional chemists or wish a thorough grounding in chemistry in preparation for professional or graduate school in chemistry and other disciplines."

"The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry, which is offered through the College of Letters and Science, includes a greater number of humanities and social science courses than the Bachelor of Science Degree and is intended for those interested in careers in teaching, medicine, or other sciences in which a basic understanding of chemical processes is necessary. Students who are interested in the B.A. degree apply for admission to the College of Letters and Science."

mathtastic_nerd

Yes it is true that in some cases there are BS's and BA's for the same degree like with cognitive science at UCSD and chemistry at Berkeley, but there are many situations in which the BS is just not available and thus there isn't much difference in the eyes of schools and employers. For example, Berkeley does not offer BS's in physics or biology, but no one is going to look down at a BA in physics or MCB from Berkeley. Employers will be more interested in which classes you have taken and graduate schools will be much more interested in your GPA, recs, GREs, interviews, and research.