<p>I just finished my freshman year of college at a small, local university. I plan to attend this university for one more year (because it’s free), then transfer to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I will study computer science. Given that it will only be two to four extra classes, I figured it would be nice to pick up a major in math as well. I also love UNC’s creative writing minor, and my proclivity for the art feels it would be foolish not to pursue this opportunity to build a portfolio. However, given that I only have two years at UNC, here are my options:</p>
<p>A.) B.S. in Computer Science, B.S. in Applied Mathematics
B.) B.A. in Computer Science, B.A. in Mathematics, minor in Creative Writing
C.) B.S. in Computer Science, minor in Creative Writing
D.) Take an extra semester/year to get B.S. in Computer Science, B.S. in Applied Mathematics, and minor in Creative Writing</p>
<p>I would like to look my best to both grad schools and employers, but I don’t want to give up the creative writing opportunity because I honestly am more interested in creative writing than computer science. I am afraid a B.A. won’t be competitive in a grad school application, and I am afraid an arts degree instead of a science degree in this technologically-oriented field may have little prestige in the eyes of employers as well.</p>
<p>What I would love to do with my computer science degree is work with game design, for which I would think a creative writing minor and portfolio would render me more qualified. However, I am very aware that the video games industry is much more competitive than other career opportunities that will be opened by a computer science degree, so I am hesitant to limit my outlook to that industry only.</p>
<p>That decision is up to you, really. Both paths would allow you to pursue a career in computer science afterwards. I’d just like to clear up a few misconceptions:</p>
<p>No one cares if your degree is a BA or a BS. Many universities give all of their science majors a BA, for example. However, if you want to go to graduate school, you’ll be a more competitive applicant with more CS and math classes (regardless of the name on your degree). </p>
<p>It’s also worth mention that most CS majors find that they really really really hate upper-level math courses, so you might eventually decide to drop that math major to a minor anyway.</p>
<p>If you are going to grad school, they usually don’t care what you call your degree as long as you have the correct coursework. (Ex: premed students whose actual major is religion is fine as long as have proper coursework). A major in CS is probably appropriate if that’s your grad school, but beyond that, I would do whatever gives you the most freedom. Don’t think whether you call what you have double major in math matters, grad programs will just look at what math classes you took. </p>
<p>Do you have to declare a minor? It may be possible to take the classes that interest you in creative writing without declaring…in fact you may have more choices if you don’t call it that. So if your minor requires 18 hrs creative writing, you won’t panic when your major(s) classes conflict and you only get 12 hr. No one will care in long run.</p>
<p>I think you should just take classes in whatever you are interested in. If the major difference between the BS and the BA is that the BA allows for more electives, then do the BA and for some of your electives you can take some of the classes that you would’ve taken for the BS that seem useful or essential for grad school, and fill up the rest with creative writing and other electives.</p>
<p>I also agree with scmom12 in that not declaring has its benefits, too, in that you can craft an individualized program that follows with your interest. You probably don’t have to minor in creative writing to take the creative writing classes, so unless it’s just really important to you to have that minor on your diploma I don’t see why you can’t do the BS in computer science if you so desire and just take electives in mathematics and creative writing.</p>