CS vs Math - Choosing major help

[Bigshay]

Hie all, I am just looking for some advice, arguments and counter arguments to help me make an informed decision. What would you choose between an undergrad in computer science vs math and why? OR NEITHER!! 

 I got high grades in math, geography and business in my high school leaving certificate. 

I have heard that computer science degrees are losing value due to coding bootcamps and academies as well as moocs which are or tend to be more up to date. How valid is this argument?


Best regards

BigShay

[bjcheung77]

Hey Big, there are so many variables to "what you want" and vs "what others look at". I would focus on what your end goal is. So, for example, you want to be a High School Comp Science teacher, then take Comp Sci. Or if you want to teach Math, take the Math option. What's your final education goal - that's what will determine the answer for you. BTW, what's wrong with doing BOTH?! I would do a double major in Comp Sci and Math!

[dfrecore]

As bjcheung77 said, you need to know what job you want before you can determine what degree to get.

As far as coding bootcamps and MOOCS have been around for many years, so I don't think they have THAT much of an effect on a CS degree.

[cookderosa]

A degree in computer science means you can DO computer science for a job - easy peasy. A degree in math doesn't perfectly line up to any career other than teaching - don't get me wrong, there are a lot of jobs you can do, but you'll have to do a little more work to find your lane.

[Bigshay]

Hey Big, there are so many variables to "what you want" and vs "what others look at".  I would focus on what your end goal is.  So, for example, you want to be a High School Comp Science teacher, then take Comp Sci.  Or if you want to teach Math, take the Math option.  What's your final education goal - that's what will determine the answer for you.  BTW, what's wrong with doing BOTH?!  I would do a double major in Comp Sci and Math!

Hie bjcheung77, thanks for the response. I would actually like to get into education, higher education to be precise, teaching a number of subjects in STEM (subjects that will combine either comp science and geography or marketing or math and business e.g operations research or marketing analytics) as well as develop my own courses (based on what the economy needs at that time). You do not really need a PHD to do that over this side in Finland.
I would also like a versatile skill so that I an also dabble in the private sector doing small projects.
I know I am very indecisive and maybe a bit naive but I want a knowledge and a skill so I can enjoy both academia and private sector. I see a few business and accounting teachers doing this kind of thing where they have their own gig next to 80% employment.

---

A degree in computer science means you can DO computer science for a job - easy peasy.  A degree in math doesn't perfectly line up to any career other than teaching - don't get me wrong, there are a lot of jobs you can do, but you'll have to do a little more work to find your lane.

Hie Cookderosa

Thank you for your prompt response. I am actually leaning towards computer science. But just to state my "ambition" in short, I plan to get into academia, as a lecturer at an applied sciences college as well as gain a skill which I can use for consulting in the private sector so both could so that e.g. with math, lecturing discrete math or multivariate analysis and then doing a gig within operations research for the airport or a train station. 

But to get to your point, what about the counter argument that most of what you learn in a CS degree is theory (which will help in academia). The private sector is very competitive and there is a trend showing less people getting CS degrees and more getting into bootcamps, hell the government here (Finland) is pumping money into bootcamps..They are doing the same in Lithuania and in South Africa so the CS degree for the private sector may be redundant if code monkeys have more up to date skills for companies.

[bjcheung77]

Hey BigShay, my original recommendation of getting the Comp Sci and Math still stands. I would recommend you getting the degree at TESU as I don't think COSC/Excelsior has a degree in either one... If you're going for that double major degree, you might as well go for the ASNSM Comp Sci & Math as those two associates are FREE en route to your Double Major.

Now, since you're into Business, Economy, Marketing, and doing your own gig in the public/private sectors... If you have tuition reimbursement, you may even want to do a second Bachelors in Business at TESU since they have programmatic/secondary accreditation by the ACBSP. That will net you the max 2 Associates/2 Bachelors they will allow at TESU.

The value proposition is, you can get these four for a much much cheaper price than many Colleges/Universities that cost an arm and a leg. Further to that, you are getting a degree from a State University, not a for-profit education provider. It may not be an Ivy League education, but you are better off with 4 degrees for the price of 1 at "other" relatively unknown universities.

Last but not least, you should determine, or work backward, and decide what Graduate school/program you want to get into, you can take courses to prepare yourself for that. If Business is not what you want, you may go for the TESU BS Data Analytics as that program is in partnership with Statistics.com and there is NO Capstone involved.

[davewill]

MOOCs and bootcamps are only enough to get you very junior web development jobs. They are not a replacement for a CS degree. From a money and time perspective,  the TESU CS degree is completely alternative credit friendly while you'll need to take regular courses from somewhere to get the math degree. If you want to work in AI, or cryptography, or other math heavy disciplines, then a math degree can serve you well.

If being a developer quickly and cheaply is your #1 goal, I'd say get the CS degree as quickly as you can and get working.

[dfrecore]

There's nothing that says you can't get a CS degree AND do MOOC's. Most CS majors don't just get their degree, get a job, and stop learning. They are continually learning new things, in a variety of ways - certs, MOOC's, just learning new languages, whatever.

[cookderosa]

Hey Big, there are so many variables to "what you want" and vs "what others look at".  I would focus on what your end goal is.  So, for example, you want to be a High School Comp Science teacher, then take Comp Sci.  Or if you want to teach Math, take the Math option.  What's your final education goal - that's what will determine the answer for you.  BTW, what's wrong with doing BOTH?!  I would do a double major in Comp Sci and Math!

Hie bjcheung77, thanks for the response. I would actually like to get into education, higher education to be precise, teaching a number of subjects in STEM (subjects that will combine either comp science and geography or marketing or math and business e.g operations research or marketing analytics) as well as develop my own courses (based on what the economy needs at that time). You do not really need a PHD to do that over this side in Finland.
I would also like a versatile skill so that I an also dabble in the private sector doing small projects.
I know I am very indecisive and maybe a bit naive but I want a knowledge and a skill so I can enjoy both academia and private sector. I see a few business and accounting teachers doing this kind of thing where they have their own gig next to 80% employment.

---

A degree in computer science means you can DO computer science for a job - easy peasy.  A degree in math doesn't perfectly line up to any career other than teaching - don't get me wrong, there are a lot of jobs you can do, but you'll have to do a little more work to find your lane.

Hie Cookderosa

Thank you for your prompt response. I am actually leaning towards computer science. But just to state my "ambition" in short, I plan to get into academia, as a lecturer at an applied sciences college as well as gain a skill which I can use for consulting in the private sector so both could so that e.g. with math, lecturing discrete math or multivariate analysis and then doing a gig within operations research for the airport or a train station. 

But to get to your point, what about the counter argument that most of what you learn in a CS degree is theory (which will help in academia). The private sector is very competitive and there is a trend showing less people getting CS degrees and more getting into bootcamps, hell the government here (Finland) is pumping money into bootcamps..They are doing the same in Lithuania and in South Africa so the CS degree for the private sector may be redundant if code monkeys have more up to date skills for companies.

I'm not making an argument one way or the other, you asked for opinions - that I have, but the hard decision of deciding your future is yours! I will add that I don't think there are any sure-fire-guarantees, no matter what you decide, you'll probably have to compete. The money's at the top, and there are lots of people climbing.

[Ideas]

Thank you for your prompt response. I am actually leaning towards computer science. But just to state my "ambition" in short, I plan to get into academia, as a lecturer at an applied sciences college as well as gain a skill which I can use for consulting in the private sector so both could so that e.g. with math, lecturing discrete math or multivariate analysis and then doing a gig within operations research for the airport or a train station. 

But to get to your point, what about the counter argument that most of what you learn in a CS degree is theory (which will help in academia). The private sector is very competitive and there is a trend showing less people getting CS degrees and more getting into bootcamps, hell the government here (Finland) is pumping money into bootcamps..They are doing the same in Lithuania and in South Africa so the CS degree for the private sector may be redundant if code monkeys have more up to date skills for companies.

This post makes me feel like you would prefer math.

Maybe Data Analytics instead of CS.

Maybe Finance, Economics, or Accounting?