Double Degree in Computer Science and Business Administration

[xwjtx]

What's the consensus on UWaterloo's (with Wilfrid Laurier) BCS/BBA Double Degree? Any ideas on the pros and cons from a general standpoint? I noticed it's only one semester longer that the BCS co op program at Waterloo. One more semester and you get a business degree alongside your computer science degree. That sounds like a sweet deal to me. Note that I aspire to a career leading software development teams so management education interests me, but only as a secondary thing relative to computer science.

[jafar25]

if ur up to it, go for it . there are always problems with programmers having management by people that barely have any idea about software programming, since the industry is young and there are very few experienced programmers. people graduating from this program would probably be better fit for these management positions, since they know about both business and software. I believe that might be the reason they created this program.

although, I would only go in if I had high interest in business. It is great to have, and ur likely to be hired in either fields, so there are more job opportunities for grads from this program, but u have to keep in mind that u'll be studying finance, operations, accounting, marketing, organizational behaviour, modes of business communication, law, human resource management, and business policy while still doing your computer science courses (like their home page says), so it is much harder, and requires more work. u can check out their home page if u havent : http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/bbabcs/

[andrew.]

I've heard that having the two degrees together is pretty amazing for employment opportunities and it sounds like a great idea. The one thing that turned me away from it is the workload. Remember that you are pretty much fulfilling the requirements for 2 degrees at once, which IMO can be very hard because a lot of people have trouble acquiring one degree at a time.

But I'm kind of uneducated on the how the double degree works so most of my info was just assumptions and stuff my guidance counselor (who doesn't know much) told me about it.

[hallowon]

It is a difficult program. I am currently trying to transfer into that. I am currently in computer science while taking the same courses as the double degree kids. IT IS ALOT OF HARD WORK. My grades are not the best they should due to me trying to learn how to juggle everything. Next term will be a little better. Even though i am taking the same courses as them, I do not have the oppurtunity to partake in the new venture project, which is a very big project BBA side. This is the reason why the BCS/BBA student got it hard. Unfortunetly, I will not make the 80 average of my CS 135 class to try and get in. I am content on trying though. I would imagine they would offer more admission this year since this is the 2nd year now they offered it. From what I have heard a lot of people about 5 or 6 transfered to Math/Business. Honestly, the CS 115 courses is a lot easier than CS 135.

In this double degree program, You have BU111, CS 135, MATH 135, MATH 137 AND EC120. Math 135 is very different math course, its average is below the 137 courses,honestly its the course where I reaad the textbook a million times the CS 135 is a killer course I am currently struggling with some of the concepts in it. The Math 137 is easy in a way that most people already know most of the material. The BU111 course is a difficult course, but a certain kind of difficult. It has a lot of information beware. Economics is okay, you can have a bit of breathing room.

I would go apply to it. You can always drop down to regular CS if you feel overwhelmed.