Overview of CS Degrees

The CS Department offers five undergraduate degrees (for more information on the degree plans, click here):

• Bachelor of Arts (BA): Can more easily be pursued in combination with other degrees, majors, or special programs. Allows more social science, language, and cultural classes than BS.
• Bachelor of Science (BS): Requires more mathematics, science, and computer science than does the BA.
• Bachelor of Science (BS): Turing Scholars: An honors BS program for students admitted to the Turing Scholars program.
• Bachelor of Science (BS): Teaching: Offered through the College's UTeach program and designed for students who want to pursue careers as secondary school CS (and optionally mathematics) teachers.
• Integrated BS/MS: Enables highly motivated students to earn two degrees, a BS in CS and an MS in CS, in five years.

Degrees and Career Paths

Students often ask the question, "Is the BA or the BS right for me?" There is no one right answer. Both degrees will prepare students to work in industry or to go on to graduate school. If you are interested in starting out in industry, it is important to note that the greatest single factor in obtaining desirable jobs upon graduation is having previous work experience. Other important factors include a strong academic record, good communications skills and leadership experiences.

If you are intending to go on to graduate school, either degree will provide the background necessary to enter a graduate program in computer science. Be sure to talk to your advisor about the courses you should take to prepare for the GRE. Undergraduate research is a key component of preparation for graduate school, and fits within the structure of all degrees.

View differences between the BA and BS.

Other Ways to Study Computing at UT

Some students who are interested in studying computing may also want to consider other programs at UT. If you are not sure whether one of the following computing programs is right for you, click here for some advice:

• Electrical and Computer Engineering (in the College of Engineering)
• Management Information Systems (in the McCombs School of Business)

UT offers a variety of Certificate Programs that augment the standard degrees. Click here for information on the programs that are often of interest to CS students.

UT allows students to declare two "simultaneous majors" (usually called a “double major”). If you are interested in exploring the use of computing in some other area, you may want to consider this option. You will need to look at the website of the school in which you'd like to double major and contact their advising center for more information.