B.S. or B.A.?

Both the B.S. and B.A. degrees provide substantial experience developing software on teams, preparing students for a successful career as a software engineer or project manager. 

The B.A. degree has less extensive math and science requirements than the B.S. degree. This precludes accreditation of the B.A. program but provides flexibility in combining computer science with other disciplines. 

The B.S. degree provides an advanced understanding of the mathematical underpinnings of computing and the ability to analyze algorithms in detail, important for students who wish to pursue graduate work in computer science. Students who begin pursuing the B.S. degree can more easily switch to the B.A. degree than students who desire to switch from B.A. to B.S. due to the additional depth of the B.S. degree.

See below for similarities and differences between the two degrees:
 

	B.S. in Computer Science	B.A. in Computer Science
Computer science core: programming, parallel computing, databases, and computer architecture	Yes	Yes
Understanding of ethics in computing from a Christian worldview	Yes	Yes
Ability to mathematically analyze and improve software performance	Advanced	Fundamentals
Supporting math and science courses	Advanced	Fundamentals
Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET	Yes	No
Requires foreign language courses or proficiency	No	Yes
Preparation for...	Software development careers or advanced graduate programs in computer science	Software development careers
Option to complete one of the department’s specialized minors: cybersecurity, computer game design and development, data science, high-tech entrepreneurship, or mobile development	Yes	Yes
General elective credits available for minors in other fields	17	32

The additional general elective credits in the B.A. degree provide more flexibility for scheduling minors than would typically fit into a four-year plan with the comprehensive curriculum of the B.S. degree — minors such as design, Christian ministries, exercise science, or writing. Computer science can be used to solve problems in virtually every discipline at the College. The B.A. degree prepares students to be the key person who knows both computing and the other selected domain.

Students who are interested in pursuing a minor with either the B.S. or B.A. degree can work with their academic advisor to develop a customized plan of study that accounts for any transfer or AP course credit.