Dual Honours CS/Maths vs Engineering

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the decision between pursuing a dual honours degree in Computer Science and Mathematics versus a degree in Engineering. Participants explore the implications of each choice, including the perceived value of a joint degree, the depth of knowledge gained, and future career prospects, particularly in relation to moving to Canada.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about potentially missing important content in a dual honours program, questioning whether it would lead to a lack of expertise in either field.
  • Another participant suggests that an undergraduate degree in mathematics primarily serves to develop proof skills and abstract thinking, rather than making one an expert.
  • A participant provides links to course calendars for straight Mathematics, straight Computer Science, and the dual CS & Maths program, indicating a desire for clarity on the curriculum.
  • It is noted that the dual CS + Maths program may omit fundamental courses such as Galois theory, topology, and measure theory, which could necessitate self-study later on.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the adequacy of a dual honours degree in providing expertise and the importance of specific mathematical courses. There is no consensus on whether a dual honours degree is more or less respected than a single honours degree.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the limitations of the dual honours program, particularly regarding the omission of certain advanced mathematical topics, which may affect future academic or professional pursuits.

CelNostos
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Hey everyone,

I am based in the UK and am deliberating whether I should go for a dual honours CS/Maths degree or jump for an Engineering one. I'm aware that in a dual honours while you do more than half of each degree, at the later stages some of the modules are picked so that they go together very well, but some stuff is discarded, like half of the 3rd year Maths and CS modules, and the same in 4th year. I'm just wondering if that is a bad thing or not. I do like both subjects, which is why I choose it as a double in the first place. I just had at first assumed it was like the US system. Double major = double degree (I would have preferred this), and I figured I wouldn't be 'missing out' some important stuff from both sides. However, is a joint degree worthwhile or will it just mean that I won't be able to call myself an expert in either field? Is a dual honours less or more respected than a single honours?

Finally, my other choice was engineering, but alas, I am not too sure on that subject either. I think I'd find it less interesting that pure maths and computers, mainly because so far I've always found physics related maths kind of boring. I'm sure that opinion will probably change in Uni though. It's just that I'm thinking of the future and what would be best. My hope is to eventually move to Canada, and I'm not sure how the job market is there for engineers. I know where I am based right now (Scotland) I'd probably end up working in the oil industry. I'm not too sure if I'd be happy with that or not.

Any advice/experience would be most welcome, and if there's anything I didn't elaborate enough on, please mention so. I kind of wrote this in a hurry.

Thanks.
 
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First of all, doing 4 years of math won't make you an expert in the field. At all.

I feel that an undergraduate degree in math serves two purposes:
1) Learning how to do proofs and how to think abstractly.
2) Getting acquainted with a variety of different mathematics.

I think that your program will serve that purpose well.

On the other hand, if your goal is to do a PhD in mathematics, then the more math you know the better.
 
Hmm, if you do dual CS+math, then you will be missing galois theory, topology and measure theory. These are quite fundamental courses, so you will have to self-study them as you need them (which shouldn't be a problem if you completed the major).
 

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