Bachelors of Science/Art in Computer Science

[man000]

Hey all I had a question relating to betting a bachelors in Computer Science.

At my college they offer a Bachelors of Science or Arts in Computer Science, mainly the difference being that the arts allows you to focus a few more courses onto a upper level focus of your choice (business, art, etc) whereas the Science makes you take physics and more ICS upper levels. The basic core as well as the upper level courses are all the same however.

Would anyone care to comment on whether it would be a bad idea to go into the Bachelors of Arts if I happened to want to go into say game programming (maybe more focused into database / AI type of things). Or would the Bachelors of Science version would be "Ideal" in any situation for looking good on the resume.


**Also one more question, for game programmers who want to get into the industry they would make a demo game to bring with their resume. However with specialized fields such as database programmers, graphic designers etc, is the creation of a sample game code still the norm regardless of which position you are applying for? or should your game be tailored to the area where you would be applying for (What type of game would a database programmer make?)

-man
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Hurt from depakote

[yaustar]

Or would the Bachelors of Science version would be "Ideal" in any situation for looking good on the resume.

I personally think it be a 'better' idea to do a BSc over a BA for a programmer.

, is the creation of a sample game code still the norm regardless of which position you are applying for?

Yes and no. A cloth sim, raytracer, particle effect engine, networked chat client, really anything can be in the demo. It doesn't have to be a game.

[Claxon]

Not really sure which would be better, or whether your prospective employer would care, often the ability to get a Degree in something is the main thing they look for, debating between the BSc and BA versions of the same subject sounds even more trivial.

For demos... yes they are still very common. If you've got published titles, it's easier to get in without a demo, but for first timers it can be quite important. If you're a specialist, you really have 3 options:

a) Use an off the shelf / opensource game engine, and concentrate on making your specific speciality area work well (but remember to make the rest look good visuals always make a difference).

b) Join / assemble a dev team to make a game or mod together, so that you can concentrate on your area, and leave the rest for others (also show's you can work in a team).

c) Create your own game from scratch and get better at the things you can't do.

Just remember to keep it Shiney! (Only send demos that function, and look good).

[man000]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah currently I am stuck between the choices of a BA or BSci in Computer Science. I forgot to mention that I will also be getting a Bachelors of Business Administration(major in finance) as well (double majoring) but basically the business side of things does not interest me as much as programming does.

So from that point of view with double majoring I was not sure which choice would have been better or mattered in future job interviews. I just did not want to shoot myself in the foot by not having a BSci would have killed my chances at ever getting in.

Also for the demo code ideas, thanks for the suggestions. I read a lot about how people should start out with modding communities, or work with groups in open source teams.

However, do you have any specific ideas that could relate with the focus of databasing or AI? I have not taken my upper level electives yet but plan on taking those subjects, but at least if I had a suggestion or idea, I could possibly do more research into it now.

Thanks again for all your help
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Park Royal 1 Prathumnak Pattaya

[yaustar]

However, do you have any specific ideas that could relate with the focus of databasing or AI?

Writing a bot for an existing game?