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Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

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Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#1

Post by contemplating1 »

I am looking to tack on a minor to my CS major, and I am curious to hear what opinions you guys have. It would be easy to do a math minor as well, but pure mathematics isn't my thing. Other common majors/minors include IS, physics, statistics, etc..

I mainly want to know if you have run into developers with a unique major that has actually benefited them - even if just in a niche area.

I am very much interested in Philosophy, I love writing, and written/oral logical. However, this seems really "out there" for a CS major to pick up. Other options include business degrees, which I think is somewhat common, however I feel with a strong background in a technical area I could pick up an MBA if I wanted to later in life. Right now I plan to continue web development, and get into entrepreneurship real soon.

Do you know someone with a random major that can apply those skills to programming?

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#3

Post by 3825 »

yohann305 wrote: post #2

Marketing. People that go into CS major usually have great ideas and love to build them. However the majority of them have very little insights in how to bring it to consumers. Marketing will bring that missing ingredient into the mix.

I'd put one vote for economics. I only took intro to economics though which one could probably add to the marketing minor requirements.

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#4

Post by rdouble »

I majored in both math and philosophy and they have been useless in my career as a software engineer. If you want to do another quantitative discipline I'd suggest statistics. Non-quantitative, I'd suggest something like art history over Philosophy, or even graphic design if you wanted a more "practical" minor.

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#5

Post by contemplating1 »

rdouble wrote: post #4

I majored in both math and philosophy and they have been useless in my career as a software engineer. If you want to do another quantitative discipline I'd suggest statistics. Non-quantitative, I'd suggest something like art history over Philosophy, or even graphic design if you wanted a more "practical" minor.

So would you say math/philosophy would be useful in more of a research type position? In that case you would probably need even higher levels of math - so the logic behind philosophy might be useless either way?

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#6

Post by rdouble »

contemplating1 wrote: post #5
rdouble wrote: post #4

I majored in both math and philosophy and they have been useless in my career as a software engineer. If you want to do another quantitative discipline I'd suggest statistics. Non-quantitative, I'd suggest something like art history over Philosophy, or even graphic design if you wanted a more "practical" minor.

So would you say math/philosophy would be useful in more of a research type position? In that case you would probably need even higher levels of math - so the logic behind philosophy might be useless either way?

Applied math is very useful to software engineering and many other fields. However, I majored in pure math, which is not useful. Philosophy is interesting (depending on your personality) but is mostly irrelevant. Philosophy major logic courses will help you ace the LSAT if for some reason you want to go to law school.

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#7

Post by shawnphoffman »

I second the economics vote. It can really help you with your entrepreneurial desires. If you are really wanting to go out there, try out some law classes and see what you think. Not necessarily for a minor but they help you think about problems and issues differently.

Re: Ask HN: What minor/major would compliment a CS degree?

#9

Post by maltantawy »

yohann305 wrote: post #2

Marketing. People that go into CS major usually have great ideas and love to build them. However the majority of them have very little insights in how to bring it to consumers. Marketing will bring that missing ingredient into the mix.

I majored in CS and did Business Administration as a minor. I would say all courses were very helpful especially if you consider having your own startup. But if that isn't the case then may be applied math or stats would be a better fit. My honest advice is to go with something you like and enjoy other than CS(your major) but you didn't have the time for it.
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