Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#1

Post by gschiller » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 4:31 AM UTC

I'm considering Econ + CS

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#2

Post by kldavenport » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 4:48 AM UTC

CogSci depending on the school.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#3

Post by foobarbazqux » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 4:52 AM UTC

Math (CS theory), Electrical Engineering (CS practice), Philosophy (logic), Physics (quantum), Biochemistry (bioinformatics), Psychology (AI).

If you're really interested in economics as applied to CS, you might be better off with math or quantitative finance depending on your interests.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#4

Post by ethanbond » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 5:05 AM UTC

I'm doing product design and CS. I get to be creative and come up with cool stuff and have the technical chops to implement them. Even if I never have to write a line of code, just knowing how to implement a feature I'm designing helps a lot - it keeps things reasonable and enhances communication between the conventionally-at-odds dev and design sides of a product.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#5

Post by vittore » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 5:39 AM UTC

Just any.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#6

Post by solost » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 6:30 AM UTC

I would recommend philosophy. The college of "logic" is in the philosophy department and every great CS professor I ever had studied philosophy. Beyond that it is a great way to sharpen your critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#7

Post by reeses » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 7:37 AM UTC

Econ is great, but you may want to take a minor in the humanities. I'd recommend music, but art, literature, etc. are all good.

Think of your ideal "interesting person" and supplement your CS with something else you'll enjoy. If nothing else, you'll be a better writer and conversationalist.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#8

Post by seanccox » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 10:04 AM UTC

CS will give you a skill set that is valuable upon graduation (and beyond), and having academic exposure to subjects that interest you will be a rewarding and enriching complement.

Instead of double-majoring, why not take courses that challenge you in a variety of areas?

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#9

Post by keiferski » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 1:47 PM UTC

Try something entirely different. Studio arts, music, English writing, philosophy.

Re: Ask HN: What other major could pair well with CS?

#10

Post by xSwag » Wed, Aug 14, 2013, 4:02 PM UTC

keiferski wrote: post #9

Try something entirely different. Studio arts, music, English writing, philosophy.

Philosophy? Entirely different!?

Philosophy blends in well with CS [1][2][3]

[1]: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate_courses/courses...

[2]: http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/csph.html

[3]: http://www.cs.york.ac.uk/undergraduate/ug-courses/bsc-cs-phi...