5/21    I sometimes get asked why my CS degree from Berkeley is a BA and
        not a BS.  What's the best way to answer that to a potential
        employer?
        \_ BA means you took more than one english class.
                \_ It's really an arbitrary distinction, but some schools
                   give you BS in math if you do some courses in applied
                   math. Otherwise, you get the BA. The idea is that "BA"
                   is for theoretical stuff, while "BS" means you have to
                   get your fingers dirty. At Berkeley, the CS degree
                   in LS requires less engineering and lab courses than
                   the CS tracks in EECS. Thus, you get the BA. I would
                   not put much credence into the distinction.  -fab
                \_ Not true. I took 3 English classes to satisfy the
                   GE requirements. Still got a BS from the Dept. of
                   Engineering. I just wish that I had taken those
                   classes for a letter grade, 12 units of A's would
        \_ Because the college of L&S does not hand out BS.  That's reserved for
           business school (rim shot).  Seriously, a physics degree is a BA too.
                   have boosted my gpa.
           \_ Nah.  My AP exam exempted me.  I didn't take a single English
              class @ Cal.  Now don't get me started about American Cultures...
              \_ I am hereby getting you started on American Cultures.
                 \_ My one P/NP class.  History of the California Frontier.
                    Taught by Kent Lightfoot.  What a waste of time.
                    \_ oh, come on.  you call that a rant?  start a new
                       thread with a lenthy rant if you really care.
        \_ why is a math degree a BA and not a BS? I remember Brian Harvey
           talked about this on the 1st or 2nd day of 61A.
           \_ I remembered some years ago I checked out the BS program
                under College of Engineering.  It had very strict requirement
                that one must maintain a 3.0 GPA at all time or will be on AP.
                It was a major for graduate school preparation. -- ivy
        \_ "I was not as 1337 as the College of Engineering studs, so I
           took the L&S program and met more hot chix."
           \_ AKA: I actually learned something important at college
        \_ Because the college of L&S does not hand out BS.  That's reserved
           for business school (rim shot).  Seriously, a physics degree is a
           BA too. [I'm going to start deleting your shit on the spot if you
           don't learn how to format.  -evil formatd]
           \_ I understand this myself, but what's the best way to explain
              it to a potential employer who doesn't understand and not
              make him feel that I don't have enough "science" training?
              \_ Tell him a physics degree is a BA.  If that's not good enough,
                 you probably don't want to work there.
        \_ I tell them the physicists, the chemists, and just about everyone
           else gets a "BA" from Cal, that it's just a Cal thing, shrug, and
           don't try to get too defensive about it.  Look bored by the
           question in a "sigh, I have to answer this stupid question again"
           kind of way, but be polite.  Do not under any circumstances allow
           them to say you have a lesser degree.
           \_ actually, i think the chemists get a B.S.  it's all about what
              college you're in.  The college of chemistry and the college
              of engineering both give out B.S.'s, and L&S gives out only BA's.
              That's the long and short of it.  obviously, this means that
              all science majors except engineering and chemistry get BA's.
              \_ there are a few L&S chemistry majors.  they are the proverbial
                 redheaded stepchildren.  pity them.
              \_ I would not confuse the issue by getting into different kinds
                 of majors and colleges.  The OP wants help in intelligently
                 answering a question a non-Cal person will never understand.
                 The right answer is that "everyone" gets a BA and to not make
                 a big deal out of it.  If you start explaining things you'll
                 look like an idiot and not get the job which is the whole
                 point.  They don't give a shit about the inner workings of
                 your school.  Just get the job.
        \_ Well, the real question the interviewer is asking is, "Why are
           you in L&S?  Are you too weak to be in the College of Engineering?"
                \_ If you aren't interested in hardware, there is little
                   point in doing Engineering CS. Most people would give an
                   arm and a leg for the opportunity to major in LS CS degree
                   at Berkeley. -fab
                   \_ Yes, but then you wouldn't be 1337.
           \_ No.  You're wrong.  Only a Cal alum would know the difference.
              The rest of the world is just baffled and is asking exactly the
              question they want answered.
              \_ You're assuming that the interviewer will only see L&S
                 grads and would be satisfied by the everyone gets a BA in
                 L&S.  I am assuming the interviewer will see a mix of
                 EECS and L&S CS, and would wonder the EECS guys get a BS
                 instead?
           \_ For me, I didn't know what the difference was when I was
              filling out the adminssion application.  I thought to myself
              I am not really interested in EE, so I opted for just CS,
              not realizing it would be a BA instead of BS.  It had
              nothing to do with thinking I might not be strong enough for
              COE.
        \_ Sigh. BS implies applied physical science as opposed to BA which
           implies more theoretical education.
           \_ Wrong.  The Division of Physical Sciences at Cal (Physics,
              Astronomy, Earth and Planetary Science, Statistics, Math)
              gives out BA's.  -tom
              \_ Youre not paying attention.  You missed the point of this
                 thread.  the point of this thread is for EECS majors to
                 blather on about their m@d 33kZ sk177Z0rz.  as a math
                 physics double major, I just wish I was k3wl enough to
                 get a BS like them.  Then I would have actually learned
                 something practical.
              \_ Actually not sooo wrong.  It is applied vs. theoretical--
                 so what if he said physical instead, don't be so argumentative
                 just to throw out points.  And remember, the boundaries are
                 blurry, I actually took more hw classes than most EEs and I
                 was L&S.  And my GPA was as high as it gets, so there goes
                 the can't cut it in EECS idea.  Personally I enjoyed taking
                 a lot of astronomy, physics, biology, and chemistry without
                 anyone looking over my shoulder and complaining.
        \_ Just put down undergraduate degree in computer science at
           UCBerkeley and it will never come up.