How do I decide which CSE major is right for me?

If you’ve already read about the degrees offered by the CSE department, there are many ways students choose their paths at Taylor. Look at the curriculum requirements for each degree, and read descriptions of courses that interest you to get a better idea of which classes best fit your goals. You can also contact us and request to speak with a faculty member or current student who can answer your questions about our majors and minors.

BA vs BS

• BA (or BS/Systems) is geared more for students interested in an industry trajectory, where the BS is geared more for those interested in grad school.
• The BS/Systems is the BA with our Information Systems and Analytics option added to it, which has courses that deal with analysis, data science, customer/client relations, etc. It's an excellent option for those who might be interested in consulting or management positions.
• Among BA, BS/Systems, and BS for "plain vanilla" CS, most students choose the BS/Systems as it provides a great breadth of courses without compromising depth. The students who choose one of the BS degrees are specifically seeking out that depth.

Comptuer Science (CS) vs. CS Digital Media (CSDM) vs. CS Cybersecurity (CCY)

• All of these degrees are Computer Science degrees first and foremost, but---similar to BA, BS/Systems, BS---they begin to diverge in the upper division specialty courses.
• CS focuses on deeper CS topics like algorithms, computational theory, programming languages, computer architecture, operating systems, etc.
• CSDM focuses on using computation as another tool in the artist's toolbox and on the interaction of humans and computers. CDM students will take courses from the Art Dept (ex: Visual Communications, Typography, Photoshop, Illustrator) and Film & Media Dept (Audio Production, Film Production) to see how computers are wielded to create art. The students will also take Principles in Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Graphics, and a second graphics course to learn how to create programs that are used to create art or allow users to interact with complex systems.
• CCY focuses on security side of computers and networks. CCY students take courses that deal with understanding how complex systems work and how they break down and how to keep information safe and secure.