Computer Science and Business Administration is one of, if not the most popular major within the Viterbi School of Engineering but there is often confusion about what it actually is. The very short answer is that this degree offers the best of both worlds; Engineering and Business, but it is a Computer Science program that will certainly give you the strong technical foundation that any CS degree would give you.
Is there enough Computer Science in Computer Science & Business Administration?
Short answer? Yes. To get a longer answer, the course catalog provides all of the classes that you must take, and those that you can choose from.
When I was navigating my college choice process, I had a similar concern, in which I wondered if I would be prepared enough for a post-grad world in Software Engineering with a CSBA degree. I quickly realized that I would be alright. All of the CS degrees at USC feature the same core requirements, going from Data Structures and Algorithms to hands-on learning in Software Engineering and Senior Capstone courses. Throughout the CS core, you are taking courses with students in all of the CS disciplines, and the only place where the degree differs is in your electives. In CSBA, you have less room for CS electives, only requiring 1 technical elective to fulfill graduation requirements. Instead, a lot of your choices are either filled by required Business classes, or must be filled with Business electives. Still, I feel completely prepared to enter my career in software, and have felt comfortable in all of the Software internships I have held so far.
What does Business Administration mean?
The BA piece of the degree gives you a fairly wide introduction to multiple business concepts, ranging from Accounting to Finance to Economics to Strategic Management. Included in the degree are also courses on Leadership and Communication, which I think that not only everyone would benefit from, but especially engineers who seek to be effective leaders in their fields one day. These courses are all housed within the Marshall School of Business, so while this is still a Viterbi degree, we benefit from many of the resources available to Marshall students, as well as those within Viterbi. This means more study rooms, more printers, and a wide network to tap in to. I have found that one of the best pieces of the interdisciplinary program is getting to meet such a wide array of students in the Business school, those that are studying completely different topics than myself, and will progress into careers unique to mine.
Would you choose CSBA again?
A thousand times over. I chose CSBA mostly because I had two strong interests throughout high school, programming and business, and I did not want to give up either of those in college or life. USC was one of the few schools that I could study in both of these fields and still graduate in a reasonable time, so I jumped at the opportunity. Now, having almost finished the major, I am 100% satisfied with my choice. I love the different perspectives that I have gotten from my classes across the two schools, and the wide toolset that it has provided me that will set me apart from other engineers. To anyone looking to study CS, I recommend exploring the major, as it has given me invaluable insights on the world of entrepreneurship and how I could one day be in complete control of my career.
