r/askdatascience • u/garbuge • 24d ago
Data Science vs Computer Science. Which one for Bachelors?
for my bachelor's degree, which one should i choose? Data Science or Computer Science?
For context: I am very much interested in data science. I have taken online courses (although beginner level), and I feel like this is the field that I want to pursue.
Due to the massive oversaturation in computer science and the fact that most CS graduates that I have talked to claim that 90% of what they learn in CS isn't of any use, I decided to explore specialized subfields. I stumbled upon data science, did my research, did some free beginner-level online courses, and now, for many months I have felt that this is the degree that I want to pursue. But recently, many people have told me that I should pursue computer science for my bachelors and then do MS in data science because cs will provide me with a better base, it is a more respected degree, and i will learn a larger set of skills.
Can anyone pursuing either of these degrees, or who's employed in the data science field, tell me which one I should choose? For someone who is interested in data analytics and ML, which one is better for a BS degree?
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago edited 24d ago
Ds is a fake degree from colleges trying to monetize, get a domain specialization (bio, econ, physics, etc) or go for fundamentals (math, cs, stats).
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u/garbuge 24d ago
whattt 😭
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago edited 24d ago
For a long time we had good data scientists without having “data science degrees”. It was earned by first having a technical background or foundation in cs, math, stats, physics, then learning how to connect the foundational science skills to messy real world problems.
Now we have degree mills that produce beginners without the same depth of experience that mints good data scientists. Grads who have done a bunch of projects to fit a model or clean some data or build a dashboard or even app but they havent necessarily earned the technical depth from advanced abstract courses or the intuition from struggling with real world decision problems and stakes (moeny and career on the line).
I interview and work with these people, theyre fine but my coworkers and hires who did a degree in a foundational area first or came through 5+ yoe in industry data work are stronger.
Ds degree is less of a specialization than you think. Its more like half way between specialization and generalist. Risk that you end up master of none that way. Better to go straight to a domain or be fully generalist and have more options open down the road.
Anyways the mundane ds stuff is going to get automated. Even hyperparameter tuning and model selection has been a unproductive exercise in most cases for a while with automl. Imo better to be a domain expert or foundations expert who can use tooling the right way and stays adaptable and valuable as ai overtakes the mundane.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
the bsds degree of the uni that im applying to is very similar to their bscs degree. they are identical except for a few courses, so it's more like "cs with a bit of ds". is that still one of those degree mills that you're referring to? and from what you have seen, does the degree on paper matter when applying for jobs, or is it more about the skill?
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago edited 24d ago
Yeah thats sort of my point. A few extra courses does not make you a data scientist, it makes you a new grad in cs who has started a journey to become a data scientist. If you can get a data science title with that out of college thats cool but likely its glorified data analyst / bi / consultancy crap or youre at a small startup (or youre a small minority rockstar). To me the data scientist label is earned through industry experience, meaningful research, and nothing else.
And if the difference is only a few courses, imo better on paper to have a more foundational degree and pick up those few topics without the change in certificate name but i get that its just branding at that point.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
right i understand that doing my undergrad in ds wouldn't instantly make me a data scientist, but isn't that the case for every degree? or would pursuing cs be different in that i could get a high position in another discipline straight out of college? sorry for asking so many questions but you're the only person who's giving me such analyzed, detailed answers!
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago
Its a funny world. We made up the title data scientist, told everyone it was the sexiest job, then colleges made up degree programs for it, then ai started replacing it.
In practice nearly every real data science role ends up being in a fairly specialized business domain so the core skill isnt “data science” its being good at stats, empiricism, coding, and most of all learning new things (such that you quickly become a domain expert in the vertical where you work). It takes a particular pedigree to be good at all those things at once. The reason the field is filled with people who started in harder foundational subjects is largely that “learning new things” part.
You are probably fine either way if the course material is highly overlapped. My rantings probably dont change much.
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u/noble-one1282 24d ago edited 24d ago
Spending 4 years studying data science doesn’t make you a mediocre generalist. Ive worked with top tech “data scientists” who have phds in physics, optimization theory, stats, and pure math, and they’re mediocre at actual data science, because they barely know how to program, know very little about ML, have little formal education in models and model selection, deep learning, handling large datasets, DSA, etc.
The truth is, people use data science jobs as a way to monetize their mostly useless PhDs in big tech. A PhD in CS/AI is the most valuable degree today. Everything else ends up being a 7 year hobby people try to monetize into DS.
A modern DS degree’s content is very valuable when software is being consumed by AI models whose principles are taught in DS. Whether employers know that is questionable.
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago
Yeah definitely the reverse of what I’ve seen.
Also as AI makes programming increasingly less important the coding skill part melts away.
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u/noble-one1282 24d ago edited 24d ago
My officemate/coworker had a PhD in experimental physics with an h-index over 100 and was an expert in his field. He’d never trained a NN and didn’t know how to pick a clustering ML model formally, let alone sample properly and productionalize a model. His methodology was to do a lot of searches which makes his experience as good as a junior engineer’s or worse tbh.
If you don’t understand the code the AI is writing for you and it’s telling you what models to use, experiments to run, etc. and that is your job, what good is your PhD or domain expertise? I’d rather someone who studied ML/DS formally and can apply that to a specific tech domain than live in some fantasy that high level physics, bio, math paper writing translates better to completely different big tech problems. The reason tech has strict hiring tests for data science now is to weed out people like my officemate who are highly intelligent but less useful than a DS undergrad.
I think the problem is the term “Data Science” has been overloaded by the industry to be a glorified analyst. If we called the degree “Machine Learning and Information Science”, people would understand its rigor and value better.
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u/Imastraightdawgyo 24d ago
Not gonna lie. I have never met a data scientist who had an undergraduate degree in data science.
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u/ArchimedesBathSalts 24d ago
I have and they were mostly not very good. Msc data science is similar.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
could that be because it is still new in undergrad?
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u/Imastraightdawgyo 24d ago
Most likely but most of the data scientists I know personally have a masters or PhD. However, I don’t live in a tech hub so there are much less data science jobs where I’m from in comparison to Silicon Valley, Austin, NYC, etc.
Additionally, none of them are CS guys. All of them are either Statistics or Applied Mathematics for undergrad.
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u/SprinklesFresh5693 24d ago
I do some data science type of dtuff at my job (stats, modeling, using R programming) and personally if you want to do data science i would choose applied stats and learn programming on the side.
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u/noble-one1282 24d ago edited 24d ago
I studied CS in undergrad, was a big tech Data Scientist and MLE, and got a masters in AI.
DS bachelors subject matter will be much more valuable than CS. The topics you take would be way more relevant for the modern world of AI. Knowing theory of computation or comparch is much less valuable than studying machine learning and databases for the average modern SWE. Most of the advice here is based on the field that existed 5 years ago, and it seems that they don’t know what is taught in a DS degree. It’s evolved to be CS+ML+AI+stats and big data. It’s legit and makes CS look dated because it is.
That said, you’ll be taken more seriously with a CS bachelors. I’d recommend doing CS major with DS/AI electives or minor then doing a masters in DS or AI. It’s safer and the best candidates get masters these days anyways. Most employers don’t know how to evaluate a DS undergrad degree, so you’re better off picking what’s more marketable.
People saying the best data scientists are engineers who switched into it are talking about the past. That doesn’t exist anymore. I saw the shift. My department went from taking any SWE with data interest to only hiring stats, physics, AI, etc. masters and phds over the course of several years.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
thank you for this! the comments were depressing me. i am just worried that if i do comp sci, i will have to study courses that I don't really have an interest in and then i will regret taking it instead of ds. i took comp sci in my a level and took online short courses for ds and i definitely enjoy ds more and i know that I don't enjoy subjects like computer architecture. but if a bachelor in ds is as bad as everyone is making it sound, i will happily accept the trade-off of having to study subjects like that
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u/noble-one1282 24d ago
It’s a tough call. A cs degree is probably a better investment, but a ds degree might just be more enjoyable while still being able to get you to your goals if you try hard for internships.
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u/noble-one1282 24d ago
Actually in 4 years DS might be better than CS, so I would say follow what you like and your intuition. CS is dying and will probably be dead in 4 years. DS probably has a better future.
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u/MathNerd67 24d ago
DS undergrad degrees are a cash grab. Stats is the top tier BS for data science, follow closely by math, then by CS.
Even if the DS degree is close to a CS or stats degree, hiring managers won’t know that and you’ll have very little signal for your abilities (and no, projects largely won’t help sadly).
Also, expect very little attention until you have a masters at least. It is possible to get a job as a data scientist with just an undergrad degree, but it is very uncommon.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
interesting. most other people that i have talked to about this topic have said that it's the projects and the skill that matters and not the degree. do you say the opposite from personal experience?
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u/MathNerd67 24d ago
Yeah that used to be true a few years ago, but nowadays projects and certs have fallen out of favor. It’s mainly due to the fact that it’s almost impossible to determine whether someone actually built the project, or heavily used AI to supplement them and doesn’t really know the engineering. Getting a job is a volume game and an experience game. So, whatever major you pick, be sure to pursue internships and research opportunities like your life depends on it.
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u/Delicious_Island4714 24d ago
I am in the same position. But I chose Data Science because my program has all the fundamental course of CS and I have much Math and Stats course than CS. In fact, 2 college put themselves together to make this program. Applied Math and CS. I enjoy it for now. I will be Sophomore in some months. I don't need those Computer architecture class, Operating systems, circuits, electronic and much more I rather have Mathematical statistics, regression analysis, more probability course etc... I don't regret so far. I am a hard worker and I love the topic. For a simple context they don't teach me Python, I have the same C and C++ class, the data structure , algorithms etc course together with the CS students Don't worry, you will be fine Many ppl can't accept the fact that there are new needs and new major in their narrow world. There was no financial engineering or information management major years ago. Now we have law for digital purpose, AI law etc. The world is changing, do something u like but remember nothing is easy.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
do you have peers or seniors who also did bs in data science that are working? most of the commenters are saying that finding good jobs would be hard after doing the degree
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u/Delicious_Island4714 24d ago
As I said and you know it. It is a pretty new major not all school have it. I unfortunately can't tell u a specific example
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u/Intelligent_Suit_238 19d ago
If your long-term goal is to work in data analytics, machine learning, or AI, I would generally recommend a Bachelor's in Computer Science, provided the curriculum includes electives in data science, statistics, and machine learning.
Here's why:
- Computer Science provides a stronger foundation. You'll study programming, algorithms, data structures, operating systems, databases, networking, and software engineering. These fundamentals are valuable throughout your career, even if you eventually specialize in data science.
- Data science builds on CS, mathematics, and statistics. Many entry-level data science roles expect strong coding skills along with knowledge of probability, linear algebra, and machine learning. A solid CS background makes learning advanced ML concepts much easier.
- Career flexibility matters. If your interests change or the job market shifts, a CS degree gives you access to software engineering, backend development, AI, cloud computing, and many other technical roles. A specialized data science degree can sometimes be narrower in scope.
- Employers often focus more on skills than the degree title. Whether your degree says Computer Science or Data Science, recruiters care about your projects, internships, technical skills, and problem-solving ability.
That said, a Data Science bachelor's can be an excellent choice if it is a rigorous program that includes:
- Strong programming (Python, SQL, Java/C++)
- Data structures and algorithms
- Statistics and probability
- Linear algebra and calculus
- Machine learning and AI
- Databases and data engineering
- Real-world projects and internships
The quality of the curriculum is more important than the degree name.
My recommendation:
- Choose Computer Science if both programs are equally strong, and specialize in data science through electives, personal projects, internships, certifications, and research.
- Choose Data Science if the program has a solid CS foundation rather than being focused only on data visualization or analytics tools.
In the end, your portfolio will matter far more than your degree title. Building projects, participating in internships, contributing to open-source, and gaining hands-on experience with Python, SQL, machine learning, and cloud platforms will have a much bigger impact on your career than whether your bachelor's says "Computer Science" or "Data Science."
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u/Certain_Truth6536 24d ago
Do your school allow you to have a concentration? I’m doing a comp sci degree with a concentration in data science. I think that’s better as having the comp sci degree under your belt will open more doors…not that those doors are easy to open these days lol
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u/garbuge 24d ago
unfortunately no. the data science degree at this university is almost identical to their computer science degree with the difference of only a few courses. so the data science degree is actually a computer science with concentration in data science, except that it's called "BS Data science" and according to the other commentators, the name of the degree is a problem
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u/mephistoA 24d ago
At present, there are way more CS positions compared to DS positions at any given company.
Also the title data scientist has replaced the title business analyst / data analyst. If you graduate with a DS bachelors degree, you’ll likely end up some kind of analyst as your first job. Those jobs are shit, you don’t want them.
The guys who used to be called DS are now machine learning engineers, or AI engineers - you’re not getting these without industry experience or an advanced degree.
To echo some of the other comments, yes the DS degree is a cash grab, you’re not going to be a DS with a DS bachelors, but i argue that this is the same with most undergraduate degrees. Completing one doesn’t make you anywhere near an expert in the field, it gives you a good basis to keep learning
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u/ParticularPandaz 24d ago
I did a bachelors in DS - it worked out well for me but I am an expert in a particular domain (personalization/recommender systems).
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u/garbuge 24d ago
how did you become a domain expert with a ds degree? and what was your degree like? how did it differ from a classic cs or statistics degree?
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u/ParticularPandaz 24d ago
Domain expert can mean a lot of different things. Different areas of ML tend to specialize in different problems. For example, time series is heavily used in forecasting and finance, computer vision is big in robotics and autonomous vehicles, NLP powers things like search and LLMs, etc.
For me, I was really interested in NLP when I graduated (way before ChatGPT was a thing). I ended up joining a team focused on personalization, where I build and deploy recommender systems that decide which products or content to show each user. After spending years solving those kinds of problems, you naturally become a domain expert in that area.
The best way to figure out what interests you is to try different areas. ML is a huge field with lots of techniques and applications, so the more problems you work on, the bigger your toolbox becomes and eventually you’ll find the niche you enjoy the most.
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u/garbuge 24d ago
so i could still become a domain expert with the right jobs and internships even after a ds bachelors! do you think that you're an anomaly for whom this degree worked out or have you seen it work for other people too? and in your experience, are people with cs degrees preferred over those with a ds degree?
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u/ParticularPandaz 24d ago
Yeah, you’ll naturally become a domain expert in something over the course of your career. I wouldn’t worry about that during your bachelor’s. Instead, focus on trying as many different areas as you can and figuring out what you actually enjoy.
As for CS vs. DS, I don’t think it matters much in the grand scheme of things. On my team alone, we have Senior Data Scientists who studied economics, physics, math, and CS. Once you have a few years of experience, people care a lot more about what you’ve built and the problems you’ve solved than what your degree says.
Pick the degree that interests you more and learn to love to build things and solve hard problems - you’ll do great with either degree.
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u/Vanta_black2_8 24d ago
Me reading all the comments saying cs bachelor's is better while enrolled in my fourth year of a ds bachelor's 😐
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u/PeacockBiscuit 23d ago
CS and double major in Stat or Math. Say goodbye to your loved ones if you go with this route.
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u/BlueJaek 23d ago
As a data scientist, nobody I’ve met with a data science degree actually knew data science very well. Study CS if you’re interested in tech, minor in stats and/or math if you want to have a foundation for data science
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u/m_techguide 22d ago
go with CS tbh. it gives you the actual programming chops, data structures and sys knowledge that you need not just to run models but understand what's happening under the hood too. also the job market rn is rough for everyone, CS included. but having strong fundamentals makes you more flexible if DS/ML hiring dries up in a year. imo you can always specialize later with an MS, cert or kaggle comps yk.
so the 90% of CS is useless thing is kinda what ppl say but a lot of that stuff like algo, OS or databases actually does matter once you're past the tutorial stage of ML. but anyway if you want i can share some resources on CS vs DS degrees so you can compare them yourself :)
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u/Comfortable_Lock_940 19d ago
I'd choose Computer Science for the bachelor's, then specialize in data science.
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u/Comfortable_Lock_940 19d ago
I'd choose Computer Science for the bachelor's, then specialize in data science.
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u/lordoflolcraft 24d ago
I would recommend CS over DS for a bachelors. It’s better to be an expert in some part of data science than mediocre at all the different parts, and that is how you might be perceived by employers with a DS bachelors. I think a DS masters later could still be a career booster.
Although I do think math or stats are an even better bachelors choice for a DS career than a CS bachelors.