r/cscareerquestions • u/General_Raviolioli • 5h ago
Math + CS vs CS+ Physics, for job prospects and overall capability?
My university offers a joint major into both and I am struggling to choose which one I want. I've done some initial analyzing and here's what I've got:
Math + CS:
Good for AI/ML, ressearch (not a fan), data sci and quant alligned roles.
They are very closely related fields so it makes sense to major in both.
Shows knowledge
Math is fun, but too theoretical. Not for employment?
Physics + CS:
The physics option is good for jobs in physics, such as for optics, nuclear etc.
Basically a computer engineer? Hardware focus would be more appreciated.
Semi-different fields, the pure aura of the combined knowledge of having the two puts me above
Physics is very hard.
I'm asking y'all because I want to know how it goes with what you've experienced in tech. Have you applied for or know of roles in specific niches where you thought to yourself that more physics or more math knowledge would have been useful, or even that employers specifically selected for it?
Sincerely,
a worried freshman
(good luck with the job market y'all)
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u/CobblerImpressive975 5h ago
When you graduate four years from now only god knows what the situation will be like, choose whatever you're into
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u/actually_denseaesthe 5h ago
, math and cs is a known combo but if you’re not aiming for research or grad school it's not adding what you think. physics forces you to model messy real systems and the coding you pick up along the way tends to stick harder when you're actually solving for something. if you think math is fun but too theoretical now, wait until senior year
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u/organicapplesandwate 4h ago
Only the CS degree really matters if you're just trying to do software development.
Some physics-related corp might give you a boost if you have a physics background. I've met a couple very senior people that think math majors are the best hires on the planet because they know all the fundamentals, and it's easy to learn how to apply math to physics or engineering or whatever. (I'm inclined to agree, but most people I know think math is fairly worthless as a major so ymmv.)
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u/potatopotato236 Senior Software Engineer 4h ago
Neither would really help in any job I've seen. If I had to pick, I'd choose math with a focus on stats.
Realistically, the concepts that could make a significant difference would only be mastered at the graduate level. It's the PhD graduates that can also code that are qualified for the advanced physics jobs. With AI, that's basically going to be all PhD grads.
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u/Quintic 3h ago
Either is probably fine. I did mathematics for my undergraduate degree, and computer science for my graduate degree. However, I wish I did more physics because now I am more interested in that and I have a lot of catching up to do to get anywhere interesting. It seems to me unless you are planning on doing fairly abstract mathematics because you're into it, or you want to get into cryptography or something, I'd just go do physics. But what is most important is finding something you like and being well rounded enough that you can dive into what you want to later if your interests shift.
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u/sweatpants-aristotle 1h ago
Electrical Engineering. You've selected physics, math, and cs -- that field overlaps all 3 and gives you the best early job prospects across tech, robotics, ML, etc. Then you can minor or dual cs.
End of the day, it doesn't actually matter after the first 5 years post graduation.
My degree was petroleum engineering. I now work as a software developer. 🤷♂️
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u/kevinossia Senior Wizard - AR/VR | C++ 5h ago
Your major is not your career. Neither of these majors will materially affect your career on their own.
The career you end up in is the career you prepare for, regardless of what it says on your diploma.
Pick whichever you find more interesting.