HACKER Q&A
📣 hashim

Is a generic or specialist degree title more valuable?


I'm a UK-based web dev finally going to university in order to round out my knowledge with a degree in CompSci, trying to decide between London and Birmingham. During my extensive research I've noticed that many universities seem to repackage what's essentially the same course - identical or mostly identical lists of modules - under different degree titles. For example, a few of the University of Birmingham's Computer Science courses are named as follows:

- Computer Science BSc - Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science BSc - Computer Science/Software Engineering MEng

But comparing each degree on the UoB website shows the list of modules is identical apart from one extra module that is removed or added depending on the "specialism".

In the case of these courses by London's University of Greenwich:

- Computer Science BSc - Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) - Computer Science (Cyber Security) BSc - Computer Science (Data Science) BSc

...the available modules are completely identical, with one or two becoming compulsory or optional based on the "specialism".

In these cases, where I essentially have the choice to study all of the same modules and there is no difference in content between the courses, how would I choose between them? Would a generic or specialist degree title (Computer Science vs Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence)) look more impressive?

In other words, does the specialism help, by making the degree look broader, or are future employers/freelance clients likely to understand the breadth of a standalone Computer Science degree, and could the specialism make the degree look too narrow?

  👤 muzani Accepted Answer ✓
In my experience, neither really matters. Just don't do something weird like Agricultural Engineering then apply for a Front End job.

One of our best and smartest engineers doesn't have a degree. Many did Telecommunications (which was "tech" 10 years ago, before switching to the higher paid software industry). And plenty have just a regular CS or EE degree.

There's a lot of variability in in interviewers. Some like the specialization, some like generalists. I would say just go with whatever sounds coolest to you.