An Insider’s Look at the BUCS Program
Consider this article as a spiritual successor to Bryce Miranda’s original post on his BUCS experience, which you can find here
When you embark on your university journey, one decision you’ll make early on is what you decide to major in during your studies. This choice will play a profound role in the classes you’ll be able to enroll in, the types of people you’ll meet, and the opportunities you’ll be led towards as a student — or so it seems.
At the time of writing, I’m a third-year co-op student about halfway done my studies in the “Combined Major in Business and Computer Science” program (aka BUCS) at the UBC Sauder School of Business. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely that you’re already interested in a career path that will help you get a leg-up in technology/professional services recruiting. My goal is for you to feel more confident with whichever path you choose to chart during your time at UBC, and if I get you to challenge your preconceptions, I’ll consider that a win!
Defining the BUCS Program
BUCS, the program code for the aforementioned “Combined Major in Business and Computer Science” is a major that BCom students can apply to after being accepted to UBC Sauder, whether directly from high school, from another UBC faculty, or as a university transfer student. Applications open annually on May 1st, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a student’s first year at UBC Sauder for them to apply.
The definition straight from the program site is as follows:
The BCom Combined Major in Business and Computer Science will give you the technical background and understanding you need to apply IT solutions in a business context and use them to develop opportunities for growth.
To me, this sounds like a lot of jargon. Let’s break down the definition into its constituent parts.
Technical Background = Studies in Computer Science/Math/Statistics
IT Solutions = Studies in Information Systems/Project Management/etc.
Business Context = Studies in Finance/Accounting/Operations/HR/etc.
Ok, great. We have a more granular look at what we’ll be studying (should you choose this option). This program has a blend of theory in computer science and business, along with some practical/career-oriented classes for careers in IT. However, what this definition doesn’t explain is how is this different from studying the other tech-focused BCom major (Business Technology Management/BTM), or what is given up compared to going for a BSc or BA in computer science.
Comparing with Business Technology Management
If you’ve already committed to UBC Sauder, and you just need to know whether or not to commit to the BUCS program from the get-go, I’ve compiled a visualization that compares BUCS to its closest sibling, BTM.
BUCS and BTM share almost all commerce courses, although sometimes the year taken is later in the BUCS program. Additionally, the ones they don’t share are typically still covered because there are courses that cover the same content which varying degrees of technicality (for example, BTM students take Database Technology, while BUCS students can not as they are required to take Intro to Relational Databases offered by the Department of Computer Science).
The major difference is that BUCS students get almost 0 electives in the traditional sense, as these slots have been taken up by mandatory computer science courses. Some BTM students will take up another specialization, like accounting or operations, while others will take GPA-boosters to bolster their grad school chances, while others still will take courses purely out of interest or passion. BUCS students don’t get this flexibility, but instead get access to courses in topics like Applied Machine Learning (CPSC 330), Artificial Intelligence (CPSC 322), and Human-Computer Interaction (CPSC 344), among others — as always, complete information is available on the degree website.
Comparing with Computer Science (BSc)
There are still many similarities between the BUCS program and the traditional BSc in CPSC, but the differences in pathways become quite apparent in the upper years of the degree.
There are a few things to note here. Firstly, BUCS students still take all mandatory computer science courses, with the exception of 313 as it falls into the 3XX elective category in either year 3 or 4. The largest difference between the programs is that BUCS students are not required to take Matrix Algebra, Calculus III, Statistics, or Probability in the foundational years of their programs. This difference means being ineligible to take courses such as Machine Learning (CPSC 340), Computer Graphics (CPSC 314), and Computer Vision (CPSC 425). However, if you plan your courses carefully, and/or have AP/IB credits from high school, it’s still possible to knock out all the pre-requisites early on to have the maximum amount of optionality coming into your upper years. Lastly, BUCS students get the opportunity to take more courses that are directly applicable in a professional environment, at least compared to the mandatory science breadth requirements.
Other Opportunities to Consider
There are several other opportunities for students to pursue a computer science/computer science adjacent education for students at all levels in their academic careers at UBC:
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science, Cognitive Systems (Computational Intelligence and Design)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (2nd Undergraduate Degree)
- Masters of Data Science
- Masters of Business Analytics
Each of these options can provide you with the opportunity to take foundational courses in a career in software development, product management, or business analytics (i.e trendy tech jobs ⚡⚡⚡)
Charting Your Path
When considering one of these options, there are many factors that you may want to consider, including workload, breadth of study, professional development, hard skills acquired, job prospects, research opportunities, and community. I’ve been told in the past that BTM is the degree you do if you want to be a business analyst or work in strategy, CPSC is the degree you do if you want to work as a developer, and BUCS is the degree for you if you want to work in product management.
I think this rule-of-thumb misses the mark. In my experience, employers and graduate schools are not usually picky about the program name that’s on your transcript. They care about what you accomplished, what skills you picked up, and how you can help their organization achieve its goals. If you’re a computer science student good with thinking on the spot and with structuring your thinking, management consulting might be your calling. Likewise, if you’ve “only” studied BTM but you’re a whiz with the latest JavaScript framework, you can get a job as a front-end engineer.
No matter what your situation currently is, there are all always opportunities to further expand the breadth and depth of your knowledge. If you come from a business background and want to get into coding, you can pursue a minor, a second degree, or even attend a Bootcamp. Likewise, if you come from the technical world, there are programs and certifications that help prepare you for finance, consulting, and strat&ops roles.
Who would I recommend the BUCS program to?
You should join BUCS if you have a curious and analytical mind. If you like solving problems in a wide array of problem spaces, and you don’t mind switching from one domain to another, it’ll be a good fit. If you’re comfortable with ambiguity and being open to new experiences, I would also recommend it. Lastly, you should be comfortable with communicating and defending your ideas publicly, as participation is a major part of most commerce courses, and networking is part of most careers in business.
And who would I not recommend the program to?
If you’re dead set on a specific profession, such as being a tax lawyer or research computer scientist, that requires intense specialization or comes from a field with a very ingrained pathway, your career goals (and/or GPA) may be better suited to a more traditional major. Also, if you’re looking for breadth in the humanities or social sciences, you’ll struggle to have that kind of flexibility in your coursework.
Closing Remarks
I’m incredibly happy with my choice of major. I have felt like my education up to this point has been wide and enriching, while also being practical for opening up career options down the line. If you’re still unsure about which path to take as an incoming BCom, I would still recommend trying CPSC 110 out in your first semester if you can get a seat, as it will set the tone for the types of problems and thinking required in technical roles.
That’s all folks! If you liked my post, feel free to message me on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going, or check out my portfolio simonroberts.xyz.
