When I tell people that I’m majoring in Classics in the College of Arts & Sciences, the most common follow-up question is what my favorite classic book is – i.e., English literature. While this is a lovely question, the idea that I’m studying English is a common misconception.

Suppose you are considering applying to Cornell to study computer science. In that case, you’re probably considering whether to apply to the College of Arts & Sciences or the College of Engineering, both of which offer a computer science major. To leverage this, you’re also probably wondering about the differences between the Arts and Engineering versions of the major. Besides the degree you’re awarded (Arts students receive a Bachelor of Arts, Engineering students receive a Bachelor of Science), what’s so different about computer science in both colleges?