Suggested Courses for first year Computer Science

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Big Bean

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Good Day

I am doing Comp Sci this year and am looking as to what courses would be of benefit to me.
I have to take 1st year maths and obviously computer science. I am looking to maybe take Geomatics (first semester course) and Statistics (Second Semester course).

Business computing and computer game design all have the same courses in first year.

I am look at what other full year course to do (need one more). It would be of help to me as to what you recommend or what you took yourself, Thanks.
 
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Where are you studying? Most universities have core and elective models.

For CS in Stellenbosch first year the core modules are: math, applied math, probability theory and statistics and of course CS.
 
Linear Algebra I & II without a doubt, Discrete Math (the general course), Graph Theory (if it's presented at undergraduate level and not included in general discrete math), and probably Calculus I. If you can take a Matlab course, take it.

I don't think Calculus II or up is necessary. Differential Equations / Dynamical Systems / Modelling is interesting, but not necessarily useful.
 
Do Ecos / business and management related courses with your comp sci.
Just being a good programmer doesn't give you a competitive advantage in a globalised world with so many good programmers. Jobs are easy to outsource.
I did a BSc Compsci + Business Info Systems degree.
Working as an IT Solution Architect now - only regret was not doing more business courses
 
LOL wut.

Just do all the CS modules. Most likely you'll be forced to do Calculus, Discrete Mathematics (at least until 2nd year level) and possible linear algebra.

Past that there is no benefit IMHO.

If I had to pick between someone who did only CS modules and someone who did a BSc mathematics degree and a few CS modules I pick the person who did more CS every time.

I've worked with too many people from fields "related" to computer science (eg. mathematics). Not discounting useless people, the difference is staggering between someone who has all the principles and someone who had "done a lot of mathematics".

You aren't Edsger Dijkstra or John von Neumann, we don't need you to try solve P=NP, all you need to do is apply knowledge and principles thought out by hundreds of people before you.

If you can't do that then you need to be taught, and that is wasteful, which a company is trying to avoid by hiring someone with a relevant degree.

You lack a lot of knowledge by the time you walk into your first job, if the CS principles aren't there, eish.

My 2c.
 
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My UCT years were as follows:
1st year:
MAM1000
Com Sci
Both applied maths course (MAM143 and 144 iirc)
Physics 104 (waste of time, imho)

2nd year:
Com Sci
Com Sci Gaming
Stats1000
Some business course (waste of time, but that might be because I didn't go to lectures)
MAM2000

3rd year:
Com Sci
Com Sci Gaming

Hope that helps
 
The right course decisions really depend on what you want to do careerwise, and going into first year, I expect this to be very very hazy (if it's not, I would be worried :-) ). To give yourself the best chances, I strongly suggest that you choose courses which are generally applicable, and are difficult to learn outside the context of a structured degree course.

I recommend doing all the CS core courses, and then also doing at least CS honours. As support courses though, try to do as much Maths, App. Maths, Stats as possible. Even throw in some Physics if possible, since appart from the interesting work done in Physics, the constant application of advanced maths tends to have the byproduct of encouraging numerical competentcy.

I don't recommend doing courses (CS or otherwise) with relatively low "science/theory" content (games design, business computing, etc.), unless you do them as extra credits. I.e., don't replace Stats/Math/Physics/App. Maths/etc. II or III with such courses, do them in addition if your are interested in their contents. While any education is good, and the practical content of some of these courses may (dubiously) make you marginally more marketable after your degree, the contents of the less theoretical courses are easy to learn by self study, or can be picked up on the job. You should be optimizing for your career, not your first job.

Some other points for a science oriented degree, is that it makes it much easier to progress if you consider doing doing postgraduate work -- much of the academic CS papers out there are very maths/stats heavy, and being familiar with maths as the basic lingo will go a long way. Also, in industry, if you work with others from non-CS scientific field, mathematical competency is the common medium of expression that will help you communicate with them.

Obviously, if you land up with a job working with non-scientists/non-engineering types, turning business logic into code, the above isn't nearly as necessary, but having it certainly leaves more doors open.

My undegrad (@UCT): CS and Math Major, App. Math to 2nd year, and Stats, CS, App. Math., Psychology, 1st year (wish I did physics instead :-) ). I did a CS Honours afterwards.
 
cguy said:
The right course decisions really depend on what you want to do careerwise, and going into first year, I expect this to be very very hazy (if it's not, I would be worried :-) ). To give yourself the best chances, I strongly suggest that you choose courses which are generally applicable, and are difficult to learn outside the context of a structured degree course.

I recommend doing all the CS core courses, and then also doing at least CS honours. As support courses though, try to do as much Maths, App. Maths, Stats as possible. Even throw in some Physics if possible, since appart from the interesting work done in Physics, the constant application of advanced maths tends to have the byproduct of encouraging numerical competentcy.

I don't recommend doing courses (CS or otherwise) with relatively low "science/theory" content (games design, business computing, etc.), unless you do them as extra credits. I.e., don't replace Stats/Math/Physics/App. Maths/etc. II or III with such courses, do them in addition if your are interested in their contents. While any education is good, and the practical content of some of these courses may (dubiously) make you marginally more marketable after your degree, the contents of the less theoretical courses are easy to learn by self study, or can be picked up on the job. You should be optimizing for your career, not your first job.

Some other points for a science oriented degree, is that it makes it much easier to progress if you consider doing doing postgraduate work -- much of the academic CS papers out there are very maths/stats heavy, and being familiar with maths as the basic lingo will go a long way. Also, in industry, if you work with others from non-CS scientific field, mathematical competency is the common medium of expression that will help you communicate with them.

Obviously, if you land up with a job working with non-scientists/non-engineering types, turning business logic into code, the above isn't nearly as necessary, but having it certainly leaves more doors open.

My undegrad (@UCT): CS and Math Major, App. Math to 2nd year, and Stats, CS, App. Math., Psychology, 1st year (wish I did physics instead :-) ). I did a CS Honours afterwards.
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Thanks for your input, so scared with all the maths; I heard its really tough.

I will definitely look into applied maths as all of you seem to recommend it to me; in the handbook they recommend you have done at least a second year maths course (either maths 2000 or applied maths or stats) for third year computer science.
 
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MongooseMan said:
My UCT years were as follows:
1st year:
MAM1000
Com Sci
Both applied maths course (MAM143 and 144 iirc)
Physics 104 (waste of time, imho)
Click to expand...

Pretty much my first year there too.

Although physics wasn't a waste for me as I ended up doing electrical engineering is 2nd and 3rd year. Going into my 4th year now and still doing MAM100W :(
 
Big Bean said:
Thanks for your input; so scared with all the maths, I heard its really tough.

I will definitely look into applied maths as all of you seem to recommend it to me; in the handbook they recommend you have done at least a second year maths course (either maths 2000 or applied maths or stats) for third year computer science.
Click to expand...

It is scary, and it was certainly tough, but it really is just about putting in the review hours and most importantly, not falling behind (if you don't review your last lecture daily, you likely won't understand what's happening the next day, and even more so the day after).

If it doesn't work for you, it's not the end of the world, I know several people with less formal maths education who have managed to learn the requiste maths on demand (although they all say that they wish that they had paid attention and done more math in university). Even then, you should just view it as one of many options (my suggestions are just attempting to maximize your options).
 
For game design, Linear Algebra I and II will be very important. In my opinion they are the most important math modules any programmer should take.

Set theory is also good to have, but it's normally decently covered by a discrete maths course.
 
Good advice. L.A. is incredibly useful, and it shows up everywhere - assuming not too much has changed in the last 15+ years, UCT taught basic LA at the end of Maths I, and set theory and a full LA course in the first half of Math 2 (core module).
 
zaidmo said:
I did a BSc Compsci + Business Info Systems degree.
Working as an IT Solution Architect now - only regret was not doing more business courses
Click to expand...

I think I have something like 8 or 10 of those in my degree? It's a looooooooot of work. Good nevertheless.
 
I'm going to be THAT guy and say take something that you think you will enjoy. Most people will end up changing or altering their degree in some way or another so try to be flexible. It's varsity and not school so you have allot of control. I started out with a LLB and have ended up doing Masters in Psychology. Try something new and interesting, it's one of your best shots to.
 
Big Bean said:
Good Day

I am doing Comp Sci this year and am looking as to what courses would be of benefit to me.
I have to take 1st year maths and obviously computer science. I am looking to maybe take Geomatics (first semester course) and Statistics (Second Semester course).

Business computing and computer game design all have the same courses in first year.

I am look at what other full year course to do (need one more). It would be of help to me as to what you recommend or what you took yourself, Thanks.
Click to expand...


1st Year

Maths
Computer Science
Applied Mathematics
Statistics

2nd year

Maths
Computer Science
Statistics

Final Year


Computer Science
Statistics
 
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