Computer Science Canada software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
| Author: | monkey [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Hiii, I'm going to start CS at waterloo this september. I didn't apply for software engineering, since at the time I was pretty set on studying CS at U of T, but had also applied for CS at waterloo. I have a few questions. Would an employer would give preference to a person with SE degree, rather than CS degree with the software engineering option for a software related job? Also, I've read that it is possible to apply for an internal transfer to SE from CS during 1A. How likely is it that the transfer would happen? |
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| Author: | Tony [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
monkey @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:23 pm wrote: Would an employer would give preference to a person with SE degree, rather than CS degree with the software engineering option
Maybe if both candidates had absolutely no experience... with anything. Otherwise there are lots of other factors that will come in play first. As for the internal transfers to SE -- it will likely depend on your marks and space available. |
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| Author: | bugzpodder [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
You can't compare apples to oranges. You can't even compare Florida apples to Philippine apples (CS degree in Waterloo vs Toronto)... although I guess arguably Waterloo CS is supposedly stronger... |
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| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 6:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
monkey @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:23 pm wrote: Would an employer would give preference to a person with SE degree, rather than CS degree with the software engineering option for a software related job? No. Absolutely not. SE will tell you the same thing. True for co-op, true for permanent jobs on graduation. Who you are, how you present yourself, what you've done, what potential they can see in you, all these things make far more difference than what program you're in. Quote: Also, I've read that it is possible to apply for an internal transfer to SE from CS during 1A. How likely is it that the transfer would happen? It would be dependent on space, which means you're waiting for people to drop out (or transfer to CS). Also depends on who else is applying. Perhaps you can describe what it is about SE that attracts you? (Tony: Filipino apples? Climate is wrong, no?) |
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| Author: | Tony [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:56 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
... I wasn't the one talking about apples. |
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| Author: | monkey [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Some advantages I see in the SE program : -The ability to take certain courses which are not available for CS students e.g. SE 382 HUman computer interation and SE 362 software project management - The fact that the program touches on hardware ( I think it would be good idea to have some kind of background in it) -It is accredited as an engineering program. -SE seminars? |
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| Author: | Tony [ Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:29 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
monkey @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:18 pm wrote: - The fact that the program touches on hardware
You should take a look at CS core courses. Such as CS251 |
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| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Tony @ Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:56 pm wrote: ... I wasn't the one talking about apples.
You're right. Sorry to have maligned you. |
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| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 11:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
SE 382 is the same as CS 349, and SE 362 is no longer offered (since it was such a disaster when they tried). CS has the Digital Hardware option which gets you access to CE hardware courses. I've also heard of students making ad-hoc arrangements to take these. It is true that SE gives you better access to ECE courses if you want to take several of them, but few SE students take advantage of this. Most take CS courses for their advanced technical electives. Engineering accreditation has its pluses and minuses. The pluses are that you get an iron ring and, if you pay annual dues, you get to call yourself a professional engineer. The minuses are that it's not clear how relevant this will be in your future, and it means you have to do things during the degree that you wouldn't otherwise (like take a Chemistry course). |
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| Author: | Dark [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Apples and oranges are usually the same size. Oranges are usually orange when ripe and apples are usually red, though there are green apples, yellow apples...etc |
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| Author: | monkey [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Thanks for your help. I'll look into the digital hardware option. BTW do you have any advice on how I can prepare for the first year courses? |
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| Author: | saltpro15 [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
STUDY |
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| Author: | jbking [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
On preparing for first year courses: You may be able to find out what textbook or course notes are recommended, suggested or required and get a copy of that and read through to see if what you see seems hard or difficult. I think the library used to provide this information though you could go to the used book store to get some texts if older versions were just as good which was the case in some courses. Another tip would be to make sure you know how you learn: Do you absorb information by reading a concept, seeing a concept, doing practice examples, hearing a concept, etc. To give a somewhat more concrete example of that last tip, consider how you'd learn about the simple group of permutations of 5 integers where the operation performed is composition, where a pair of permutations can be combined to produce another permutation. How would you describe the elements of this group, e.g. would you use cyclic notation, a pair of lines that define how each integer maps onto the next one through a permutation, or some other notation? How would you figure out where the identity of the group is? How would you find inverses of an element in the group? This concept can pop up in Abstract Algebra and in Combinatorics so it can be found from a couple of different angles. Or one similar to computer science would be to think about all the different ways to sort a list and why would some be preferred over others. Are you familiar with big-O notation and how to compute this for various algorithms? Are you familiar with some basic data structures regarding lists like stacks and queues? Are you familiar with implementations of such data structures as linked lists or arrays and what is the trade off on using one over the other? HTH, JB |
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| Author: | Tony [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
There has been some argument in favour and against studying the material in advance of a school term. http://compsci.ca/blog/learning-before-learning/ |
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| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
Thanks, Tony, for saving me from typing some of that out again. People seem to want to skip lectures based on reading ahead. Fine, go ahead. It's your funeral. jbking @ Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:22 pm wrote: On preparing for first year courses: You may be able to find out what textbook or course notes are recommended, suggested or required and get a copy of that and read through to see if what you see seems hard or difficult.
The UW CS first-term textbook is available online. Quote: Another tip would be to make sure you know how you learn: Do you absorb information by reading a concept, seeing a concept, doing practice examples, hearing a concept, etc. It's good to be self-aware, but it doesn't do you any good if you're not flexible. I have students say to me, "I'm a visual learner," or "I learn best from examples". Well, too bad. I'm not giving you a lot of pictures or fifty worked examples. Quote: Or one similar to computer science would be to think about all the different ways to sort a list and why would some be preferred over others. Are you familiar with big-O notation and how to compute this for various algorithms? Are you familiar with some basic data structures regarding lists like stacks and queues? Are you familiar with implementations of such data structures as linked lists or arrays and what is the trade off on using one over the other? This is covering standard CS1/2 ground and once again makes people think that this is the only way to start learning CS. UW's current courses don't work this way. Monkey: here's how you can prepare. Get things done in a timely fashion this summer. Clean up your room, organize your hard drive, file your high school work that you're keeping. Get used to staying on task, working efficiently, being intense at work but capable of winding it down and relaxing, then bringing it back the next day. Do some math problem-solving. |
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| Author: | Prabhakar Ragde [ Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RE:software engineering vs CS with software engineering option @ waterloo |
And read some good fiction. Not a bestseller or some geek fiction. Read something your English teacher recommended. Not something they recommended to appeal to you. Something they personally like. |
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