Computational Mathematics vs Computer Science vs Mathematics @ UW

[Prabhakar Ragde]

aqazwsx1 @ Mon May 17, 2010 8:13 pm wrote:

Prabhakar Ragde you said, "You need to be good in math and at least decent in computing." What about a major in CS? Do you good math and programming skills to succeed in the program and later on in life with jobs?

You need to be at least decent in math and good in computing. Being good in math will definitely help both in the program and later in life. Problem is that high school often does a lousy job of letting you know how good you are at computing.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

flayz @ Mon May 17, 2010 8:46 pm wrote:

Are CM graduates competing with CS graduates for jobs?

Yeah. And with SE graduates, and CO graduates, and AM graduates, and PM graduates. Everyone is competing for the same jobs.

[Brightguy]

Prabhakar Ragde @ Mon May 17, 2010 1:47 pm wrote:

First year. Second year is different in the programs.

Well, the undergraduate calendar seems to have broken the CS page overnight (!) but from what I remember the second years are somewhat similar. Of the core courses (maybe 7 or 8 a year?) they both had MATH 239, STAT 230 and STAT 231; also CS 240 and CS 241 if CM students go for Algorithms. Maybe MATH 237 and MATH 235 weren't listed, but they are prerequisites to a bunch of math courses that some CS students might like to take.