which program to choose

[cool dude]

applying to university is coming up and i'm stuck thinking what i should major in. i know i want to do something with computers but i don't know anything about the type of programs and wat kind of things you do in it. we had plenty of discussions related to where to go to school but not many (maybe i just missed it) on the types of computer science/engineering programs. i know a lot of you are taking computers since its a compsci forum so i was just wondering wat your majoring and minoring in and tell me a little of what you guys do. for instance, the type of projects you had, and just some information about your program.

Thanks

[rdrake]

Well, I'm in first year computing science at UOIT. First year has mostly been science classes, but the upper years concentrate heavily on computer science classes.

Unfortunately I'm just starting so I can't really comment on experiences.

[Dan]

The 3 main computer programs are:

1. Computer Science (Math deparment or it's own)

This is mostly the study of higher level langues but dose inculded a few corses in things like asm. There is almost no hardware work and the only fouces is on the programing, math and the consepects behind them. Computer Science can lead to anything from game progaming, to making OS, to making office applications to making web based applications.


2. Computer Engerning (Engering deparment)

This is a combination of general engering conspects and the study of lower level progaming such as progaming robots, computer chips and working in asm. Also i blive there is alot of elerical engering invaied such as desging ciruites and things along that area. I blive this whould lead you to jobs that invole desining and programing phsical computer componetes or even robots i guses.


3. Software Engering (Engering deparment)

This is the study of how to desging computer programs, as in making UML digrams, use cases, and basiclky everything but aucatly coding them. There is noramly a strong feuded between Computer Science and Software Engering students as they both think the other is useless. This program also invuales alot of engering conspects as it is noramly found in the engering deparment. I guses thess peoleop whould be the go inbtween from the programers and the client that whonts the software
(or just sit there and take credit for the hard work of the programers who have to complie to there reduices and illogical desing.)


I am in Computer Science so i know that program the best, my descriptions of the others are based only on what i have observed, see in corses caladaers at unis and from talking to peoleop in the programs. It should be noted that they all overlap and offten have some of the same corses. Also it is possible to get a degrea in one and still work in an area of the other tho it whould be harder.


Edit/Add on:

For Computer Science (at least for me) you start off with alot of math corses in 1st year such as advaced calauces and discrite math. You take about 2 to 3 compsci corses witch are mostly beginer ones, thess can ushely be skiped if you have a strong back ground in the very basicks allready. There are also noramly english/arts electives that you take in 1st year to prove you can speak english i guses, for mine i took phiopshy.

2nd year switchs to having more compsci corses then anything but still a few math corses. The math corses are things like a contionation on discreit math and some problity/stats ones. The compsci corses become reavlent this year and start to cover subjects like data strucetrs (or adavced data struchers), OOP, and for me at least i did some lower level stuff that invauled asm, and computer arctectchure (cricutes and logic gates).

3rd and 4th year is where it gets good (and alot harder in some cases). There is not as mcuh noncompsci things, and only 1 or 2 math corses and you can start taking some realy cool corses like topics in AI, progaming langues, OSs, Databases, and alot of others now that you have most of the perrecks out of the way. They also throw in a software engering corses in around here. 4th year is all about making shure you have all the electives and requirements you need to graduate as well as taking the last of the compsci corses. I will tell you more abou that when i get there.

[cool dude]

wow thanks. i was actaully thinking in between computer science and software engineering.

when you say the computer science begineer courses can be skipped do you mean literally not need to be taken or do you mean you still have to take the course to get the credit but you can skip a lot of classes because you already know it?

Also do you need to take science? if so how much of it?

Also i heard about other programs like Mechatronics Engineering and
Nanotechnology Engineering. is anybody taking those courses and could tell me something about them?

[rdrake]

Typically your first year will be almost pure science, maybe with some computer science teaser courses in there. Upper years concentrate more on the computer courses though.

I think he means that beginner classes are so easy, one can typically miss many classes and still be ok. Really the only reason I go to my first year classes for computers is because they have quizzes constantly.

[Tony]

Dan has it summed up pretty well.

rdrake - depends on where you go. At Waterloo, first year CS is a common first-year Math, so lots of math (Calculus, Algebra) and actually CS (you get to choose your entry level, as some are designed for those with no programming background, or skip into advanced). As far as I know, there are no filler science courses.

cool dude wrote:

Also i heard about other programs like Mechatronics Engineering and
Nanotechnology Engineering. is anybody taking those courses and could tell me something about them?

Hey, I'm persuing a degree in Mechatronics! (and so are some other members on this forum).

It's a step away from Computer Engineering in the direction of actual robotics. We get to take one programming course each term (so far the trend has been C++ -> C -> Asm ... ). In 2nd year we'll be writing real time OS systems, and in 3rd we'll be assembling and programming an actual robot. Sweet. Lots of Calculus, lots of Physics, a bit of everything else - good times (it's a tough program though).

Nanotech is riding the 'slightly cooler sounding than Mechatronics' wave, taking in all the smart kids. Kind of odd though, since it's all theoretical now. Lots and lots of science, mostly Chemistry and Physics, some biology as well. Little in terms of programming. Good luck finding a co-op job.

[rdrake]

Ah yes, I meant science/math. It seems divided between math and science first year.

[Dan]

cool dude wrote:

when you say the computer science begineer courses can be skipped do you mean literally not need to be taken or do you mean you still have to take the course to get the credit but you can skip a lot of classes because you already know it?

I mean literally, at lakehead you can skip the 1st year compsci corses with the permision of a prof in the CS deparment. Noramly you need to have done each year of high school CS and show that you know all the marteal. In my case i was offtered to skip it since i did collage coreses that covered the same things, but i took it any way to get my averag up. Gave me a nice 100 on my transcript

cool dude wrote:

Also do you need to take science? if so how much of it?

Lakehead lets you pick from 3 options, hardware, chemisrty and buisness.

If you take hardware you have to take physics corses, if you take chesmistry you have to take chem corses if you take buisness you don't have to take any sci corses at all and you are given math, compsci, business and electives. This is just lakehead tho and each uni can differ in what electives they whont you to have.

[Carino]

Well here at Western, the only difference between computer science and software engineering is that you take the minor in software engineering which adds a handful more courses to the regular compsci module.

Im currently in second year, taking software engineering. My first year courses consisted of 2 comp sci courses(really easy), 2 calculus courses, physics (my choice), astronomy(my choice again) and psych(elective). This year I have 5 comp sci courses, 2 math, stats, and some electives. 3rd/4th year have mostly all comp sci courses with electives.

As you can see, it differs a bit for each Uni, I'd look into each university's different majors and what they require, and just go from there.

[Naveg]

Tony wrote:

It's a step away from Computer Engineering in the direction of actual robotics. We get to take one programming course each term (so far the trend has been C++ -> C -> Asm ... )

Is it safe to assume that those courses are relatively easy for someone with previous programming experience?

[Andy]

If you dont like programming (like me) waterloo is a pretty good place to be. I'm only taking the minimum required courses to get a cs degree, and my electives are enough to earn me a second honour in combinatorics and optimization

[[Gandalf]]

Might I lay out the following question:
How exactly does computer science differ from regular, straight-out programming? Why take computer science if you don't like programming, when you can instead be taking more mathematics or science oriented courses?

[Andy]

the cs degree is purely for employment reasons.

what i meant by not enjoying programming is that i hate writing applications. I love problem solving, and like to use programming tools to accomplish my task, but writing tools and apps, that's just not for me.

For example. I only write about 20-30 lines of code a day here at Nvidia, but it takes me the entire day to formulate that 20-30 lines and polish it. mind you, that 20-30 lines is actually couple of hundred in disguise.

I'm taking 6 courses a term at waterloo, 1 more than the normal load. and will be starting URAs (Undergraduate research assistant) starting in 2B.

[1of42]

Tony wrote:

Nanotech is riding the 'slightly cooler sounding than Mechatronics' wave, taking in all the smart kids. Kind of odd though, since it's all theoretical now. Lots and lots of science, mostly Chemistry and Physics, some biology as well. Little in terms of programming. Good luck finding a co-op job.

I was actually wondering about this. Nanotech engineering sounds extremely interesting to me, but is it actually legitimately much more difficult to get co-op jobs from nanotech?

[Andy]

yes. but in general, it's harder to find the your first co op job in the summer term.

However, nano did have the lowest employement rate out of all the engineering.

heck, if you want to get a co op job, dont even do engineering. CS is where' it's at