Thread: computer science majors..read!

  1. #1
    samurai warrior nextus's Avatar
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    computer science majors..read!

    ok next year i am going to a university to learn computer science...or further my knowledge in it...thats what i want to do for the rest of my life...i heard they are changing computer science courses from teaching c++ to teaching java...true or not?
    nextus, the samurai warrior

  2. #2
    Registered User Xei's Avatar
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    Um... I believe it depends on your preference. Over here you have to do a general study first, then you actually get to make your own choices.

  3. #3
    samurai warrior nextus's Avatar
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    hopefully yes...i love c++ to death..
    can java program win32 api or openGL..? hopefully not..i want c++
    nextus, the samurai warrior

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    It depends on the university. High schools are switching to java because CollegeBoard will be testing java on the AP tests starting next year. Universities are after students learning programming concepts, both in HS, or if not in HS, in University. They do start basic with hello world programs in Universities, for those who have not been fortunate enough to study comp sci earlier.

    Once you learn the concepts, you can pick up languages fairly easily. Some colleges are c++ focused, some are java focued. it is good to learn quite a few languages; as the job market is looking for people that know more than one language.

  5. #5
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    Nextus, I'm at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and I'm majoring in Computer Science Engineering. The courses you have to take range from html/javascript to c++ and java. You have to take everything. There are about 20 courses that are required, at first...the ones that I'm taking right now...they are pretty dull and you learn "how it all works"...for example 'cs201 Data Structures and Discrete Mathematics I ' but then you get to more involving courses such as AI and virtual reality. You can go more in depth in the field you like by taking electives.

    UIC also offers a Math Computer Science degree, which is much less work then engineering, and the material is more dry.

    If you want some info about UIC's CS engineering department go here: UIC CS ENGINEERING

    Click on the programs and see what you like. I would advise you to get into engineering if your schol offers it. I'm a second semester Freshman and love it, even thought the material (not only CS) is tough.

    If you have any more questions for me, post them up

    axon

  6. #6
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    in germany

    hello
    i don't know how it is in america but in germany, universitys are not taking only java or c++. you are learning many language and sometimes they have a special language to learn the basics of programming

  7. #7
    CS Author and Instructor
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    Wink

    C++ and Java are the two leading programming languages taught a universities in the USA. Alpha and axon are correct. General first then more specific. At the grad level you can even focus in a specialty field.
    Mr. C: Author and Instructor

  8. #8
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Originally posted by Mister C
    C++ and Java are the two leading programming languages taught a universities in the USA. Alpha and axon are correct. General first then more specific. At the grad level you can even focus in a specialty field.
    thats pretty much the same as it is here in canada. its about how to program in general, not just with a language. we used java for the entire first year (easiest way to learn OOP) , second year and up depends on the course (usually either c/c++ or java).

  9. #9
    booyakasha
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    at my school ( state university of new york at buffalo ) i've used mainly C++; but also some Java, MIPS assembly, ML, Scheme, Prolog, PHP, Lisp and Erlang. I also use Microsoft Visual Studio ( C++, J++, C#, VB, etc. ) because my school provides it for free ( but i haven't used these in any of my courses ).

  10. #10
    booyakasha
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    Also a note:
    Computer Science isn't about learning languages ( so it doesn't really matter what the school primarily uses ) . By the time you are done with computer science you will ( should ) be able to learn a new language in a couple of days ( if not a couple of hours ).

  11. #11
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    >.... MIPS assembly ....

    hehe, im learning MIPS right now. i much prefer high lever programming but its still interesting.

  12. #12
    Registered User axon's Avatar
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    At UIC we first begun with HTML, then javascript and unix shell scripts, and the next course, the one I'm enrolled in right now is c++

    axon

    some entropy with that sink? entropysink.com

    there are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness. - franz kafka

  13. #13
    samurai warrior nextus's Avatar
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    thanks..i was scared for a moment..whew!..good now i am can go to college in peace..hehe
    nextus, the samurai warrior

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