Author Topic: University Courses (Read 7028 times)

Ant · « **on:** 2001-10-16 12:01:00 »

Had to send off me UCAS form today..
Just wondering..to all of you people out there @ uni I plan to do computer science and was wondering if anyone who is doing/has done that at uni if they could tell me what its like / what the course entails in depth, from a students perspective as most people who have informed me about computer science courses have been the lecturers.

I went to an Open Day at Warwick and it was pretty cool, nice computer building!

I know that universities sometimes have student access only parts of their websites and I was wondering if someone could maybe post a link or email me a detailed syllabus for a 1st year of a computing degree if they happen to have one.

Thanks

[edited] 57 2001-10-16 18:18

The SaiNt · « **Reply #1 on:** 2001-10-16 12:11:00 »

I'm not quite sure, but it seems to differ in different countries.

ficedula · « **Reply #2 on:** 2001-10-16 13:41:00 »

Hey, cool! If you'd told me you were going to the Warwick CS open day I would've come along and laughed at you. Haha.

I think Warwick exposes everything about the course to outside access on its website (www.dcs.warwick.ac.uk) ... but I'll try to answer any questions about CS that you want.

Ant · « **Reply #3 on:** 2001-10-16 17:16:00 »

Ficedula: ROFLMAO

Is there a v. detailed syllabus that's given to CS students when they get there, is there an electronic version of it. Id realy like to see that.

Chaz.

Jedimark · « **Reply #4 on:** 2001-10-16 17:49:00 »

Im applying to do Software Engineering... very similar to Computer Science but I know people in the Computing industry who say that people employ Software Engineer's and not Computer Scientists!

Oh I haven't made up my mind where I'm gonna go though! Our UCAS deadline is middle of November... im just stressing over my bloody personal statement at the moment!

Ant · « **Reply #5 on:** 2001-10-16 18:12:00 »

Hmmm.
I have heard contrary to that...........(more than once I may also add! AFAIK CS is meant to be WAAAAAAAAAAY more respected)

Alhexx · « **Reply #6 on:** 2001-10-16 18:49:00 »

I guess I'm going to take a look at this topic regulary...I'm gonna study computer sience, too, but in 'bout 3 years...

Reason: To go to Uni in Germany, you have got to go to school for 13 years; you can start with school at an age of six. So when you've finished school, you're AT LEAST 19. Then, if you're a guy, the good old 'Bundeswehr' (german federal army) comes, and you've got to visit them for a while

. So when you've got that army thingy behind you, you can start to study... So you're at least 20 when studying... and I'm only 17...

- Alhexx

Ant · « **Reply #7 on:** 2001-10-16 19:56:00 »

Wow! You have to join the army?

??
No choice in the matter?

Alhexx · « **Reply #8 on:** 2001-10-16 21:04:00 »

Ehm, well, you got. You also can do civil work (or how it is called in english). That means: working in a hospital or care 'bout old ppl... I prefer going to army for some months...

- Alhexx

ficedula · « **Reply #9 on:** 2001-10-16 21:37:00 »

Ant: That's what I heard too ... hence why I'm taking CS rather than a software engineering course.

Course details? Just go to the Warwick DCS homepage and look under courses ... the first year course content is under http://www.dcs.warwick.ac.uk/pub/course/g400/firstyear.html. To be honest, WE didn't get much more than that (well, obviously when we started the course the lecturers told us more ... but that's as much advance info as you get).

vvalentine · « **Reply #10 on:** 2001-10-17 00:40:00 »

Sorry to read this late, but I can help you.

I am a CIS major student at (Un-named University or Institute). I have done 1 year already in Computer Science (CIS). Well, it first starts with the basics, you know, like hardware and software. Then you take classes that go more into detail. You also have to take some math, english, business, and humanities courses. Where I go, you actually take less of those courses than most Universities in California, and more of the good stuff.

I am now a week from finishing my third semester, and I am almost than with a class that prepares you to take the A+ Certification test. In those semesters, I also learned a programming language (I rather not name it) pretty well, and I am almost done with the Introduction to C++ class. Next semester I am going to take some Operating Systems class, along with Accounting, Professional Writing. One thing about College is that you must be responsible. Hell yeah I gotta be responsible, if I drop my grades I don't get financial Aid, and financial aid covers all of my tuition. So, expect to stay a few more hours awake after midnight doing projects, homeworks, and take home tests. You will be at the point of breaking out in anxiety, but be cool. Just like Qhimm was going through the other day, I have gone through it too, and maybe you will also.

You will have less hours of school, so you can have some time to get a part time job (Part-time not Full-time, because chances are you are going to get a lot of homework to do (if they give you homework)). Anyways, I got off the subject. My future classes in the next semesters will be Networking, Advanced C++, Java, Visual Basic, Network Security, Electronics, Oracle8i, and some more classes. The cool thing about the University that I am going to is that we do a Senior Project, and we do it in something that has to do with CIS. We have to do something creative that is actually useful for some business(I heard that some senior project was donated to a hospital). Well that's most of it, you will have fun. If you can, try to get a head start in your studies (You'll regret it if you don't).

-vvalentine

The SaiNt · « **Reply #11 on:** 2001-10-17 01:45:00 »

Well, I'm currently in year 1(semester one)
However, before this course, I was forced to take a foundation in IT beforehand, because I didn't take an A-Level's or equivalent course.
For the foundation, I took maths & statistics, accounting, IT (stuff about computers & how they work, very general), English & Introduction to C & VB6 programming.
This semester, I'm taking most of the business subjects for my course, the comp. related ones come later. So, currently I have to take management, maths(includes calculus) & an IT subject(covers database & SQL). Coming November, I have to take up Java programming. I'm not quite sure about what else is coming from the top of my head (have a lecture in 20 min time), but I remember a number of subjects involving maths subjects.

As for s/w engineering, I looked through the course guide in my college the other day. It seems that s/w engineers are more "s/w" orientated. What I'm trying to say it that comp. sc. students have a wider scope & are more "generalised" compared to s/w engineering students. The s/w engineers focus a lot more on maths, I suppose. I could be wrong though

ficedula · « **Reply #12 on:** 2001-10-17 12:52:00 »

Don't know about where you are, but here it's the CS students who do evil maths. Software engineers tend be concentrate almost solely on programming with a few things like business and professional studies thrown in ... CS studies hardware, software, programming, maths, etc... (how to build your own CPU anyone? OK, we haven't actually done it, but you study the theory of that sort of work.)

(Though that said, last year we did build a simple calculator [could add/subtract lists of numbers] from *complete* scratch. Y'know, they give you a lot of wires and some logic gates and say "build a simple calculator").

The SaiNt · « **Reply #13 on:** 2001-10-17 13:20:00 »

No idea.

Must remember to go check Course Outline soon

Ant · « **Reply #14 on:** 2001-10-17 17:33:00 »

Fice: Cheers v. much, pretty interesting....

Darkness · « **Reply #15 on:** 2001-10-17 23:20:00 »

i try not to think about college.