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Computer Science Curriculum in College

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the computer-science-does-not-mean-software-engineer dept.

Ludwig Feuerbach writes "As it's back to school for university students, including Computer Science undergraduates like myself, I look at my course schedule for this semester and I have courses with titles like: Theory of Computation, Numerical Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and History of Economics from Plato to Keynes. The first 4 courses are required in my CS program. I had thought nothing of it until I read an opinion piece by Dan Zambonini, who stresses the type of courses I'm taking are, essentially, useless for getting a job. He lists several CS courses useful for a job. Is he right? I tend to think that an university education should stress scientific topics over vocational ones, but since I'm just planning to get a job after I grad, am I in the right program?"

6 of 654 comments (clear)

  1. My advice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Take that university money and put it in energy stocks. You'll make way more money than you'll get working at some feeble job, and no re-paying your student loans for decades.

    When you're rich, you can buy all the books you want and read them, hell, you can pay someone to read them to you.

  2. Re:Designed to grind out more CIS teachers by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 2, Funny

    There's a line I heard somewhere about those who fail to learn history, but I can't remember how it goes, Oh well, it's probably not important.

  3. Touch Typing?!? by mkcmkc · · Score: 3, Funny
    Parent is right on, and Zambonini is all wet. I was going to joke that he should put "touch typing" in his list of courses that degree programs should require, but incredibly, it's already there.

    CS is your time to master theory and basics--the entire rest of your life will be spent learning languages X, Y, and Z, and the latest trends...

    Mike

    --
    "Not an actor, but he plays one on TV."
  4. Re:Regarding the purpose of a higher Ed degree... by apoc.famine · · Score: 5, Funny

    And from what I hear, one of the most useful classes you can take to get a job after completing a CS degree is Hindi.

    --
    Velociraptor = Distiraptor / Timeraptor
  5. Re:no by nine-times · · Score: 4, Funny
    Over the next few years the postition of IT Support Engineer will reduce in standing until it reaches equality with that of building maintenance engineer.

    What are you talking about? I'm a Helpdesk Manager, and I already get treated worse than the janitor.

  6. Re:no by DerekJ212 · · Score: 1, Funny

    You sir win my award for butchering the spelling of "a lot" the most.