Second and third year in Computer science

Vickysg24

Does anyone know if the computer science modules in second year and third year have as much mathematics in them as the first year?

Mastroph

Hahaha! Mathematics in first year computer science.... hoohoo, funny stuff.

Seriously, what? We've done almost no maths in any of my computer science modules so far. (CS141, CS142, CS143)

Seren_

Mastroph wrote: »

Hahaha! Mathematics in first year computer science.... hoohoo, funny stuff.

Seriously, what? We've done almost no maths in any of my computer science modules so far. (CS141, CS142, CS143)

Not everyone's great at maths, so what you may think is a small amount might take up a lot of time and effort for someone else.

Vickysg24

Mastroph wrote: »

Hahaha! Mathematics in first year computer science.... hoohoo, funny stuff.

Seriously, what? We've done almost no maths in any of my computer science modules so far. (CS141, CS142, CS143)

ok well I noticed how you've missed out on CS151 there??! Discrete structures? (which is in other words discrete mathematics) You either didn't have to take that module or maths just comes easy to you. I'm guessing you didn't have to do the module coz there are a lot of us that struggled with it

philologos

Vicky - do you do Computer Science through Arts? (CSSE / Science do this in Second Year)

If so in third year there is a pretty tough module on the Theory of Computation, but asides from this the mathematics isn't too complicated.

Vickysg24

Jakkass wrote: »

Vicky - do you do Computer Science through Arts? (CSSE / Science do this in Second Year)

If so in third year there is a pretty tough module on the Theory of Computation, but asides from this the mathematics isn't too complicated.

I'm doing multimeda through arts, and computer science is a compulsory module in it... but in second year I have a choice of dropping out on computer science or my other arts subject (which is anthropology) so just trying to work out what I want to keep more. Discrete structures put me right off computer science tho to be honest.

LeixlipRed

Mathematics is the foundation of computer science and I really wouldn't recommend continuing with the subject unless you at least have a slight interest in mathematics. Remember there's a maths support centre in the university where you can go for any maths related query, including CS related stuff. But if you really dislike maths then I would advise dropping CS. But if you just find it tough yet enjoy it then keep it on!

Mastroph

Vickysg24 wrote: »

ok well I noticed how you've missed out on CS151 there??! Discrete structures? (which is in other words discrete mathematics) You either didn't have to take that module or maths just comes easy to you. I'm guessing you didn't have to do the module coz there are a lot of us that struggled with it

Ah, that would be it then, I don't have that module. I've heard it's pretty tough.

philologos

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Mathematics is the foundation of computer science and I really wouldn't recommend continuing with the subject unless you at least have a slight interest in mathematics. Remember there's a maths support centre in the university where you can go for any maths related query, including CS related stuff. But if you really dislike maths then I would advise dropping CS. But if you just find it tough yet enjoy it then keep it on!

I think this is a little harsh. You can get through some of the mathematical stuff with a bit of work even if you aren't the best at maths.

I think how you understand the code is probably what will be more important, or even if you like doing Computer Science.

LeixlipRed

The point I was getting at is that the only reasons computers exist is because of mathematics, it's either implicitly or explicitly present in every area of the subject. Hence if you have a strong dislike for mathematics then I don't see how you could flourish in the subject. There's a difference between disliking it and finding it tough, if you enjoy it and find it difficult I'd definitely encourage you to keep it up is my point.

mp3guy

Vickysg24 wrote: »

I'm doing multimeda through arts, and computer science is a compulsory module in it... but in second year I have a choice of dropping out on computer science or my other arts subject (which is anthropology) so just trying to work out what I want to keep more. Discrete structures put me right off computer science tho to be honest.

The material covered in Discrete Structures only really reappears in four modules, CS355, CS370, CS310 and CS357. I'm quite sure you can avoid most if not all of them in your course.

TouchingVirus

LeixlipRed wrote: »

The point I was getting at is that the only reasons computers exist is because of mathematics, it's either implicitly or explicitly present in every area of the subject. Hence if you have a strong dislike for mathematics then I don't see how you could flourish in the subject. There's a difference between disliking it and finding it tough, if you enjoy it and find it difficult I'd definitely encourage you to keep it up is my point.

It's a good thing you're a Mathematician and not a Computer Scientist so

I've a dislike of Mathematics, but an understanding that it's fundamental to many sciences including Computer Science. There are many areas that while based in maths are so abstracted from it that your dislike for Maths wouldn't have a bearing (for example, programming). Of course you wouldn't go programming cryptographic software for a bank, but there are plenty of other things to be doing.

As for not flourishing, I placed very well in my class despite this lack of love for Maths though perhaps I was an exception.

pakb1ue

TouchingVirus wrote: »

It's a good thing you're a Mathematician and not a Computer Scientist so

I've a dislike of Mathematics, but an understanding that it's fundamental to many sciences including Computer Science. There are many areas that while based in maths are so abstracted from it that your dislike for Maths wouldn't have a bearing (for example, programming). Of course you wouldn't go programming cryptographic software for a bank, but there are plenty of other things to be doing.

As for not flourishing, I placed very well in my class despite this lack of love for Maths though perhaps I was an exception.

I would have to agree, there was a guy in my class who was brilliant at programming and other modules such as OS and Networks. But the guy couldnt add two numbers together to save his life.

Though that said it is important to have a good enough grasp Maths as for most modules you will be encountering some form of high level (I use that term very loosely) Maths. Most of the best guys in my class at the course where good at Maths as well.

All in all its important but not massively.

LeixlipRed

TouchingVirus wrote: »

It's a good thing you're a Mathematician and not a Computer Scientist so

I've a dislike of Mathematics, but an understanding that it's fundamental to many sciences including Computer Science. There are many areas that while based in maths are so abstracted from it that your dislike for Maths wouldn't have a bearing (for example, programming). Of course you wouldn't go programming cryptographic software for a bank, but there are plenty of other things to be doing.

As for not flourishing, I placed very well in my class despite this lack of love for Maths though perhaps I was an exception.

Yeh, what I'm trying to say is that if you want to be a leader in your field in CS you have to be a competent mathematician in my opinion. But if you just want to do a degree and get a job in the area then no, you don't have to like maths or even be any good at it. I just think too many people go into areas like science and are conning themselves that they can do a phd or something when they have poor maths proficiency or don't enjoy the subject.

To sum up, do something you enjoy is my advice.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Vickysg24 wrote: »

ok well I noticed how you've missed out on CS151 there??! Discrete structures? (which is in other words discrete mathematics) You either didn't have to take that module or maths just comes easy to you. I'm guessing you didn't have to do the module coz there are a lot of us that struggled with it

I used to demonstrate CS151 in 2009. a lot of students had trouble with it, and 20% prob fail it. (id say 40% of the students I graded failed, but some of them were dropouts, who never handed up a paper, so i cant say for sure how many actually failed!) I didnt do my undergrad degree in NUIM, the first time I seen the material was usually an hour or 2 before the tutorials, the last 3-4 tutorials were fairly tough. the class was a mixture of CS and Arts students, the Arts students mainly struggled, which kinda makes since. A lot of people were blaming the lecturer too, the classes moved to fast, and not a lot of interaction. Im not naming the lecturer btw!

how did you find the module Vickysg24?

Vickysg24

Brody Narrow Pearl wrote: »

I used to demonstrate CS151 in 2009. a lot of students had trouble with it, and 20% prob fail it. (id say 40% of the students I graded failed, but some of them were dropouts, who never handed up a paper, so i cant say for sure how many actually failed!) I didnt do my undergrad degree in NUIM, the first time I seen the material was usually an hour or 2 before the tutorials, the last 3-4 tutorials were fairly tough. the class was a mixture of CS and Arts students, the Arts students mainly struggled, which kinda makes since. A lot of people were blaming the lecturer too, the classes moved to fast, and not a lot of interaction. Im not naming the lecturer btw!

how did you find the module Vickysg24?

I found the module really tough to be honest... I only just passed tho and got a 40-45 so was kinda lucky there... struggling quite a bit now with cs142 tho... I just can't get my head around programming... some of it goes in but the rest is just like Jargon to me! my tutor tells me that one day it'll prob just click with me but it hasn't happened yet and I don't think it will do :S I think it's just one of them tho... you either get it or ya don't

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Vickysg24 wrote: »

I found the module really tough to be honest... I only just passed tho and got a 40-45 so was kinda lucky there... struggling quite a bit now with cs142 tho... I just can't get my head around programming... some of it goes in but the rest is just like Jargon to me! my tutor tells me that one day it'll prob just click with me but it hasn't happened yet and I don't think it will do :S I think it's just one of them tho... you either get it or ya don't

I also demonstrated CS141! was my favourite one to demonstrate. yea i remember the day it all clicked with me! hopefully it will happen for you

philologos

frankcarty: The reason why Discrete Structures is difficult is because it is so abstract. Theory of Computation is much the same. It takes much longer than other things to understand.

mp3guy

philologos wrote: »

frankcarty: The reason why Discrete Structures is difficult is because it is so abstract. Theory of Computation is much the same. It takes much longer than other things to understand.

Not necessarily. It's mathematics basically.

And abstraction is generally quite important to anyone studying any mathematically heavy field, especially CS, which requires other kinds of abstractive thought (in software design etc...).

That and the fact no one can explain what the module title means before or after studying it.

philologos

mp3guy wrote: »

Not necessarily. It's mathematics basically.

And abstraction is generally quite important to anyone studying any mathematically heavy field, especially CS, which requires other kinds of abstractive thought (in software design etc...).

That and the fact no one can explain what the module title means before or after studying it.

I find programming much more approachable. Simply put probably because you can write something, test it and continually refine it. It's not quite as easy when it comes to approaching the more theoretical stuff.

I managed to do alright in Discrete Structures and we'll see how the Theory of Computation goes but they have been the two most difficult modules in the CS Arts programme.