Computer Science Vs Computer Science + Language

Prodigious

Hi there,

Hoping to go to Trinity in September. I plan on doing Computer science. I figure doing German alongside would increase job prospects, especially abroad.
My question is, is the CS + German a watered down version of CS? Or is it the whole CS degree along with German on the side?

The courses are TR033 and TR039

Thank you.

galwayjohn89

https://www.scss.tcd.ie/undergraduate/computer-science/jf/
https://www.scss.tcd.ie/undergraduate/computer-science-language/jf/

You can find the modules you'll be taking in jf in the links above. CS w/Language would be a watered down version with less focus on hardware. I do CS and business and first two years missed out a bit but next year will be doing pretty much all CS

Mark200

If your only worry is job prospects, you'll be fine with a CS degree. Unless of course you want to go abroad to somewhere like Germany.

tyty

Hey, I'm doing CSL with French. CSL doesn't include all modules that CS has, namely everything hardware-/electrical-engineering-related. I quite like that because I'm not that interested in that area anyway. It still has (almost) all software-related modules (Java programming, Mathematics, some Assembly programming) and additional modules only for CSL that go towards Natural Language Processing. Besides, you will have German language classes and modules on general linguistics, i.e. sounds, structure, grammar of languages etc.

I wouldn't call it a 'watered down' version of CS, it just has a different focus. If you want to go into software engineering, theoretical computer science or especially computational linguistics you will be fine. Also you get to spend the third year abroad (Germany in your case).

There is another thread with more specific info about the CSL course and modules here: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056911240

Prodigious

Thanks for all the replies.

Mark200 wrote: »

If your only worry is job prospects, you'll be fine with a CS degree. Unless of course you want to go abroad to somewhere like Germany.

On the other hand, would they be lessened by the fact that I did not do as many CS modules?

tyty

Prodigious wrote: »

On the other hand, would they be lessened by the fact that I did not do as many CS modules?

The job prospects with both are excellent I'd say, it's more about in which direction you would personally like to go. Anything related to hardware, electrical engineering or low-level programming, then definitely pure CS, but for software engineering it does not matter. The modules for that area are basically the same, with CSL having a few that CS doesn't and the other way round.

Also an employer probably doesn't know and doesn't care what exact modules you had. It's more about what skills you learned during your course, internships or personal projects

Mark200

Prodigious wrote: »

On the other hand, would they be lessened by the fact that I did not do as many CS modules?

I agree with the post before this, but one thing worth mentioning is that with CS you'll have the option to do an optional 5th year and get a Masters in Computer Science. And if you're doing this 5th year, then you also do a 7 month paid internship in the 2nd semester of 4th year. I found the internship really useful, and a great learning experience.

So just another thing worth considering.

But the CS modules you wouldn't do if you chose CSLL are the modules I personally never liked anyway. You'd still get to do what I see as the most interesting modules.

Prodigious

Hi all,
Was hoping someone could clarify. I was told about electives? Basically an add on to a course. Do these run in Trinity, and how would I go about applying?
If so, could I theoretically do the full CS course, and do a German elective?
Thanks again.

tabouli

Hi OP,

In the CS course you can do an elective for a semester in 2nd year (broad curriculum). There are language courses available for this, but if you do a forum search on it you'll find that many people (myself included) found them to be poorly run and a waste of time.

I was in the exact same situation as you when I started out, I'm now finishing off fourth year CS and doing the internship placement that was mentioned earlier at a company in Berlin. I also spent my third year on Erasmus in Germany. I don't know if I'm any better off than if I had just done CSL but anyway if you want any more info about this stuff then feel free to PM me

tyty

No. But in some years in CS you might be able to pick a Broad Curriculum module which could be a course from any academic field (see list here: http://www.tcd.ie/Broad_Curriculum/administration/timetable1314.php) or a language course which will also count towards your degree. This is just two hours per week though and the language courses are based on group projects, i.e. you also get taught new things, but regularly have to prepare presentations/plays etc. in small groups.

You can always take such language courses btw, they just don't contribute to your marks if it's not part of the Broad Curriculum. There are also several societies offering language courses in many languages.

EmmetOT

CSL is a lot smaller and you get to know your entire class better.

Also, if you're a fan of surreptitious custard consumption, CSL is the course for you...