How big is mathematics in Computer Science?

BetterThanThou

I left school last year, I realize I made a terrible mistake, and I've decided to go back, get a leaving cert and go onto college/university and get a degree. I've looked into many different degrees. But the most appealing of them all seems to be computer science. I have been into using computers since I first started using them, I've never really explored the programming aspect, but I think it's something I would enjoy doing. However, when it comes to mathematics, I've never been great. I'm great at things that are just numbers, but when algebra comes into the equation, I have to work a lot to gain an understanding of it, and while I usually can gain an understanding of it, it definitely does not come naturally. Would it be possible for me to do well at computer science despite not having a great understanding of maths? Or should I explore other degrees?

B_Rabbit

BetterThanThou wrote: »

I left school last year, I realize I made a terrible mistake, and I've decided to go back, get a leaving cert and go onto college/university and get a degree. I've looked into many different degrees. But the most appealing of them all seems to be computer science. I have been into using computers since I first started using them, I've never really explored the programming aspect, but I think it's something I would enjoy doing. However, when it comes to mathematics, I've never been great. I'm great at things that are just numbers, but when algebra comes into the equation, I have to work a lot to gain an understanding of it, and while I usually can gain an understanding of it, it definitely does not come naturally. Would it be possible for me to do well at computer science despite not having a great understanding of maths? Or should I explore other degrees?

I'd explore other options.

Maths is fundamental to the degree, and there are entire modules for it throughout the 4 years of the degree. It's quite difficult, and I actually used to enjoy maths.

sheesh

depends where you are doing it there will be some maths that you just had to do which were not that hard then there was other maths like in a subject like cryptography which could be quiet hard but you might not have to do cryptography so you would be fine. there is some maths in gaming and 3d stuff too so if you are going towards that end be aware of that.

Jonny Blaze

I wouldn't worry about it as much as all that to be honest.

When I first decided to study computer science I was convinced that I wasn't going to be able to make it through the course because I had always been rubbish at maths. An i mean seriously rubbish! I scraped a D in pass maths for the leaving cert, and honestly it had been about 5 or 6 years since I had done any maths at all as I was going back as a mature student aged 25.

As others have said, there will certainly be a certain degree of maths you need to pass for the course, however the main areas you will cover, or at least that I covered in my degree (DIT) are actually not that difficult. Things like matrices, modular arithmetic, some probability etc.

If you are doing a games module you will do a lot more maths than you will in the rest of the course. All of your triginometry, geometry and so on come into play there.

The main thing is that if you want to be there, are willing to work hard to pick up the slack and ask lots of questions, you ill be able to get through the course.

Not to mention that there are resources around for learning now that make it easier than ever to study and master the topics you will come across.

In DIT they had a student maths learning centre for example which held weekly sessions where you could bring maths grad students or lecturers your questions and they give you essentially grinds in the area.

Even online there are things like https://www.khanacademy.org/ and wolfram alpha which are excellent resources as well.

Bottom line is, you will get what you put into it. If maths isn't your strong suit (like me) then there are still a huge amount of potential career paths you can take with a computer science degree that will not be maths heavy, or even related to maths at all. Also, again, even if your maths are weak, with enough hard work and effort you should still be able to scrape through the exams when you need to. The funny thing I found as well was that your overall maths ability will improve throughout the course as well as you get better etc. So by the time any more difficult stuff comes along in fourth year you will be better prepared for it.

Hope that helps anyway, and fire me off a pm if you want to get your hands on my old notes as well to give you a taste of what you can expect.

Cheers and don't worry, it's a great degree with loads of really enjoyable parts to it.

All the best.

CreepingDeath

BetterThanThou wrote: »

However, when it comes to mathematics, I've never been great.

I had a B in pass maths and struggled with the 3rd level math (Kevin St college degree), especially calculus, failed a couple of maths exams and passed them on the repeats. ( Over 20 years ago )

So that was the hardest part of the course for me, and I still have infrequently recurring nightmares about being in math exams !

But if you apply yourself to it, it can be done.

BetterThanThou wrote: »

Would it be possible for me to do well at computer science despite not having a great understanding of maths? Or should I explore other degrees?

Doing well in computer science can be completely independant of doing well in your degree. In the 20 years since I graduated I haven't needed anything more than secondary school level math for enterprise level computer programming. Although if you gravitate towards computer graphics/game development then that's very math intensive.

Vague alternative degrees might be some form of business degree specialising in computers for the last year or so... so you end up in the business analyst type of roles, project management etc.