What would be my best option after taking Calculus BC for a prospective CS major? I’m currently a junior in HS and this is the highest level my school goes to so I’m assuming it would be an online math for my senior year. I have already taken AP Computer Science and currently taking Applied Object Oriented JAVA this year. Any other courses I should be looking at going forward? Thanks.
Any course availability at a nearby college?
Common math courses that CS majors take:
discrete math
linear algebra (or combined linear algebra and differential equations)
calculus-based probability and statistics
multivariable calculus (in engineering-based CS majors)
@ucbalumnus There is a CC about 30 minutes away but that isn’t an option since I have no car. I would prefer to do maybe an online math course from a university if that’s an option. Of the math courses you listed is there a preferred order after BC? Also I didn’t mention it in the earlier post but I’ve taken honors Biology, honors Chemistry and AP Physics so need another science next year. Would AP Biology or AP Chemistry be the better option for CS?
In terms of what math course to choose, the first three are typically required for CS majors; multivariable calculus is typically required if the CS major is engineering-based. But you may want to choose between them based on scheduling convenience, since they usually can be taken in any order. Can you take public transportation to the college?
Neither biology or chemistry is specifically useful in CS, unless you want to go into CS with specific application to biology or chemistry. If you go to college where the CS major is engineering-based, you will likely have to take non-CS science, and chemistry and (calculus-based) physics are more likely to be required than biology.
@ucbalumnus I live in a rural area so there are no buses for transportation where I live. I think I understand what you mean when you say “if the CS major is engineering-based.” but not positive. From an earlier thread on CC:
The nature of computer science is not engineering in my opinion, although I personally think computer science should be include in engineering school. Many schools don’t agree with that.
Computer science is not software engineering. Software engineering is just part of what modern computer science curriculum teaches. Computer science is the study of electronic computation. Like chemistry, it is the study of matters and their changes. You get the idea although the words I use are not very good. Binary, data structure, algorithm, set theory, graph theory, these are not engineering. They are branches of study from various fields, like math and physics. They are applied and extended, however, with other fields of study.
Computer science is a science. But in practice, computer science is an engineering discipline. It is therefore, I count it as “interdisciplinary”.
Today computer science, like physics, has two groups: applied and theoretical in my opinion. A computer scientist concerns about the study of computer science. They could be an engineer too.
Computer engineering is not the engineering of computer science. Computer engineering is engineering of software and hardware at the level of computer (computation).
I have taken so far STEM 1(Introduction to engineering design), STEM 2(Principles of engineering), STEM 3(Digital electronics) and next year have the choice for STEM 4 of engineering development and design or civil engineering and architecture. No question I will choose engineering development and design.
I meant “engineering-based” in terms of curricular requirements. Engineering-based CS majors have more non-CS science and math requirements, typically including multivariable calculus (in addition to single variable calculus, discrete math, and linear algebra), a year of calculus-based physics, and a semester of chemistry or science elective. Non-engineering-based CS majors typically require single variable calculus, discrete math, and linear algebra in math, and no science other than general education requirements at the school.
Engineering-based CS majors are typically ABET-accredited and commonly found in engineering divisions of large universities or engineering-focused schools. Non-engineering-based CS majors are typically not ABET-accredited (due to the greater math and non-CS science requirements for ABET accreditation) and commonly found in arts and sciences divisions of large universities or liberal arts focused schools.
A good CS curriculum, regardless of whether or not it is engineering-based in curricular requirements, will include aspects of both science and engineering, or theory and design as another way of putting it.
@ucbalumnus Seems like most think that discrete math is the best/most important class for CS. Are you aware of any online courses that would be available to take since my CC is not an option?
Since you appear to be a Florida resident, do any Florida community colleges offer distance/online versions of these math courses that are accepted for transfer to various universities?
@ucbalumnus None that I or my GC are aware of. UF offers an online Calculus 3 but no discrete math which is preferable.
Wouldn’t be surprised if discrete math is the least commonly offered, since fewer majors need it.
It looks like UF also offers linear algebra as a distance/online course.
Coastline Community College in California has distance/online versions of some of these math courses, but you would be paying out-of-state tuition.
@ucbalumnus would the linear algebra be MAC 1105?
No, MAC 1105 is a lower level course below calculus.
MAS 3114 would be a linear algebra course.
https://one.ufl.edu/soc/
@ucbalumnus Thank you for your time. I spoke with UF DE and unfortunately MAS 3114 is not available for online DE, only the following courses are offered:
Looks like MAC2313 (calculus 3) is the only course more advanced than calculus 2 or calculus BC in that UF list.
They do offer a statistics course STA2023, but it appears to be a non-calculus course similar to AP statistics.