We don’t have a separate digital logic course. We cover digital logic in both our discrete math for CS course and our computer architecture course (in more depth). But yes, discrete math will apply to digital logic somewhat. However, it depends on what you covered in your discrete math course. I had to take both discrete math for CS majors (we call it Discrete Structures) and discrete math for math majors (we call it Fundamentals of Abstract Math; it actually covers more than just discrete math, which we only spend about half the semester on) and they were very different. What topics did you cover?
@guineagirl96 oh that’s cool, ours is called discrete structures. so im taking those 2 (digial logic data structures, along with prob. & stats) will that be a hard semester for me or no ? In other words, will i fail ?
What is your current class plan for your last 3 semesters? If you could list that out it would be easier to evaluate, as well as being better for your planning. It seems you have quite a lot left to finish in 3 semesters.
@PengsPhils Okay so after completing the stuff i registered for next semester as well as the stuff im planning on taking for the summer, i will have left to complete the 4 advanced core courses (Operating Systems, software engineering, design and analysis of algorithms, and programming languages), linear algebra, spanish2, 4 electives & CS seminar… Im thinking of doing 2 adv. core + 2 electives + (linear algeba or spanish 2) + cs seminar ? and then the other 2 for each minus the cs seminar if already completed prior semester… Can this be done in a year or is it too much ? im a hard worker just in case you’re wondering, not really the type that slacks off lmao.
Also, i don’t know why, but when i try searching for the electives when registering, i don’t see much available, only like 1 or 2 which are full… (even tho i need 4) …? idk ;/
Okay, so, your current plan is to do the following classes in two semesters:
Operating Systems
software engineering
design and analysis of algorithms
programming languages
linear algebra
spanish2
4 electives
CS seminar
That’s 11 classes, 4 of which will take significant time. Assuming all classes but the seminar are 4 credits, I don’t think it’s going to be a good idea to go for that: an extra semester if possible would probably be best, as the material is not only a lot but also important to your learning. If you could finish in the summer, you could avoid the Fall though. Make sure the classes are available in the summer.
Here’s an example option that I think would be doable:
Fall 2016: - 16 credits?
Algorithms
Operating Systems
Linear Algebra
Elective
Spring 2017: - 16 credits?
Software Engineering
Programming Languages
Spanish 2
Elective
Summer: (assuming they are offered): 11 credits?
CS Seminar
Elective
Elective
The problem is that if you have 11 credits to spread over 2 already full semesters if you don’t do another term.
If any of the credit amounts are off, please post - it could be doable if these are all 3 credit classes, but I doubt they are based on the material in some.
@PengsPhils hey, thanks so much for your input first of all, also all the classes that i mentioned are all 3 credit courses, thats why i feel like it can be doable but the problem is i don’t see much electives from the ones im available to choose from, i have like 10-15 to choose from but i only see like 1 or 2 on the web course catalog when registering, but yeah they’re supposedly all 3 credit courses as well, according to my curriculum sheet
Okay, with that in mind, this would be your route (or similar like switching LA or S2). You def need to split up the CS core courses 2 and 2. If you do any hard electives or CS electives, they need to be more heavily weighted to fall - your 2 electives for Spring should be easier. It’s going to be a lot of work and frankly I would still possibly consider a summer session, but if you want to work like hell, this would be feasible (assuming 15 credits is a normal load for both you and your school).
Fall 2016: - 15 credits
Algorithms
Operating Systems
Linear Algebra
Elective
Elective
Spring 2017: - 18 credits
Software Engineering
Programming Languages
Spanish 2
Elective
Elective
CS Seminar
@PengsPhils thanks for that suggestion, really appreciated, one more thing lol have you taken these core courses ? if so can you give like a really brief description for each of them so that way i would have a better idea of what courses to put together.
I haven’t taken all of them but I know people who have for each, the reputation of them, and what to expect.
Algorithms - I have taken this at the Masters level - It was a lot of proof based mathematics for me and it draws on a lot of data structures. It’s a theory course technically, but there’s a good deal of application to it. Sorting, Optimal Solutions, and how to create algorithms for problems. The class essentially covers all of that. My class was really intense - the midterm and final grades were 60% or so because the whole test was hard problems that he asked us to come up with algorithms for on the spot - I learned more than I did in any other class. Undergraduate was significantly easier. It’s a very important class but shouldn’t be too hard.
Operating Systems - Currently starting a Masters level version of this (Computer Systems) on Monday - Should cover the basics of computer architecture and include lots of low-level programming. Will probably be project based and won’t be as easy to pick up as some of the higher level languages is what I’ve heard.
Programming Languages - Currently starting at Masters level on Tuesday - very hard at my university, can vary for others. Discusses the theory of language design (OO versus Functional, Different Typing Systems, Inheritance, Syntax) as well as the implementation of it (parsing to actual representation).
Software Engineering - Yet to take. Varies a lot based on how much work the prof assigns and how project-based the class is. Takes all your coding experience and puts it to work on a large scale project. Should also discuss the different ways to develop large software projects with teams - very crucial in industry but also usually different in industry than in the class. The idea is essentially preparation for industry and large projects.
@PengsPhils thank you! that was very insightful, you made them all to be scary tho, especially operating systems because of it’s “low level language” and “being hard to pick up” lol, definatly going to need to put in a lot of effort for these classes, taking data structure and digital logic next semester, better hope i do well in those classes… Goodluck with your masters level programming languages class by the way lol im sure you’ll do well you seem REALLY smart. btw what programming language did you use for coding ?
Someone good at CS will be able to pick up and use whatever programming language is suitable for the task at hand.
What UCB said. For Algorithms alone I used two different languages depending on what the problem needed. Once you know a few languages, you should be able to learn the others: PL should help you decide what languages are best for what task.
Best of luck! Your final year will be very intense. Your upcoming one seems manageable enough: if you find that to be anything but at the very least “relatively easy”, switch to my suggested summer plan or another more relaxed plan. I’m still a bit wary about all those classes being 3 credits. Hard work doesn’t always make the difference.
Nothing specific. The whole concept of data structures was difficult to understand and implement. Plus, it was one of the last CS classes in my CS program, and I was mentally burnt out by then.
After working as a programmer for a awhile, the things I had problems with in class became second nature.
Thanks so much for the help guys, for now im thinking of waiting for the upcoming semester to start and meet with my advisor and let him know my plan and see what he tells me, also im going to take @PengsPhils 's advice and see how this semester goes and depending if i struggle this semester ill go more lite with the semester and probably take an extra semester or 2, but again thats depending on how i felt this semester went, I need A’s so we have to wait and see, but thanks again guys you were much helpful, love this site 