<p>Hi, I'm an incoming Freshman. I have taken AP Computer Science A and got a 5. I was just wondering if I should skip CMSC131 and go straight to CMSC132? Or should I retake CMSC131?</p>
<p>I'm pretty adept at all the concepts covered in CMSC131, but I don't know how to download Java on to my computer, or learn GUIs</p>
<p>I'm majoring in Computer Science and I've taken BC Calculus too already and got a 5.
Also, should I take CMSC131H or CMSC132H? I'm in the honors college</p>
<p>You should already have some sort of java on your computer. I’m guessing what you want to download is Eclipse?</p>
<p>If you got a 5, then your prepared to take CMSC132. It isn’t that hard, you’ll do fine. The difference between honors vs non-honors is minimal (if not nonexistent) but Fawzi Emad >> Herman, so take CMSC132H instead.</p>
<p>EDIT: You also do stuff with GUIs in both CMSC131/132(H), but nothing that would require any past knowledge.</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>I use Eclipse, but I do all my programming at school, so I’ve never actually downloaded it myself. </p>
<p>I found a sample schedule online. [CMSC</a> 131: Object-Oriented Programming I, Fall 2010](<a href=“http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/spring2012/cmsc131-0x0x/schedule.shtml]CMSC”>http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/spring2012/cmsc131-0x0x/schedule.shtml)</p>
<p>Would it be okay to sit in CMSC13 on the first 2 weeks for topics like
Demo of Eclipse IDE; Computer systems overview; Hardware; Memory
Operating systems; Software languages; What is Object Oriented Programming?
Why Java? Simple coding examples; Text output; Variables and assignment</p>
<p>I feel like relearning this would make more sense, now that I know how to use the language.</p>
<p>You won’t be behind if you take CMSC131; so take that if you think you’d be more comfortable. </p>
<p>Your going to zoom through those topics and go straight to programming though. </p>
<p>But yeah, you can sit on classes if you’re that on the fence about it.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help!!!</p>
<p>I took the CMSC131 Exemption Exam today, and I passed!</p>
<p>Congrats on passing the exam. I took 131 and regretted it. It was very easy and really boring. I’m also in honors and took 132h and really enjoyed the h version. whether it is very different or not from the normal version all depends on who is teaching the h version.</p>
<p>Do you think you can tell me more about CMSC132? Is it one of the harder comps sci classes? I dont want to overload on my first semester.</p>
<p>I see that it’s 4 credits, so that’s a little daunting.</p>
<p>CMSC132/132H isn’t hard. Its JAVA and I think you cover static variables, recursion, sorting, threads, and some very basic graph theory.</p>
<p>EDIT: The lecture slides from CMSC132 last semester are still up if you want to look at them.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your help EddieD! I just have one last question:</p>
<p>I noticed on the CMSC132 syllabus there are 2 reccomended books but no required books. Do you think I should get one of the books?</p>
<p>Personally, I rarely/never use any computer science textbook. My first two semesters, I ended up buying them, then returning them at the end of the semester never opened. I definitely use textbooks for other classes I’ve had, but never needed them for computer science. If I have questions about computer syntax, I’ll just google it. You can see that they say recommended, not required. </p>
<p>Professors won’t give exercises from the text and they generally won’t follow the text when lecturing. The slides are usually sufficient (once again, if you need more info, google it). Practice problems are best gotten from past exams, which the professor will usually give to you. </p>
<p>Of course, if someone told me this before I took my first college semester, I would ignore them and buy the books just in case. So I will at least describe the textbooks for your benefit. The first book is a computer science textbook (closest to what you had in high school probably) and describes a lot of stuff. The second book helps with Java syntax. It doesn’t describe loops or objects or anything, but it tells you the syntax in case you really can’t remember something (e.g. how to make a for loop, how to make classes, how to import things, etc.)</p>
<p>In case you’re on the fence about getting them or not, I would wait until your on campus to buy books (not uncommon). I know the UMD bookstore will give you a full refund within the first week and maybe others stores will do that, too.</p>
<p>Thanks! So you’ve never needed to open any CMSC book or just for CMSC132</p>
<p>Not for CMSC132, CMSC216, or CMSC250. </p>
<p>That’s your first two semesters right there! CMSC330 doesn’t have any books. CMSC351 works different for every professor; mine recommended a free pdf, which I did use. Of course, that’s more of a math class than anything. </p>
<p>So none so far!</p>
<p>Any idea why on ourumd.com the number of A’s for CMSC132 is 31% while for CMSC132H its a whopping 69%?!</p>
<p>Because cmsc132h is filled with honors students (so they do better than the average student)</p>
<p>Where did you find the lecture slides?</p>
<p>[CMSC132</a> Schedule, Fall 2011](<a href=“http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2011/cmsc132h/schedule.shtml]CMSC132”>http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/fall2011/cmsc132h/schedule.shtml)</p>