CS 105 or 106a?

<p>Hey, I'm a freshman and definitely a fuzzy...thinking about majoring in IR. Sometimes I feel like I'm closing off my options by not exploring enough, so I want to take a CS class, to get a basic understanding of things (that also might be of slight use if I enter a business career in the future).</p>

<p>I don't have programming, or really any computer experience...</p>

<p>Any recommendations whether I should take CS 105 or 106a?
Also, my winter quarter schedule is looking like 19 with CS 106a, and 17 with CS 105.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>While CS 106a is a great class that many use as a gateway into the techie fields, it is also a lot of work (like all of the CS classes), so be careful having a heavy load at the same time
CS 106a has a great reputation, but it will be difficult (especially to people with no programming experience)</p>

<p>CS 105 is a 5 unit class. Only grad students can take it for 3 units.</p>

<p>Do CS 106X, jk. I’m in that one, but thats because I’m doing CS. You should shoot for CS 106A, is a really cool intro class from what I heard. And you never know if you’re going to like CS. >.<</p>

<p>Hey college.curious
As a fellow IR major, I took CS 105. I have no computer background and it was somewhat useful, but honestly, it was actually too easy. If you’re looking at a really challenging schedule, you can easily add 105 to lighten it up. If you already know how to turn on a computer and not to respond to email scams though, you might want to opt for 106A. It’s not exclusively for techies and might be more helpful.</p>

<p>106a with Mehran Sahami. hands down.</p>

<p>I really don’t think CS106A is a lot of work. I took it with Sahami, and it changed my life. I was a premed Bio major going into the class, and I came out as a CS major. Really. It might be the best class I have ever taken and will ever take in my entire life. Yes. That good.</p>

<p>And peanuts to anyone that says its hard. Its might be tricky but there are so many places to get help (Professor’s office hours, the LAIR - a dedicated computer cluster for CS106A and CS106B students that’s always staffed by TAs, other CS majors), it is actually ridiculous. </p>

<p>But Sahami only teaches in the Fall. I highly recommend him over other teachers. What’s your freshman fall schedule looking like? I recommend taking it next sophomore fall if this fall is too packed. Ideally, I think a good IR schedule for Fall would be something like:</p>

<p>-IHUM
-Econ 1A
-CS 106A</p>

<p>I recommend having a a light fall quarter freshman year, so anymore than this would be too much. Maybe an introductory seminar.</p>