<p>Hey guys, I'm interested in a BA Computer Science major, and I was wondering whether it would be better to start off with CS1120 or 1110. It seems that 1120 covers a broader topic, which I like, but I'm also interested in learning a functional language. FYI, I have some experience with HTML but none with Java or PHP, etc.</p>
<p>Could someone give me some details about both?</p>
<p>Thank you. :)</p>
<p>Are they even still teaching the 205 (whatever that class is with 4 digits) 2nd semester of 1120? 1110 also has 3 sections (1110, the big class which ranges from 100 or 200 in the fall to 550+ in the spring; 1111 for people with prior programming experience; 1112 for people with no programming experience). I don’t think you would be eligible for 1111 because you don’t know a functional language, but I think the HTML would exclude you from 1112. But just so you know they exist. 1120 is less programming for sure; you learn scheme and then have to learn all of Java in 1 semester in the 205 course, or just take 1110 and 2110 afterwards to spread it out. 1110 is a monster of a class, but you do learn to program. If you can’t hack it in that class, (which I would doubt because of your HTML experience), then you shouldn’t major in CS anyways. I think you should try to go to both classes and see which one you like better (professor is a big part of it) but there are more spots in 1110 and it is more mainstream and that is why I would recommend that class over the other one. I’ve heard good and bad things about 1120, and I worked for 1110 for 7 semesters so I could tell you plenty of awful things about that class, but in the end if you know what you are doing, you shouldn’t have a problem either way in the 1st level. I think if you want to jump right into Java though, you should take 1110. Feel free to ask more questions or PM me!</p>
<p>I don’t know about the sections… both classes seem to be one semester and one can take either one to declare the CS major. Neither requires any programming experience, especially the 1120. The description for 1120 says “CS 1120 provides an introduction to computer science. It assumes no previous background beyond experience with email. The class focuses on describing and reasoning about information processes using language and logic. We will incorporate motivating examples from the liberal arts and sciences areas such as art, biology, economics, narrative, physics, and sociology.”</p>
<p>So 1120 is Intro to Computer Science whereas 1110 is Intro to Programming. (I’m also a bit confused about this separation of CompSci vs. Programming.) I personally don’t mind whether I learn a language immediately, but would you know about how many languages a CS student can expect to know after they graduate?</p>
<p>You will know Java, C++, a bit of assembly, and maybe something like C# or equivalent, and whatever you learn on your own.</p>
<p>Programming is knowing how to put everything together to solve a problem. Computer Science is understanding where all the parts come from. Like theory vs application, except programming requires quite a bit of logic/proof so there iws a bit of overlap in that analogy.</p>
<p>hazelorb, when you say cs1110 is a “monster of a class” is it difficult material to grasp, heavy workload, or both?</p>
<p>It depends on the person. For 1/3 of the enrolled students, the material will be hard from day 1. For another 1/3, the material will be hard by the final. For the upper 1/3, the class is easy.</p>
<p>The workload is a bunch of 2 week homework projects. If you wait (which inevitably you will), it will be horrible - not only because of the time you will need to spend in a short amount of time, but also because office hours are nuts by that point. Try to get started right away.</p>
<p>The logistics are really the problem, you will find out. Organizing a TA system that works for 550 students is completely impossible, and toes are constantly being stepped on between students, staff, and professor (someone is always unhappy).</p>
<p>I looked on SIS - it says there are 225 students enrolled, and there’s only one lecture class. Maybe they shrunk it down for this year?</p>
<p>There are always fewer students in the fall (hazel also mentions this is post #2 above). It’s a required class for first year SEAS students however most take it in the spring unless they have AP credits.</p>
<p>Yes in the fall it is around 200 (it is a lot more this fall) while in the spring it is around 500. Last spring it was 550. You must add all sections of 1110 and 1111 since the TAs are shared (along with tests, homeworks, lecture slides, etc). 1112 has its own TAs and curriculum.</p>