CS 1301 vs. CS 1315

[BanjoHitter]

<p>As a Biochem major, it appears that you have a choice between CS 1301, CS 1315, and CS 1371 according to this: [Georgia</a> Tech :: Chemistry & Biochemistry :: Undergraduate Curriculum :: Biochemistry Track](<a href=“http://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/undergraduate/curriculum/bsbiochemistry/]Georgia”>http://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/undergraduate/curriculum/bsbiochemistry/)</p>

<p>To give you an idea of the difference, you can read the “Objectives” statements from some of the syllabi:</p>

<p>CS 1301 [CS1301</a> - Summer 2009 - Syllabus](<a href=“http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/AY2009/cs1301_summer/syllabus.html]CS1301”>CS1301 - Summer 2009 - Syllabus)

Course Objectives</p>

<ol>
<li>To understand the basic concepts of computer programming in a high-level language.</li>
<li>To be able to use and combine control flow constructs to form useful programs.</li>
<li>To understand and become familiar with a number of simple data structures.</li>
<li>To understand the process and skills necessary to effectively deal with problem solving in relation to writing programs.</li>
<li>To be able to test and debug programs.</li>
<li>To understand and employ functions and modularity.</li>
<li>Through labs become comfortable with common software packages in use today.</li>
</ol>

<p>

</p>

<p>CS 1315 [Syllabus</a> - Summer 2008](<a href=“http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/cs1315/5639]Syllabus”>http://coweb.cc.gatech.edu/cs1315/5639)

* Students will be able to read, understand, modify, and assemble from pieces programs that achieve useful communication tasks: Image manipulation, sound synthesis and editing, text (e.g., HTML) creation and manipulation, and digital video effects.
      o We will always give you examples to use when we ask you to program 
* Students will learn what computer science is about, especially data representations, algorithms, encodings, forms of programming.
* Students will learn useful computing skills, including database concepts 

</p>

<p>CS 1371 <a href=“https://t-square.gatech.edu/access/content/group/XLS1209095111200902.200902/Class%20Info/syllabus.html[/url]”>https://t-square.gatech.edu/access/content/group/XLS1209095111200902.200902/Class%20Info/syllabus.html&lt;/a&gt;

Concepts</p>

<p>The students will be expected to be familiar with the following concepts, either by writing code to solve problems, or by diagramming the behavior of the more complex algorithms.
General Principles:</p>

<pre><code>* abstraction

• testing
• debugging
• problem solving
  </code></pre>

<p>Concepts evaluated by coding:</p>

<pre><code>* data types

• the use of variables for storing data
• basic mathematical and logical expressions
• arrays
• operations on arrays
• strings and character arrays
• structures
• file input and output
• conditional statements
• selection
• repetition
• functions and procedures
• variable scope
• plotting 2-D and 3-D data
• recursion
• manipulating sound
• manipulating images
• queues and stacks
• lists and trees
• graphs
  </code></pre>

<p>Concepts evaluated graphically</p>

<pre><code>* sorting data

• search techniques
  </code></pre>

<p>Languages</p>

<p>Matlab� is an excellent first language for engineers. It is an interpreted language that provides students immediate feedback from their actions, and postpones many of the gory details of correctness until a program is run. It is an ideal environment for ordinary engineering computation. The course is conducted from the Matlab� programming environment. ‘Matlab’ is a registered trademark of The MathWorks, Inc. Students who wish to work on their Matlab� assignments on their own computers are required to purchase a Matlab� license. For students not wishing to purchase the license, Georgia Tech provides access to computers equipped with Matlab� licenses through a licensing arrangement with The MathWorks, Inc.

</p>

<p>So, basically, CS 1301 is intro to CS for CS majors and involves actual programming in a language (Python)</p>

<p>CS 1315 is intro to CS for non-technical majors and involves general concepts and ideas associated with computing</p>

<p>CS 1371 is intro to CS for engineers and involves general concepts of CS in the framework of simulation / technical software (Matlab).</p>

<p>In terms of easiest to understand for a non-programmer 1315 > 1371 > 1301</p>

<p>In terms of usefulness, take 1301 if you plan to do any programming in the future, 1371 if you plan to use any sort of technical software where you need to code in formulas/simulations, and 1315 otherwise.</p>