<p>Hi, I’m a computer engineering major staring Fall 2014. Im trying to work out schedules before orientation. I was wondering what the difference is b/w ecs 10 and 30? I know C++ pretty in-depth and basic stuff like visual basic and SQL and a bit of Java. I heard you need to know python for ECS 30 though…? What class would you recommend for my level?</p>
<p>Also in the general catalog, under computer engineering, it lists ECS 30 as a requirement but not ECS 10. So if i take ECS 10, the credits wont count for graduation or anything?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance:) </p>
<p>You don’t need to know Python for ECS 30. ECS 30 is entirely in C, with zero Python involved. I had Sean Davis, who’s agreed to be the hardest instructor for that class, and his recommendation was knowing any language to some level. Even that isn’t a hard and fast rule though; I and many others I know went into 30 with zero experience and still did well in the class.</p>
<p>Basically, ECS 10 is there for non-majors and for people who have zero programming experience. If you already have any programming experience, it’s a waste of time. In your case, definitely go straight to 30. For what it’s worth, if you know C++ already you’ll have an easy time in ECS 40 when you get there; it’s all in C++. C may take some adjustments because it’s slightly different than C++, but knowing C++ already will help a lot.</p>
<p>ECS 10 wouldn’t count towards your major, no. You’d get units towards graduation (as with any credit-bearing class), but that’s about it. Like I said, in your case just go straight to ECS 30.</p>
<p>Edit: I should add, for anyone else who reads this: The above advice applies to people in computer-related majors. If it’s not required for your major and you have no experience, go with ECS 10.</p>
<p>@phantomvirgo thank you for such detailed advise! So I guess I’ll choose ECS30 then! I heard its a ‘weeder’ class? I’m not too sure what that implies though.
When I was going through the General catalog, I noticed
1.Engineering: Computer Science
2.Engineering: Electrical and Computer Engineering</p>
<p>(<a href=“http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/programs.html#e”>http://catalog.ucdavis.edu/programs.html#e</a>)</p>
<p>All this while I was referring to the latter but now I’m suddenly confused. My major is Computer Engineering, So which section applies to me? </p>
<p>With the professor that’s teaching it in the fall, 30 isn’t a weeder class. It’s only a potential weeder if Sean Davis is teaching it, though with how he structures his classes pretty much any class he teaches might be considered a weeder.</p>
<p>The “weeder” of the CS classes is usually agreed to be ECS 40. All that really means is that it’s a class that gets people who aren’t a fit for the major to switch out. I personally didn’t think 40 was very difficult, but it will vary depending on the instructor.</p>
<p>That said, I only know about the CS side of things; I don’t know anything about engineering classes.</p>
<p>You’re under the second department you listed.</p>
<p>Okay great! Thanks so much!
Also since ECS10 deals mostly with Python and considering I dont know python at all, should I take that class anyways? ( Before ECS 30)</p>
<p>Which GE courses would you recommend ( Under the Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences section) ? I know GE’s are just supposed to be classes you enjoy and stuff, but I am trying to look for classes that actually help a future computer engineer. Any ideas? Thanks!</p>
<p>Python is simple to learn without a class. I’d recommend codecademy if you want to learn the basics; if you want to learn more advanced aspects from there, I’d suggest joining an opensource project.</p>
<p>I can’t think of any off the top of my head that would potentially help as a computer engineer. I can recommend some that I’ve taken, though.</p>
<p>LIN 1 (AH, SS), intro to linguistics. I’m a bit biased here seeing as it’s in my other major, but it can apply towards either breadth requirement and it’s an easy class.</p>
<p>RST 1 series (any), focusing on different aspects of religions. GEs vary a little but these are all AH and I think most/all also count towards Writing Experience. I took RST 1F with Elmore, and it was pretty much talking about southeast Asian religions. I’d recommend any of them if you’re interested in learning about religions at all.</p>
<p>ANT 2, cultural anthropology, fulfills a lot of GEs (of course, keep in mind you can’t apply all of them) and is easy. I personally thought it was kinda boring, but that’s me.</p>
<p>LIN 177, computational linguistics, can count towards SS and is really simple if you have any programming experience. LIN 1 is a listed prereq, but the professor will also let in people who haven’t taken it and have programming experience. So if you don’t mind linguistics, this is a nice class to get some simple GE credit.</p>