I am starting my first year at an university next fall, and my act subscore puts me into college level algebra. I can take placement test to try and get into a higher level class (which I will more than likely do), but I was wondering what math level would be optimal for students going for a computer science degree?
The higher the better. Number theory is good for computer science though
Ideally one should be in calculus. However, taking college algebra, then trig, and then calculus won’t set you back too terribly much. If you haven’t taken material equivalent to college algebra and trig, then you should probably take the courses.
The curriculum is typically based on students beginning in calculus, but if you’re not prepared for calculus as a college freshmen, then you should start in the level you are most qualified for. It’s better to do well in your classes than try to get into a level that is too advanced for where you are.
I suggest taking remedial math for a semester or two if your going for Computer Science, It won’t set you back to bad.