<p>My school requires 2 years which is 4 classes of any science. I am deciding between physics and biology. Chemistry has been put on the back burner.</p>
<p>I think physics will help me out in the long run since it has math based concepts and even if I never use it again in CS(not in to game development) its still good to know.</p>
<p>Biology would be the easier path to take so I can focus on CS courses. Also then I would be taking many of the class with the pre-med students, for good or for worse.</p>
<p>Should I take biology or physics to fulfill the science requirement for a CS major?</p>
<p>I'm sure many of you have been down this path before. Any input is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Physics would be better. It’s pretty much required for all Engineers and Biology isn’t usually part of an Engineering school’s curriculum.</p>
<p>Physics is typically a better fit for CS majors, unless you intend to go into computational biology or something like that.</p>
<p>@Darthpwner
“Physics would be better. It’s pretty much required for all Engineers”</p>
<p>And how’s this relevant in any way? Engineers need physics, therefore they study physics.</p>
<p>As for the original question,</p>
<p>Physics is a good general study if you aren’t going to take much of it. Just to get the basics covered or to serve as a basis for further e.g. self-study. Computer simulations employ and can employ most physics concepts, but the same is true for biology, although the biology that you take, may not be as mathematically presented (to serve as a conceptual basis for computational uses).</p>
<p>I think mathematics is more useful for CS, but I guess math isn’t considered a science in this case, and maybe you’ve got math included already?</p>
<p>The only science that comes close to being useful for CS is Physics, and it really only comes close, mostly. Take whichever one is most interesting to you.</p>
<p>@Reactor, if he had to pick either Physics or Biology, he should take Physics to better prepare for College Physics. There would be no point in taking Biology if he is never going to use it again.</p>
<p>There IS a good reason (in my humble opinion)why Physics should be the science choice of CS majors…</p>
<p>There is a good chance that you may use it in a programming assignment before you graduate. Let’s say that you decide to take Numerical Analysis which is a course that can be given by either the CS or Math departments (or both). Some of the Numerical Analysis problem/scenarios may use a Physics-type problem as an example. Of course that depends if your prof select those problems but they are in the Numerical Analsysis texts.</p>
<p>You just may decide during your junior year (because you NEVER know when your mind may change) to go into the growing area of computational engineering/science. Hell, you may decide to go into quantum computing.</p>
<p>Take all three; two in high school, one in university. They’re pretty useful as general fields and you very well may benefit from having knowledge in them.</p>
<p>One other consideration is, if you want to go into patent law, consider that the patent exam course requirements for students in non-ABET-accredited CS degree programs tend to emphasize physics over chemistry over biology. See <a href=“http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf[/url]”>http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/GRB_March_2012.pdf</a> (page 4-6).</p>
<p>^ The OP never said he wanted to go into patent law. I recommend physics, it requires the same mindset you need for CS. It is all about problem solving. Biology is different and it is very very hard, you got to memorize a bunch of weird words. It has a lot of reading and even a lot of writing. I never took it knew people who did and struggled with it. Biology from HS and college are different. I recommend chemistry over biology. I feel physics should be required on all CS programs rather than an elective because of the reasons GT mentioned</p>