[nfbcs] Computer science major college question

Taylor Arndt taylorarndt99 at gmail.com
Tue Jul 5 00:56:38 UTC 2016 

Yo, what do you recommend I do. I started learning programming, but I really would like to have a programming job. So are you saying that I should get a degree in computer information systems and then do internships?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:13 PM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> One of the issue that I have with Computer Science degree programs is that of timing. Computer Science is a field which is changing very rapidly. Universities and colleges are notable for not being able to modify their academic programs very fast. This leads, as I have found in the process of interviewing people, to a situation where the person is literally four years behind the current state of industry by the time they emerge form a CS program.
> 
> It is for this reason that certificate programs offered by community colleges are sometimes more valuable. While traditional CS undergraduate programs give the student a sound understanding of the theory of computer programming; certificate programs give one the practical application of theory. Many a CS major I have encountered can write out an algorithm on paper but are hard pressed to implement the same algorithm in Python when asked to do so.
> 
> The reason is that Professor X has been teaching his algorithms class for the last 20 years the same way from the same text. This in a field in which everything changes every few month. It does you little good to learn algorithms in Fortran or Cobol when employers need it in Python or Swift.
> 
> Greg  
>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 6:59 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> There are those who choose to open their own business for purposes that an
>> established company cannot provide. For an example, my company will provide
>> a valuable resource for soon to be graduates.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nicole Torcolini
>> via nfbcs
>> Sent: Monday, July 4, 2016 6:46 PM
>> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Nicole Torcolini <ntorcolini at wavecable.com>
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>> 
>> Some companies will not hire people who do not have a Computer Science
>> degree. However, that does not necessarily mean that you have to get one.
>> Either way, be sure to get your hands on some real life work through an
>> internship or something before trying to get a job.
>> The DRC at my college was very helpful. It just depends on the school. Some
>> DRC's can provide a lot of help in some areas but not others, so make sure
>> that you talk to the DRC before you apply or accept.
>> Many colleges require a foreign language. Most have a wide enough selection
>> that you should be able to choose the one that you want. What specifically
>> are you concerned about with foreign languages?
>> College is similar to high school in that you are still required to take
>> certain subjects; you just have more options for the specifics in those
>> subjects.
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Aaron Cannon via
>> nfbcs
>> Sent: Monday, July 04, 2016 9:33 AM
>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
>> Cc: Aaron Cannon
>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>> 
>> If you really want to program, don't wait until college to learn. If you
>> want to learn it, then learn it. There are tons of free resources online,
>> and even more on BookShare.
>> 
>> If you'd like some pointers on getting started, ask on this group.
>> 
>> Best of luck.
>> Aaron
>> 
>> --
>> This message was sent from a mobile device
>> 
>> 
>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 08:58, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Well, I want to be able to program.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 4, 2016, at 8:58 AM, Greg Kearney via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> You will definitely need calculus for a computer science degree. Most
>> schools will also require a language. That said I have heard of a few school
>> that accept computer languages (C, Fortran, Python, etc.) for this
>> requirement but such schools are, I suspect, very, very rare.
>>>> 
>>>> As a dyslexic I was told to steer well clear of formal foreign 
>>>> language
>> instruction and so ended up taking American Sign Language to fill my
>> university's language requirement. The advantage was that ASL has no written
>> form and as such I was never required to learn to read, write or spell in
>> it.
>>>> 
>>>> When I went to school the disabled student's office provided far less
>> support than many of them do today. What support they gave was welcome
>> however, they could, for example, insure that once I had signed up for a
>> class and the recorded book were ordered that the class would be offered no
>> matter what.
>>>> 
>>>> I would also point out here that there are many paths to a career in
>> technology and no all of them lead through a computer science degree. Today
>> I hold the professional title of engineer at a major silicon valley company,
>> yet my degree is in fine arts with graduate work in American Studies. I
>> never once had any formal computer science or engineering training but I did
>> avail myself of some programming classes that filled the math requirements
>> in college.
>>>> 
>>>> Many of the people I work with directly have degrees in music and 
>>>> others
>> in fields as wide ranging as philosophy and history and came to computer
>> science after the fact. Indeed my company often tells people they should
>> ignore the education requirements section of job posting and apply if they
>> feel they can do the work. My supervisor never set foot on a college campus
>> but came out of the military.
>>>> 
>>>> Greg Kearney
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 11:40 PM, Taylor Arndt via nfbcs 
>>>>> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Really? I thought if you went into the sciences you didn't have to 
>>>>> have
>> one wow that stinks
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Jul 3, 2016, at 10:18 PM, Andy B. via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 1. I had to take calculus. Why? When you start getting into 
>>>>>> database
>> cross products, intersections, and unions/set theory, having an
>> understanding of these from a math point of view helps. Finally, during week
>> 1 of one of my programming classes starting tomorrow, we have to write a
>> program that solves a 4-line algebra problem.
>>>>>> 2. The DS offices did not do much for me in my undergrad degree.
>>>>>> 3. Almost all schools require a foreign language credit(s). Mine 
>>>>>> did
>> not because I took classes online.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert
>> Guyette via nfbcs
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, July 3, 2016 9:34 PM
>>>>>> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Cc: Robert Guyette <rags215 at comcast.net>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Yes you have to take calculus bedside you will use it in computer
>> science classes.  The more the math the better.  I did  not rely on the
>> disabled students services.  
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Get Outlook for iOS
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Sun, Jul 3, 2016 at 6:27 PM -0700, "Taylor Arndt via nfbcs"
>> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi, so I am doing some research for colleges. I know that I want to
>> major in computer science but I have few questions One. Do you have to take
>> calculus in college?
>>>>>> If so why is this?
>>>>>> Two. Did the disability services at your college help you in anyway 
>>>>>> for
>> your computer science major?
>>>>>> Three. Did you have to take a foreign language class in order to
>> graduate?
>>>>>> Thanks, and I'd appreciate any input
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
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>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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