[nfbcs] Computer science major college question

Tue Jul 5 03:10:59 UTC 2016

I'd explain it slightly differently. CS degrees focus on programming and 
engineering. You're given an assignment, although you can be involved in 
requirements gathering, but your job is to code or program the best 
solution to meet the assignment. This could be in application 
development and for example writing a ticketing system. I see CS degrees 
as focusing on programming languages, like C, C++, Java and so on. A CS 
degree will involve more mathematics and logic.

An IS degree is going to focus more on the overall business and finding 
the write technology or solution for the problem. It may involve 
programming, but it'll also involve things like business analysis, 
project management, and so on. DevOps is a good example of this, and 
here you'll be using more scripting languages like Perl, Python, Power 
Shell and so on.

On 04/07/16 21:09, Robert Spangler via nfbcs wrote:
> Hello:
>
> I think that is a great comparison.  I myself have been struggling between
> whether I want to do CS or Computer Information Systems, which I believe has
> less math requirements and more classes from the business school like
> Managerial Accounting and such.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Andy B. via nfbcs
> Sent: Monday, July 4, 2016 9:41 PM
> To: 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Andy B. <sonfire11 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>
> It depends on what you want to do. CS focuses on the mathematical aspect of
> programming. IS/IT focuses on application development for consumers and
> business users. If you want to create binary algorithms that calculate the
> hash of a union result from an sql database, a CS degree is best. On the
> other hand, if you want to write an application that allows a business owner
> to track trouble tickets, an IT/IS degree might be best.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Taylor Arndt via
> nfbcs
> Sent: Monday, July 4, 2016 8:57 PM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Taylor Arndt <taylorarndt99 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Computer science major college question
>
> 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
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/rags215%40comcast.
>>> net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/sonfire11%40gmail.
>>> com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/taylorarndt99%40gm
>>> ail.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/gkearney%40gmail.
>>>>>> com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/taylorarndt99%40gm
>>> ail.com
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> for
>>> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/cannona%40fireantp
>>> roducti
>>> ons.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/ntorcolini%40wavec
>>> able.co
>>> m
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/sonfire11%40gmail.
>>> com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbcs mailing list
>>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbcs:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/gkearney%40gmail.c
>>> om
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbcs mailing list
>> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nfbcs:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/taylorarndt99%40gma
>> il.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbcs mailing list
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbcs:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/sonfire11%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbcs mailing list
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbcs:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/spangler.robert%40gmail.c
> om
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbcs mailing list
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbcs_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfbcs:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbcs_nfbnet.org/chaltain%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Christopher (CJ)
chaltain at Gmail