Take Computer Science before Numerical Analysis?

[SMA_01]

I'm a math major, and it's required we take Computer Science I. I've never had any experience with programming (don't really know about it). I was thinking of taking Intro to Numerical Analysis, but when I read the course description it said that some computer knowledge is required. Would it be wiser for me to take Computer Science I before Numerical Analysis? Is computer science really hard? I love math, but I'm not a computer guru.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[trickslapper]

You should at least know the basics of computer programming. There was a student in my numerical analysis class who knew nothing about programming and it was embarassing to see her struggle in the class (asking everyone for help, crying when she couldn't finish assignments, etc).

 

[nucl34rgg]

If you take an intro to C++ course or perhaps a MATLAB class of some sort, you will be set. Computer science is actually pretty easy for most math majors to pick up.

 

[SMA_01]

Thanks, so would recommend Computer Science 1 before Numerical Analysis?

This is the course description for CIS:

This course provides a foundation for further studies in computer and information science. It emphasizes a structured approach to problem solving and algorithm development. Topics include principles of program design, coding, debugging, testing and documentation. Students are introduced to the Unified Modeling Langauge for requirements analysis using use-cases and activity diagrams, an object-oriented programming language (C++), and the fundamentals of computer hardware, system software and components. The course will consist of three lecture hours and one two-hour laboratory

 

[trickslapper]

Yea, i would definitely recommend taking the CS class before numerical analysis.

 

[nonequilibrium]

I know that for my Numerical Analysis class a Comp. Sci. class was NOT necessary. Sure sometimes we had to use some MATLAB but it was pretty easy to pick it up along the way.

Maybe it would help if you could list the course description for your Numerical Analysis class, to see how much of it is you actually sitting behind a computer (in our case it was limited, most was theoretical).

EDIT: I just saw that you have to take the Comp. Sci. class anyhow, so in that case I suppose it makes sense to take it first, but if it causes you any trouble (sub-optimal scheduling) I would stick to my above post: sometimes it doesn't matter much.