Computer Science: Planning to Enter the Field?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around entering the field of computer science (CS) and its relationship with computer engineering, programming, and applications in areas such as video game development and genetics. Participants share insights about the curriculum, career paths, and the interplay between theory and practical skills in these fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to enter the CS field and seeks guidance.
  • Another participant outlines the typical progression in CS studies, emphasizing programming as a tool rather than the ultimate goal, and mentions topics such as software systems, database connections, and hardware architecture.
  • A participant questions the potential for CS graduates to enter the video game industry, noting a recent job posting that seeks candidates with CS and software engineering backgrounds.
  • A participant inquires about the focus of computer engineering, highlighting its emphasis on circuitry and hardware, and how it differs from CS, which is more theory-oriented.
  • Another participant clarifies that while CS and computer engineering have distinct focuses, they intersect, especially in fields like robotics where both hardware and software knowledge are necessary.
  • A participant asks about programming languages suitable for creating software related to genetics, prompting a response that emphasizes the importance of understanding the subject matter before selecting tools, with MATLAB suggested as a potential language.
  • A participant mentions their background in science and interest in genetics, indicating a personal connection to the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the foundational aspects of CS and computer engineering, but there are varying perspectives on the specific applications and the importance of theoretical knowledge versus practical skills. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best programming languages for specific applications, such as genetics.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the relationship between programming skills and domain knowledge in fields like genetics, indicating a need for further exploration of how these areas interact.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a career in computer science or computer engineering, those interested in the intersection of computing and specific applications like video games or genetics, and students seeking insights into the curriculum and skills needed in these fields.

pep_i
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Well I am planning in going into this field.If someone is kind enough to explain ill be so overwhelm.
 
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Okay to begin with,

You will be introduced with programming courses at the beginning term of your CS study. If you are new to programming, these courses will force you a little bit. With hard studies you will master the art of programming. Just don't overrate programming after this stage, programming is the 'tool' for you to succeed your goals in CS. Not the goal itself.

You will learn how to construct larger software systems and maintaning them. Connecting to database systems, learning internal designs of operating systems.

After that, you will learn the computer hardware architecture, studying lower level circuitry, understanding how mathematics and electronics will form up such a electronical computing technology. This knowledge will connect you to lower level programming principles.

At the latest years of your study, you can focus on brand new subfields of CS. Artificial Intelligence is overrated by non-CS people and sci-fi but open to new ideas, waiting for it's Einstein. You will learn Digital Image processing to form up, edit and find ways to solve real world problems by image processing. You can learn data mining and understand how search engines work.

A lot and a lot to tell ya...
 
Thanks man.i do have a huge knowledge on the area but its more theoretical...But can a C.S get into the video game field
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread but what is computer engineering about? Obviously there's a larger focus on circuitry since you take a large amount of electrical engineering courses.
 
pep_i said:
Thanks man.i do have a huge knowledge on the area but its more theoretical...But can a C.S get into the video game field

of course it can...just 3 days ago i saw a job application for Infinity ward " Call of duty " that want computer engineers like CS and SE
 
Well, Computer Engineering mostly focuses lower level of computing which includes hardware information + low level programming , they are more interested in building computer systems instead of coding software under the hardware abstraction of high level languages.

For example, robotics field include mostly computer engineers. You not only need to know the robot's hardware properties, but also need to make the software accordingly to make the robot move.

Computer science concers more theory like designing algorithms, making speed tests or adapting theories to computation.

But that means two specialities does not intercept ? No, absolutely it does. It doesn't matter, if you work on a robotics project, you are going to code the algorithm too so it means you got to know both sides, but mainly focus on Engineering side.
 
That is great to know.But what languages are the gratest to use if one is going to create say a software for genetics decrition
 
Do you need to know which hammer you are going to use if you don't know hammering ?
Same goes here in computing field, if you don't know anything about genetics, you don't need to know how to program it.

When you'll learn methods and how to do stuff in genetics, you'll discover or read which tools are the best for your job. But if you really want to know, my vote would go to MATLAB.
 
wel man i majored in the science and gentics is my fave topic in biology...
 

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