choosing which "computer" course

[Guernica]

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So, basically, I want to do some kind of IT/computer-y course. But I really cannot decide between IT, computer science, software engineering... etc.

If I were to do IT, I would be doing a double major with web development and something else - possibly digital entertainment.

But then I worry about the job prospects. But I guess if you're good at anything, you can get a job. And ideally, I would like to be able to work at home.

I don't really know what question I am asking here. I just want opinions. I know that it depends on what I want to do, but I really can't decide.

[Supah02]

i wanna do computer science to start off with....


it only the uni that worries me,


my uai depends what uni i go to eg.
UTS- 80
new england- 65


but my dad want me to do uni back home in new zealand plus theses no uai der and accomidation and living is relli cheep but i dont wanna finish uni then come back here and start life over again

[Starcraftmazter]

I'm doing software engineering because it's the one most heavily geared towards actual programming / coding.

[sunny]

Originally Posted by Starcraftmazter

I'm doing software engineering because it's the one most heavily geared towards actual programming / coding.

Not necessarily. seng is more about management and the entire development process, not focusing programming or coding. At UNSW at least, there are entire courses in seng that are dedicated to design and documentation - you don't actually write any code or finish the project, you just design and document it.

[Starcraftmazter]

Originally Posted by sunny

Not necessarily. seng is more about management and the entire development process, not focusing programming or coding. At UNSW at least, there are entire courses in seng that are dedicated to design and documentation - you don't actually write any code or finish the project, you just design and document it.

I would consider that very much a part of programming itself.

In addition, I don't see how it makes it less programming oriented than the other courses, which is what I mentioned.

[sunny]

Originally Posted by Starcraftmazter

I would consider that very much a part of programming itself.

Programming = writing/testing/maintaining/debugging code. No one sits down to draw a UML or ERD diagram and says they're programming.

Originally Posted by Starcraftmazter

In addition, I don't see how it makes it less programming oriented than the other courses, which is what I mentioned.

I've seen it year after year. Students coming into uni doing seng thinking they'll do tonnes and tonnes of hardcore programming (ie, coding) only get severely disappointed because the focus is on design and management, not sitting down being code monkeys.

A friend of mine transferred out of seng after the first week of uni when we started in 2003.

But that definitely doesn't make it less programming oriented than other courses, but in my opinion its not "the most heavily geared towards actual programming / coding". Its all part of the general misconception seng = all writing code and comp eng = all hardware.

[Hakz]

Originally Posted by Musk

QFT

Engineering (IT side) teaches you about project management and the sub sections of it (cost, time, scheduling etc)

thats also what i learn though

[Starcraftmazter]

Sunny & Musk: You talk about aspects of seng as though they are bad, but some people may prefer them.

I find it is a course most similar to the familiar HSC SDD.

Answer me this: Do you do more actual programming on comp. since than soft. eng?

[sunny]

I am yet to meet anyone that enjoys writing user manuals

That depends what electives you choose in comp sci. Here is a list of subjects I've done:

MATH1131 Math 1A
PHYS1131 Higher Physics 1A
COMP1711 Higher Comp 1A (some coding)
MATH1081 Discrete Maths
MATH1231 Math 1B
INFS1602 CIS
ELEC1011 Elec Eng 1A
COMP1721 Higher Comp 1B (some coding)
GENS4001 Astronomy
GENT0911 Medical Detectives
COMP2021 Digital System Structures (some coding)
COMP2711 Higher Data Org (some coding)
ELEC2031 Circuits and Systems
INFS1601 Business Data Management
COMP2041 Software Construction (some coding)
COMP2920 Ethics
COMP3211 Comp Arch (some coding)
COMP3311 Databases (some coding)
COMP3311 Software Engineering (zero coding! surprised?)
COMP3121 Algorithms (some coding)
COMP3331 Networks (some coding)
COMP3411 AI (some coding)
COMP4411 Experimental Robotics (project based = lots of coding)
COMP9321 E-Comm Implementation (project based)
GENS4015 Brave New World
GENE7801 Mining
COMP3421 Graphics (heavy coding)
COMP3511 Human Computer Interaction (no coding)
COMP9322 E-Comm Systems Engineering (project based)
COMP9018 Advanced Graphics (project based)
COMP9417 Machine Learning (some coding)
COMP9517 Computer Vision (project based)

I've basically used all my electives in COMP subjects. Other people can do completely different things (commerce, sciences, etc etc, whatever)

For me, I can pretty safely say I've done more programming-based courses than a seng student. But keep in mind:

1) The standard comp sci degree is 3 years. I'm doing honours as well.
2) According to CSE the 4 year seng degree has 45uoc of seng electives, the 4 year (honours) comp sci program 87uoc of electives that can go towards COMP subjects.

Read more about it yourself:
comp sci: http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/undergrad...ams/bsccs.html
seng: http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/seng/Enrolment/First-Year/

[Starcraftmazter]

Yep, I'll read that, I'm also reading a few other things about the two courses.

One thing I'm wondering is job prospects. Since there is so much free choice in compscinece, how exactly do employers seek people whom can be exactly what they want?

Are there more jobs for comp science or software eng?

[Smart Alec]

Originally Posted by Guernica

So, basically, I want to do some kind of IT/computer-y course. But I really cannot decide between IT, computer science, software engineering... etc.

If I were to do IT, I would be doing a double major with web development and something else - possibly digital entertainment.

But then I worry about the job prospects. But I guess if you're good at anything, you can get a job. And ideally, I would like to be able to work at home.

I don't really know what question I am asking here. I just want opinions. I know that it depends on what I want to do, but I really can't decide.

this is exactly what i was gona ask!!

btw, thanks sunny for the info. please give more if u have any!

[poloktim]

Originally Posted by Starcraftmazter

Yep, I'll read that, I'm also reading a few other things about the two courses.

One thing I'm wondering is job prospects. Since there is so much free choice in compscinece, how exactly do employers seek people whom can be exactly what they want?

Are there more jobs for comp science or software eng?

Honestly, after looking for jobs last year I can say it doesn't make much of a difference. Many places with graduate programmes look for IT or IT-like qualifications (which includes computer science). If you're going to become a code-monkey though , they'll see your qualifications then look for evidence that you know how to program.

Some places might ask you questions about aspects (for example, one place asked me to recite the OSI model and tell them which layer a router is - thank goodness for the bash.org quote regarding the OSI model).

Naturally, those jobs requiring specialised programming (embedded/AI) are going to look more for the appropriate qualification (computer engineering/science), but software houses and many graduate programme recruitment drives don't really care. Though there are places run by dropkicks who will hire dropkicks to make themselves look smarter. XD

As for my Computer Science degree, I did six subjects that had no programming (one of them was XML, but I don't count that as programming). Every other computer science subject I took had programming requirements.

Edit: Now I have to get into the habit of calling 2007 last year.

[Heyu8myrice]

i do hardware servicing. I like the subject, its mostly pulling apart computers and learning to set them up

[icraig88]

how terribly difficult

[nutting]

Originally Posted by Guernica

So, basically, I want to do some kind of IT/computer-y course. But I really cannot decide between IT, computer science, software engineering... etc.

If I were to do IT, I would be doing a double major with web development and something else - possibly digital entertainment.

But then I worry about the job prospects. But I guess if you're good at anything, you can get a job. And ideally, I would like to be able to work at home.

I don't really know what question I am asking here. I just want opinions. I know that it depends on what I want to do, but I really can't decide.

Have a look at the various options here: How about Compter Games Programming ? It's a growth industry in Oz I heard.

http://community.boredofstudies.org/...d.php?t=182706