| > The BS degree is made up of 31 credit hours with the following courses:
>
> Intro to Computers & Information Processing, Computer Programming Using
> Pascal, File Processing, Programming Languages, Data Structures,
> Concepts of C Programming, & Concepts of Operating Systems.
The curriculum looks weak to me, on two fronts. First, it looks like there's
nothing more difficult than a "Concepts" course. Most universities offer a two-
course sequence in at least a few of the major areas (compilers, operating
systems, etc.) and students are expected to complete one two-course sequence.
This degree has no two-course sequence, so it means you won't be able to study
an area in more detail.
Second, I would expect an undergraduate degree in computer science to include
studies in:
. computer architecture
. theory (discrete structures)
. software engineering and/or software design
This curriculum has none of these.
I'd call what they offer the "programmer" degree. If this is what you're
after, then it looks OK. If you are interested in becoming a software
engineer, then you might consider looking elsewhere, or consider supplementing
their program with courses from a neighboring university.
-Jeff
|
| Jeff,
Thanks for your reponse.
You mentioned that the AICS courses would be more for a
*programmer* degree.
Can you go into this a little more?
I am not sure I understand the distiction between
programmer and software engineer.
Basically, as related to the general job market, my perception is
that mastery of C++ and MS-Windows,for example, are skills that
have a high market value into the foreseeable future. Another area
might be SQL, Powersoft, 4GL database field.
If this is indeed the case, and since the consensus seems to
be that training in structural programming may be detrimental
to those using the Object-oriented model, I'm wondering if
the cost of the course wouldn't be better invested in
getting a stack of the hotest new books on the Window API, C++,
OLE, etc.
I guess, for those of us who can not attend a traditional school,
it boils down to the question which key is more likely to
open the door to a programming career...a (AICS) diploma based on
concept courses (in stuffy old ancient things like Pascal data
structures*), or a working knowledge of some (cutting edge*) specialized
area?
* these terms, of course, not meant to step on any toes - but rather
to over-state a feeling I get from reading the popular computer
press. (the only barometer I have except for Notes files like this)
|
| > You mentioned that the AICS courses would be more for a
> *programmer* degree.
>
> Can you go into this a little more?
>
> I am not sure I understand the distiction between
> programmer and software engineer.
A programmer knows how to write programs. A software engineer knows how
to design them. I guess the point is that there's more to writing software
than knowing how to program in a particular language. I'm trying to think
of an analogy, and the only one I can come up with is this: it's like the
difference between someone who assembles cars in a factory and someone who
designs cars. Both people know how to put cars together, but the second knows
a lot more about it.
Note that I'm not trying to put down programmers or car assembly persons. Both
are honorable professions. What I am trying to do is draw a distinction so you
can make an informed decision.
> I guess, for those of us who can not attend a traditional school,
> it boils down to the question which key is more likely to
> open the door to a programming career...a (AICS) diploma based on
> concept courses (in stuffy old ancient things like Pascal data
> structures*), or a working knowledge of some (cutting edge*) specialized
> area?
Hot areas come and go. Besides, in order to really be productive in the hot
areas, you need some foundation in the "stuffy old ancient things". Granted,
learning Pascal is probably not worth much in the job market these days, but
it is useful from a teaching/learning perspective.
If you're interested in getting another perspective on what kinds of jobs are
out there in the job market, check out the 'misc.jobs' Usenet newsgroup. See
the UPSAR::NEWS-BACKBONE conference for a pointer to news servers. The
CLO::VNEWS conference contains a pointer to a TTY news reader; UFP::XRN
contains a pointer to an X11-based news reader.
-Jeff
|