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The teaching angle is something that is pretty state and even school specific. Some colleges require ed majors to double major and have a rigid curriculum that makes it hard to graduate in four years unless you start right off as an major. Other States don't even have an ed major and expect certification later.
My suggestion at this stage is to look for college that have all three majors and don't sweat what he's going to major in until later.
In terms of the combination it makes perfect sense. Computer science in many ways is just applied Mathematics. Many have suggested a double major but that will almost guarantee an extra year as both programs are very demanding time wise, though in different ways. The projects that will be required in the computer science courses will suck up a lot of time, but a lot of it is "busy work". Mathematics courses, especially once you get beyond the basics, will suck up a lot of time as well, but its all "thinking work" and very little busy work.
As far as getting jobs in industry, having a major/minor or double major is not going to make that much of a difference. What is going to be more important is his experience.
In terms of continuing his education, a graduate program in computer science would have no problem with a math major/CS minor applying. Engineering is a different story entirely though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hnsq
Do a double major. In most colleges, if you major in computer science you are only a few extra courses away from a double major in math anyway.
This is not even close to being true. Computer Science only requires some basic mathematics courses, a mathematics majors goes well beyond this.
In terms of the combination it makes perfect sense. Computer science in many ways is just applied Mathematics. Many have suggested a double major but that will almost guarantee an extra year as both programs are very demanding time wise, though in different ways. The projects that will be required in the computer science courses will suck up a lot of time, but a lot of it is "busy work". Mathematics courses, especially once you get beyond the basics, will suck up a lot of time as well, but its all "thinking work" and very little busy work.
As far as getting jobs in industry, having a major/minor or double major is not going to make that much of a difference. What is going to be more important is his experience.
In terms of continuing his education, a graduate program in computer science would have no problem with a math major/CS minor applying. Engineering is a different story entirely though.
This is not even close to being true. Computer Science only requires some basic mathematics courses, a mathematics majors goes well beyond this.
Lol...I was a computer science major, and at many schools (like mine) you get a high level of theoretical mathematics for comp sci. A real comp sci degree gives you the theory behind programming (which is math) and not just computer classes. At my school you only needed 3 additional classes to add math as a major as well.
Do some research before you disagree with someone like that.
Lol...I was a computer science major, and at many schools (like mine) you get a high level of theoretical mathematics for comp sci. A real comp sci degree gives you the theory behind programming (which is math) and not just computer classes. At my school you only needed 3 additional classes to add math as a major as well.
Do some research before you disagree with someone like that.
I agree-we have several friends that were math majors in college but had enough computer science to land jobs in the computer programming industry.
It is a good plan. He should focus on finishing high school with the advanced math courses to get a head start.
But one thing to remember, he's only a junior is high school. He does not need to "decare a major" for a few years. Most student change their minds multiple times before they settle on a career path.
Shoot - most adult change their careers multiple times! I'm glad I went for a strong technical degree - this has allowed me the flexibility to change careers in conjunction with changing economies.
At my school you only needed 3 additional classes to add math as a major as well.
Oh yeah? Unless the mathematics program is utterly pathetic I don't believe this, feel free to actually provide the information that shows this. Theoretical computer science is not the same as mathematics, the objects of study are different. Mathematics programs want you to have a well-rounded mathematics education, those in computer science only learn the mathematics they need to learn. Typically, computer science programs just require calculus, a basic course in linear algebra and a course in discrete mathematics. A focus in theoretical computer science will usually require some sort of course in computation theory or mathematical logic in addition to these requirements. Still a rather far cry from a mathematics degree.
If the programs were so similar what would be the point of having both? Kicks and giggles?
Quote:
Originally Posted by hnsq
Do some research before you disagree with someone like that.
Oh yeah? Unless the mathematics program is utterly pathetic I don't believe this, feel free to actually provide the information that shows this. Theoretical computer science is not the same as mathematics, the objects of study are different. Mathematics programs want you to have a well-rounded mathematics education, those in computer science only learn the mathematics they need to learn. Typically, computer science programs just require calculus, a basic course in linear algebra and a course in discrete mathematics. A focus in theoretical computer science will usually require some sort of course in computation theory or mathematical logic in addition to these requirements. Still a rather far cry from a mathematics degree.
If the programs were so similar what would be the point of having both? Kicks and giggles?
I have, hence my disagreement.
Are you serious? the computer science program at my college was a 115 credit degree. Math is typically 60-70 credits. Don't lecture me on what it takes to take a math degree, you arrogant a**. If you don't understand the value of a double degree then you really shouldn't be giving advice in this thread. Why the hell would I lie to a random stranger on the internet? You must be incredibly insecure if you feel the need to argue with people like you consistantly do.
Are you serious? the computer science program at my college was a 115 credit degree. Math is typically 60-70 credits.
Yes, I'm serious. Which school is this? A requirement of 115 credits beyond general ed would result in a 5~6 year program. But the difference in the number of credits (there usually is not much of a difference) is not the issue, rather the issue is how many of the courses are disjoint. CMU has one of the best and most rigorous computer science programs in the country, yet they only require 5 mathematics courses:
B.S. in Computer Science (http://www.csd.cs.cmu.edu/education/bscs/currreq.html - broken link)
Now, its possible to satisfy a few of the CS requirements with math courses. But at most that would put you at 8 mathematics courses, a far cry from a BS in mathematics.
Clearly, some courses can satisfy both degree requirements. But the idea that at most schools you can take "a few additional" courses and walk out with both degrees is just inaccurate. Perhaps, that is how that worked at your school, I have no idea where you went. Its rather odd if true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hnsq
Why the hell would I lie to a random stranger on the internet? You must be incredibly insecure if you feel the need to argue with people like you consistantly do.
I'm not suggesting you are lying, rather I'm suggesting you are saying is generally speaking inaccurate. Considering the OP, I thought it was important to point out. But they can confirm matters by simply looking at the respective course requirements, they will undoubtedly find that the majority of the course work is disjoint. A double major in mathematics and computer science will be tough to manage time-wise.
Yes, I'm serious. Which school is this? A requirement of 115 credits beyond general ed would result in a 5~6 year program. But the difference in the number of credits (there usually is not much of a difference) is not the issue, rather the issue is how many of the courses are disjoint. CMU has one of the best and most rigorous computer science programs in the country, yet they only require 5 mathematics courses:
B.S. in Computer Science (http://www.csd.cs.cmu.edu/education/bscs/currreq.html - broken link)
Now, its possible to satisfy a few of the CS requirements with math courses. But at most that would put you at 8 mathematics courses, a far cry from a BS in mathematics.
Clearly, some courses can satisfy both degree requirements. But the idea that at most schools you can take "a few additional" courses and walk out with both degrees is just inaccurate. Perhaps, that is how that worked at your school, I have no idea where you went. Its rather odd if true.
I'm not suggesting you are lying, rather I'm suggesting you are saying is generally speaking inaccurate. Considering the OP, I thought it was important to point out. But they can confirm matters by simply looking at the respective course requirements, they will undoubtedly find that the majority of the course work is disjoint. A double major in mathematics and computer science will be tough to manage time-wise.
I am not telling you where I graduated (sorry - I don't like giving out that kind of info to people on the internet), but yes... computer science and engineering at the school where I went to undergrad are five year programs accelerated to fit into four years. Maybe that isn't the norm, but it is the only school I went to and all I know...
I don't know what to tell you. I am just saying how it is where I went for my undergrad degree.
I don't know what to tell you. I am just saying how it is where I went for my undergrad degree.
The comment I quoted from you was "In most colleges, if you major in computer science you are only a few extra courses away from a double major in math anyway." If you had said "At my college, if..." I would not have commented.
I know of schools with weak mathematics programs that essentially combine them with (the usually stronger) computer science or physics program, but that is not the norm and obviously not a good place for someone primarily interested in mathematics.
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