kinda off the subject...but what to major in? CS or Software Engineer

[struntz]

Hello, if you would like to become a software devloper, what would be smarter? to major in Computer Science or to major in Software Engineering. I am currently looking at RIT, but they offer Computer Science and Software Engineering as a major. I always see job posts that say "4 years in Computer Science" or higher, but never "4 years in Software Engineering" What would a company rather have? because it looked like the CS offered alot more then the SE.

Sorry about the off the TOpic of C++ but i would think there are more people that majored in CS or SE in C++ rather then VB :P (no offence to vb programmers out there)

Thanks for listening :D

[samwise]

and minor in CS.
Or do a double major.
However, do not do a pure CS major.
The reason for that is that a number of new CS/Software Engineering majors are not good coders of math equations.

Math is the very foundation of computer programming. You need it for computations, statistics, computer graphics, finances, etc etc.

I was a CS major, until my senior year. Then I switched to math, and have never regretted it. I have a one up on other CS majors because of my math abilities.

Samwise Galenorn
sam@galenorn.com

[struntz]

When u major in CS, don't u get the math needed for Computer Science?

[HarryW]

A lot of courses will require some further education level maths (A-Levels in England), and I should think all of them will teach you at least some maths. Some more than others. You should learn calculus, or at least differentiation as part of the course if it's not a prior requirement.

Whether you will need a lot of maths depends on what you are going to do. I don't think you'll need a huge amount of maths, you certainly won't need degree-level maths skills for most things, but maths is useful in a lot of applications.

I don't think you need to do a degree in maths if you're not intending to go into a heavily maths-based field. You will learn enough maths for most applications as part of a normal CS course.

[struntz]

alright thanks, yah the college i'm looking at teaches all those u just named, thanks for the help!

[substring]

Major in Computer Science of course. I don't know where you live, but in US, most 4-year colleges offers BS degree in CS, and not in Software Engineering. And most employers like to hire an employee (esp at entry level) who has a broader computer knowledge than a "narrowed/specialized" education. As you have already pointed out, CS offers more than SE. That means you will be more flexible than a SE graduate.

Besides, 4 years is a long time. By the time when you graduate, you may not want to be in Software Development. Majoring in CS will give you more options.

Hope this helps.

substring.

[struntz]

I'm still young about 2 more years until i can get to the 12th grade but this has all opened my mind up, and for sure i'm going to major in CS, because thats right, CS teaches your alot of everything unlike SE. Thanks guys :)