Question

Hello everyone. In one year I will start university in Mexico. I want to study a variation of computer science here, which is named ingeniería en sistemas (systems' engineering). It has a strong english background, a solid math base and other things.

I want to learn to program, I want programming to be part of my life. I can't learn programming alone, I don't know if it is because I am bad or because I have problems focusing outside a class.

So, should I study it?

Answer 1

(Other notes)
I am not bad at math, but I am not excellent neither. I like physics (gladly). Systems' engineering has 7 areas:

1. Programming for the development of applications: Has structure of programming languages, a project of gamming development, a project on web apps development, advanced programming and object-oriented programming.

2. Computer science: Compilers' design, computational graphics, algorithms, simulations, etc.

3. Administration: This is something more of the university, about projects and software development.

4. Software engineering: Databases, software systems (modelation, etc), software testing, software architecture, mobile apps, etc.

5. Infrastructure on tecnologies of information: Operative systems, networks and security.

6. Maths and sciences: Math 1, 2, 3, discretes, lineal algebra, physics, electricity, probability, natural sciences, computer maths, discrete maths, numerical methods for engineering.

7. General studies. Another extra things...

So...which is your opinion?

Answer 2

If you are interested in software development, that would be a good course of learning to take.

You might want to brush up on your math. Start at \(1+1=2\) and work all the way up over time to where you are at. Do it through something like Khan Academy where you can get instant feedback. Do not use a calculator is possible. Why? Because that way you can find any small spots you have problems with and fix those. Calculus and Linear Algebra are the types of topics where EVERY math class before them is needed. Also, computers do not speak English or Spanish or German... they speak MATH! So get the math better because it will let you understand and work with computer programming better.

Answer 3

I agree with e.mccormick. I think basic math like algebra, counting, and logic will help you start out. Those are some maths to look into, that you'd start learning right away probably. They would be in discrete structures, I think. That's the math that uses mostly whole number amounts like \(-1\), \(0\), \(2\), and others. That means your focus is mostly not on numbers like \(-1.5\), \(0.3\), \(4.2\), and so on.

As far as the programming and you learning it... I think everyone learns differently. It might be possible that you'll learn much better in a group, or in an interactive experience. Also, it might take a while to think in terms of programming. It might come after some experience, but it is probably the hardest part. It's like learning what the programming process is. If you're like me, it might help to think about aspects of programming as you go about your day!

It sounds like you want to be sure about this before you attend the university. I would suggest that you play around with it as you learn about it. I learned java first. Many schools seem to start with Python because it's code resembles speaking language a little more. I started learning java well when I went to this site: http://www.java-made-easy.com/ . I continued to learn about it in college. Before that, I read documentation that would've made more sense if I knew more about how programming worked at the time. But try to learn your code and use it. Using the code in an editor/compiler (which the link helps you download) will help you learn it. As you learn more, you'll start understanding how the code language works.

All in all, the programming manipulates computer data, which works in the computer by controlling electrical signals in different spaces in the computer. You can use this data to manipulate other data and you can do a whole bunch of things. Just have fun! It sounds like you like it, and that's very good :) I hope you continue to like it the same as you learn more!

@e.mccormick or anyone else reading this, please correct me if I'm wrong! :)

Answer 4

Thanks a lot, both of you!

Answer 5

My pleasure!