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The following advice reflects years of experience with students majoring in Computer Science. It may not apply to you, but you should read it carefully and try to get what help you can out of it. In short, assume this applies to you until you know otherwise.

  • Either Math 233, Foundations of Mathematics or Math 205, Statistics is required for Computer Science majors.

    Foundations is a tough course, even for Mathematics majors, and many CS majors find Foundations very difficult. Knowing this, some students are afraid of it and put it off until the last semester of their senior year. Then, if they don't pass--which does happen--they find themselves in dire straits.

    Statistics is significantly easier, so if you find yourself terrified by Foundations, or if you have been having trouble with your math courses and have good reason to worry, you should take Statistics instead.

    Why do so many CS majors put themselves through the harder Foundations class? One good reason is that they prefer to challenge themselves and learn a lot of math that is important in Computer Science, particularly advanced study. A second good reason is that Foundations is required for the minor in Mathematics, and they want to add the Math minor to their CS major. These are both fine reasons, so we are not trying to discourage you from taking Foundations. What we are trying to avoid are students who take Foundations repeatedly, refusing to give up and cut their losses. We are also trying to avoid the trauma of someone not being able to graduate on time, because she gambled on taking Foundations in her last semester. Please don't do this.

  • Take time to learn the tools and to become comfortable with them. As busy as you are in your freshman and sophomore year, and we know that you are, you will be even busier later. Your first two years are the time to learn to work smoothly with the machine, figuring out the shortcuts, and finding out how to learn new things on your own.



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© Spelman College Computer Science Department
Last updated Monday, July 24, 2000