Which Language Approach For a Computer Science Degree?

wikid_one writes "I recently went back to college to finish my CS degree, however this time I moved to a new school. My previous school taught only C++, except for a few higher level electives (OpenGL). The school I am now attending teaches what seems like every language in the book. The first two semesters are Java, and then you move to Python, C, Bash, Oracle, and Assembly. While I feel that it would be nice to get a well-rounded introduction to the programming world, I also feel that I am going to come out of school not having the expertise required in a single language to land a good job. After reading the syllabi, all the higher level classes appear to teach concepts rather than work to develop advanced techniques in a specific language. Which method of teaching is going to better provide me with the experience I need, as well as the experience an employer wants to see in a college graduate?"

C# and Bing

[Anonymous Coward]

The skills that are in highest demand is the ability to write code in C# and to use Bing. C# is now the dominant choice among the new-wave languages (which includes Java) that appeared after 1990. What employers want to see is the ability to write a C# program to automatically issue requests via HTTP to Bing to query the WWW and to retrieve the search results.

Re:C# and Bing

[value_added]

What employers want to see is the ability to write a C# program to automatically issue requests via HTTP to Bing to query the WWW and to retrieve the search results.

I've seen those job postings. The problem is most employers require at least 5 years of Bing experience.

Re:Your school is right

[Anonymous Coward]

I want to learn how to fix cars. Should I learn all about the carburetor* or should I focus more on the brake pads?

Brake pads, if you have to pick just one, because all cars have brake pads, but carburetors are obsolete and not in common use.

Re:Your school is right

[FishWithAHammer]

To me it's akin to a literature major being able to write very well in one human language.

Most can't.

Re:Hobby

[moranar]

Or maybe he did want to say 'de jure [wikipedia.org], which has some sort of relevant meaning in the phrase, too. Just to save you the embarrassment of looking so stupid in the future.

Re:Algorithms and Data Structures

[serviscope_minor]

Learn about... bubble sort...

No, don't. Seriously. If you are at all capable, then *forget* about bubble sort. Erase it from your mind, with surgery if need be.

Re:I would also like some advice

[mustafap]

>Try telling your neighbor about Jesus and showing them the gospel and show them the greatness in your life that you have gained by following The Truth.

and they will move out within a a week.

Bloody good idea. No one wants to live next door to bible bashers.

Re:Hobby

[Anonymous Coward]

Or maybe he did want to say 'de jure', which has some sort of relevant meaning in the phrase, too.

Sure, and if you reach quite a bit, it might even be taken as deeply insightful in some philosophy of computer science sense... if, however, your basic reading comprehension skills are up to snuff, then by context "du jour" fits perfectly, and makes much more sense after reading the entire post.

Just to save you the embarrassment of looking so stupid in the future.

Right back atcha, Sparky :)

Re:Algorithms and Data Structures

[caywen]

Huh? I thought Bob Dylan was singing in Chinese all this time. Must have been mistaken!

Re:Your school is right

[anagama]

my car doesn't have break PADS, it has break shoes!

my car doesn't have break PADS, it has break shoes, you insensitive clod!

I'm just glad my car isn't broken.

Re:Algorithms and Data Structures

[UncleFluffy]

Learn about Binary Search Trees, Red Black Trees, Bubble Sort, Quick Sort, Heaps, etc. Depends entirely on what you plan to be doing when leaving school. These algorithms are seldom used when programming things like business apps. In fact I don't think I can ever recall implementing a search algorithm as you mention after school.

This is why my future employability as a hardware guy is guaranteed. Thankyou.

MUMPS!

[Mumpsman]

"having the expertise required in a single language to land a good job"

If, first and foremost, you are concerned about landing a programming job, it helps to know what industry you're looking to enter. Healthcare and Electronic Medical Records are hot topics right now with a lot of money, private and public, backing it. IT adoption in Healthcare is seen as a panacea for all that ails, and while I may not agree with that directly, there is certainly a lack of trained programmers willing to work in the field. Most EMRs are decades old and use MUMPS as the back end.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUMPS [wikipedia.org]

It's quirky, "old" and not OO, but if it's a JOB you want, there's worse things out there than helping deliver better care through M programming.

Re:Algorithms and Data Structures

[modmans2ndcoming]

You like assembly programming don't you.

Re:Hobby

[symbolset]

It's not learning about SQL I have an issue with, I just think CS grads should have more exposure and practice working with it.

Programming 252: Understanding SQL. ....

Lab objective 3: Port PostgreSQL source code to one of the following languages and pass regression testing.

• APL
• COBOL
• FORTRAN
• Lisp
• Perl
• QBASIC
• SNOBOL

Re:Hobby

[Xiaran]

My worst one is grad saying things like "Why would I need to know what a binary tree(Insert any kind of very fundamental data structure or algorithm here) is... thats all taken care of in the library".