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Ask HN: Comp Sci classes that were worth it?
2 points by person4321 on Feb 19, 2013 | hide | past | favorite | 6 comments
Reading the forums, most people do not necessarily think that a degree in computer sciences is fundamentally needed for becoming a good programmer/starting a successful start-up. But if there were any comp sci classes that you thought were definitely helpful and glad you took, what were they?

Thanks!



At a minimum, you need two things for a decent Computer Science program:

1. Data Structures

2. Algorithms

All of the rest of your topics build on the concepts in those two classes.


Three recommendations for algorithms, I will definitely consider that class. How well does MITs opencourseware class match up for this (sma 5503) for anyone that has taken it?


Coursera, Udacity, and EdX all have great courses. Algorithms is not the starting place though. You first need to learn the basics of programming (functions, variables, looping,...).


Thanks, I will look into those.

I guess I should've been more clear. I've already been taught the fundamentals of a few languages (C++ and python mostly) in some first year classes. I'm just looking to take a few options to build on these without switching out of my math major.


Database Theory, Algorithms and Data Structures, and Software Engineering were the most useful for me.


Algorithms!




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