Programming???

[BigClemsonFan]

Not sure if you were seriously asking, but if so...it's a degree in applied and computational mathematics.

I'm required to have a background or working knowledge of "C, C++, FORTRAN, or MATLAB."

I took a lot of calculus, linear algebra and diff eq in my younger days, but no computer science courses or programming. I think I want to potentially change careers in about 3 to 5 years, so I need the degree to get me in the new field.

 

[brendank]

Not sure if you were seriously asking, but if so...it's a degree in applied and computational mathematics.

I'm required to have a background or working knowledge of "C, C++, FORTRAN, or MATLAB."

I took a lot of calculus, linear algebra and diff eq in my younger days, but no computer science courses or programming. I think I want to potentially change careers in about 3 to 5 years, so I need the degree to get me in the new field.

Well if you have to pick from those 4, pick C++. If not, then Java is the way to go.

The first language that I ever learned was C/C++, and then I moved onto 2nd year classes which were almost all in Java. At first, I freakin' hated it. I thought Java was the devil.

Now, I often find myself coding in some language and thinking to myself, man, if I could just use Java, this would be so much less of a headache.

Looking back, I don't know why I liked C++ more than Java. It seems so archaic now.

 

[ejholmgren]

Java is huge these days due to the inherent platform agnosticism. It's also not as fast as the same code implemented in C or C++ either though. If you haven't done any programming before I would say start with something like C to get your procedural chops and then move on to an OO language like C++ or Java.

 

[Mark_88]

Not sure if you were seriously asking, but if so...it's a degree in applied and computational mathematics.

I'm required to have a background or working knowledge of "C, C++, FORTRAN, or MATLAB."

I took a lot of calculus, linear algebra and diff eq in my younger days, but no computer science courses or programming. I think I want to potentially change careers in about 3 to 5 years, so I need the degree to get me in the new field.

A friend of mine went through for the same type of math program and ended up taking a COBOL course...then ended up getting a really good job coding it...but that was years ago...

The idea is that if you get a good background in slinging code it may become your biggest asset...unless you're planning on the PhD route...

 

[BigClemsonFan]

Anyone care to share your thoughts on taking some entry level code courses online? I don't see anything being offered in a traditional classroom in my area until January 2010.

 

[1stHand]

id start by running a search on 'non-programmers' + 'matlab'

Anyone care to share your thoughts on taking some entry level code courses online? I don't see anything being offered in a traditional classroom in my area until January 2010.