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College Computer Science – Expectations and Trends

Explore the expectations and trends in the field of computer science in college. Learn about the undergraduate program at UT Austin, admission requirements, core courses, concentrations, and other degree options. Stay updated with the latest advancements and career opportunities in computer science.

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College Computer Science – Expectations and Trends

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  1. College Computer Science – Expectations and Trends Mike Scott, Professor of Instruction, Computer Science Department, University of Texas at Austin scottm@cs.utexas.edu http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~scottm/

  2. Background • 1998 – 2000, Round Rock High School • APCS AB (data structures), CS1 in Pascal • 2000 – Present, UTCS • CS1 Intro to Programming (APCS A), CS 2 Data Structures • Visual Programming, Android App Development, History and Impact of Electronic Entertainment, CS 1.5, CS1 for non CS majors

  3. Outline • The Computer Science Undergraduate Major at UT • Preparing to be a CS major

  4. Computer Science at UT Austin

  5. Computer Science Undergraduate Program@ UT Austin • UT Admissions: 75% of freshmen at UT admitted automatically based on class rank • Current cutoff – top 6% • Admission to UT does not guarantee admission to major of student’s choice • Regular CS undergrad admissions done by Admissions Department, not the CS Department

  6. UT Austin Computer Science - Undergraduates • Approximately 2500 CS majors at UT Austin (~6% of UT Students) • First year students are probationary CS majors • Admission to the CS major is Extremely Competitive • My RRHS Top 10 story • Average SAT and ACT of Students in CS312 (~ APCS A) 75 percentile SAT Math for admitted UT students = 700

  7. CS Interest Nationwide • Computing Research Association • Lobby organization for CS research, academic departments and industry members • Taulbee Survey • Conducted each fall since 1974, the survey in general covers the preceding academic year. • Enrollments, degrees awarded, and other info • https://cra.org/resources/taulbee-survey/

  8. CS Major Requirements at UT Austin • Multiple Degree Plans • Bachelor of Science, most popular degree plan: • 6 core CS courses (Programming, Theory, Systems) • 8 upper division CS courses • 4 or 5 Math courses (Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability and Statistics) • 3 Science Courses • General UT Requirements, Core Courses, Foreign Language, and Electives

  9. UTCS Core (Programming, Theory, Systems) C S 311 C S 314 C S 439 C S 331 C S 312 C S 429 Discrete Math Data Structures Operating Systems Intro to Programming Algorithms & Complexity Computer Architecture & Organization • Typically students follow one of two paths: (40% / 60%)

  10. Entry-Level CS Courses – Moving Past Probationary CS Major Status Semester 1 CS 312: Intro to Programming 4 or 5 on AP CS = CS 312 Semester 2 CS 311: Discrete Math CS 314: Data Structures Requirements CS GPA = 2.75 (312, 314, 311) No more than two attempts per course* No grade lower than C- UT GPA = 2.0 APCS A = unofficial B+ CS1 and CS2 pass rates have gone from 65% - 75% circa 2012 to 85% - 90% today

  11. Upper Division Courses • After the core course students have a variety of courses available to them: • AI, Computer Security, Networks, Cryptography, Computer Vision, Data Mining, Graphics, Software Engineering, Mobile App Development (Android , iOS), Data Mining, Programming Languages, Databases, Game Development, Formal Methods, …

  12. Upper Division Courses • Hope: Concentration Areas • Big Data, Computer Systems, Cybersecurity, Game Development, Machine Learning and AI, Theory (on the way) • https://www.cs.utexas.edu/undergraduate-program/academics/concentrations • Reality: What courses are open when the student registers? • NY Times Article • https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/technology/computer-science-courses-college.html

  13. CS Concentrations + Minors/Certificates • Transcript-Recognized Minors & Certificates • Certificates • Applied Statistical Modeling • Bridging Disciplines • Digital Arts & Media • Scientific Computation & Data Science • Minors • Business Foundations • Information Studies Big Data • Data Mining, Big Data Programming, Computer Vision Computer Systems • Cloud Computing, Wireless Networks, Cloud Computing Cybersecurity • Computer Security, Cryptography, Ethical Hacking Game Development • Graphics, Game Technology, Software Engineering Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence • Neural Networks, A.I., Robotics Mobile Computing • Distributed Computing and Mobile Computing Elements of Computing Certificate -Open to Non-CS Majors -18 hours required -Taught in python

  14. Other Degree Options • Bachelor of Science, most popular degree plan • Bachelor of Science and Arts • 4 additional CS course (instead of 6) • 1 fewer math course (calculus) • 1 fewer science course • Minor in another field (not natural science) • Turing Scholars Honors Program • ~50 students a year • Admissions by CS department • Extremely competitive • Computer Science andBusiness Honors (new fall 2019)

  15. Other Degree Options, continued • 5 year Integrated BS/MS in Computer Science • Sophomore or junior year students admitted to program • Again, extremely competitive • UTeach, CS degree and Teaching Certificate • Minor in CS (Elements Program and Certificate) • IT degree from College of Business • Software Engineering Concentration, Electrical / Computer Eng. • Computational Engineering Degree, Aerospace Engineering

  16. Our Undergraduate Students • First year and transfer students placed in CS PODS • Meet once a week, same small sections in courses • I have the privilege of teaching the first two programming courses • CS312 (Programming 1, APCS A) • CS314 (Data Structures) • And I use undergraduate Teaching Assistants in Those Courses • So I get to know some students quite well

  17. Our Undergraduates • Audra, Intern at Microsoft after first and second year • Lucas, intern at Toyota and Facebook

  18. Our Undergraduates • Marquis, intern at Microsoft and Nike • Lilliana, intern at Nike, working at Facebook

  19. Our Undergraduates • Sonika (Westwood HS grad), Starting her second year as a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech • Roman, working at Facebook

  20. Our Undergraduates • Muriel, Worked at UShip and now at Favor Delivery • Chris, working at Home Away

  21. Other CS Activities at UT - FRI • FRI – Freshmen Research Initiative • Research Methods course, then work on projects part of tenured faculty research

  22. Other CS Activities at UTCompetitive Programming • Competitive Programming Team • April 2019 finished 28th in the world at ICPC in Portugal • 1 credit class • Local contests • ICPC run by CS department at Baylor University

  23. Other CS Activities at UT • MAD – Mobile Apps Development Group • CS Ambassadors – Tours to Prospective Students • WICS – Women in Computer Science • MOREhttps://www.cs.utexas.edu/undergraduate-program/student-organizations

  24. CS at Other Schools • Most colleges and universities have CS programs • No standardization • Example: Controlling Enrollment? • Take them all • Rigorous early courses • Admission after early courses • Curriculum, order of courses, other opportunities -DIFFERENT

  25. Preparation for Computer Science

  26. What Did I Want to Do When I Was 18? • Go to college, go some place other than St. Louis • Very difficult for high school kids to know what field of academic study will interest them • Taking a CS course is a good start, but! • Programming != CS • Programming a key tool in CS

  27. Computing Science

  28. Some Programming, Very Helpful • Having some (any) programming experience helps an enormous amount • Many students taking CS312 (CS1, Introduction to Programming, ~APCS A) have some programming experience • And they tend to do a little better in CS312

  29. Gaining Credit • UT Austin grants a lot of course credit for AP and IB exams • https://testingservices.utexas.edu/search-undergraduate-exams • APCS A (CS312), APCSP (CS302 – Breadth course), AP CALC AB, BC (M408C), AP CHEM (CHEM sequence), AP BIO (BIO sequence), APUSH (History Req.), and many more! • CS312 Exam for Credit administered by UT

  30. ** UGS 302/303s do not have an AP test. Students must take this course at UT Austin **

  31. Tips for Students • Discrete mathematics • Programming project (something that interests them) • Soft Skills • Responsibility • Communication • Self Motivation • Integrity

  32. Succeeding in My Courses • “Be the first penguin” • Ask questions!!! • lecture, section, Piazza, lab hours • “It is impossible to be perfect” • Mistakes are okay. • That is how we learn. • Trying to be perfect means not taking risks. • No risks == no learning • “Find a Pack” • Make friends. • Study with them!

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