I was a comp Sc graduate (long time ago) but
moved on to other areas but maybe I can say something about Comp Sc
(at least about my time in uni).......
There are three pathways (or four if you include
info system).
1) Comp Sc - mathematical, programming
discipline, computer framwork.
2) Databases mgt - database, business framework, data
manipulation.
3) Computer hardware, network and communication - speaks for
itself.
4) Information system - managing, large information and system eg
library system.
Some uni requires you to choose one area to
specialize, some requires you to major and minor, some requires you
to learn all 1-3 (only thru honour program, if you good
enough).
Programming at each individual module teaches you
the requirements of each sub- discipline. The learning outcome is
not the programming but certain key concepts which can only be
imparted thru programming concepts.
Say, a network module. You get learn to the
protocols and the languages of networking But this just the basic
knowledge. A uni will attempt to will show you the key concepts.
Understanding concepts is already challenging enough.
A good uni or rather a good Comp Sc pathway will
attempt to bring you to the challenges, the constraints, the
critical issues pertaining to that sub-module or that
sub-discipline. This is learning at higher level ie “seeing the
entire forest”.
Of all the above pathways, Comp Sc is the
most engineering/science based discipline pathway. Therefore,
the heavy emphasis on mathematics, methodologies and
conventions.
Learning the basic of programming is just the
basic. Anyone even a child prodigy, can do this on his own. A good
Comp Sc pathway will cover something more with structures and
algorithms of data. To use an analogy - the basic programming
only shows you "this is a book" but at higher level of
teaching "the range of books in a library".
When I did my post-grad (another area), I was
very taken aback by the Indian students. The India Prof explained
to me that in India, all children are taught to do mental
arithmetic/mathematic (no calculator). This explains why they are
so superb in regurgitating and mimicking.
When you graduate, you probably start as a junior
programmer (already in a stiff competition from these foreigners).
Later, if you beat the competition and move up to management level,
you boss hires you to solve problems. Don’t tell your boss you can
only write program blindfolded, you are required to see the entire
systemic framework and come out with solutions or better solutions
ie “see the trees from the forest top”.
Be mindful that a good uni will not only teach
you how to focus on "a individual tree" but also "how to focus
on the entire forest". This is true for all science/engineering
disciplines. Young graduate often fails to see the importance of
this.
