So, you’re thinking about taking a computer science course. You’re on the fence. You’re worried because computer science courses have a certain reputation for being especially difficult and time-consuming. You’re not really sure if it’s worth it.
Well, I’m here to tell you that you should take that course. Why? Taking a computer science course, even when it's not your major, can be extremely fulfilling and beneficial to you. The pros of taking a computer science course greatly outweigh the cons.
Here are 4 reasons you should go ahead and sign up for that computer science course (even if CS isn’t your major) :
1. Computer science and programming are a part of our future.
Computer science is undeniably going to continue to play a bigger and bigger role in our everyday lives. Computer science-related topics, like AI technology and data privacy, are continually cropping up in the news. Virtually every field is affected by the advancements made by computer science.
As new technologies begin to take larger parts in our everyday lives, it is vital that we all learn how to understand and use these technologies. You might think that you’re planning to enter a field that computer science could never affect, but one day you might need to write a program to analyze data or to know how to collaborate with software developers for a project.
An intro or beginner friendly computer science course may give you insights into your daily life that you never suspected. You will notice that pieces of technology and software that you already use ( like your phone, websites, databases, etc.) will become easier to understand and navigate.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the basics of computer science, you’ll find it easier to keep going. So, if in a few years, you find yourself needing to learn a new programming language, you’ll be glad you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone in college.
2. You will gain skills that you can start using immediately.
The skills you learn in an intro computer science course won’t just be useful in the future — they’ll also come in handy today.
Perhaps you need to create a website for your portfolio, or for a club or organization you are a part of. With your newfound computer science savvy, you can throw one together quickly and easily.
Programming projects can also be a great way to pass time and to express yourself creatively. If you're bored one day, you could code a quick text-based game to share with your friends. You might even set out to create a program that solves crossword puzzles – who knows! The sky’s the limit.
3. You will gain transferable skills.
The skills you learn in an intro programming course are highly transferable. A large goal of many intro computer science courses is to teach students problem-solving skills and strategies. Strong problem-solving capabilities are not only useful to have in your day-to-day life, but will also come in handy in your other classes and your future career.
Many computer science courses have opportunities for group work and collaboration. Gaining experience collaborating with teammates effectively will prepare you well for future academic and career endeavors. Plus, because each line of code matters when designing a program, an intro computer science course can help you sharpen your attention to detail.
These are just a few examples — you may find yourself surprised by how much you use the know-how you picked up in your intro CS course. Not only will you learn a new programming language, you will also sharpen other more universal skills.
4. You might like it a lot more than you think.
You may not see yourself ever studying computer science. Maybe you can’t imagine yourself enjoying programming or algorithms or anything of the sort. Maybe you think you're just not cut out for it. But, I promise you, this all could change if you take the leap and enroll in an intro computer science course.
Personally, I never saw myself studying computer science until I took an intro to computer science course my sophomore year. I quickly found myself enjoying my programming assignments and being excited to learn how to create more and more complex programs.
Whatever hang-ups you may have now about how hard computer science is or how much time you’ll spend on assignments or how dry the material sounds may all clear up if you actually give it a try yourself. You may even find yourself trying to change your major a few weeks in.
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