Hi Mitch Big fan of the videos! I just graduated BSc Computer Science from NMU. I find your comparison between the two slightly misleading. Hopefully I can offer some insight. BSc Computer Science is basically the modern-day math degree. My two majors were Computer Science and Mathematics. Other majors include Applied Math, Physics or Mathematical Statistics (different from “normal” statistics). At the start, we shared some classes with the BEng Mechatronics students (the only BEng offered at NMU). For every math related course they did, we did that and more. They went into about second year level for math, applied math and physics. So, from the outside looking in, the engineers did a wider variety of subjects (hence more courses in general), but in less detail. Engineers don’t really go into math further than maybe Calculus 3? The math they do is more “calculation based” and less focused on “theory”. They don’t do any Linear Algebra, Abstract Algebra, Real or Complex Analysis. More of their focus was on the Applied side rather than the Pure side. So, the statement on engineers doing more math is not true. BSc Computer Science degree is a math degree before anything else. One thing I do completely agree on is that programming your own applications and stuff like that is completely self-taught. Don’t go into Computer Science or Computer Engineering if you simply want to learn how to code! Now that I’ve waffled on like a proper doos, thanks for making these videos. You are a valuable source to those contemplating studying STEM and a companion to those already doing so. Keep up the good work!
I did BSc in Electrical Engineering @UKZN, I did lots of linear algebra, Complex analysis, Residue theory, Fourier analysis and applications, Laplace etc
@Liam Roodt Thanks for your insight! As I said in my video, this is based on the degrees at Tuks - where the maths is far more involved for Comp Eng than it is for Comp Sci - go look at the yearbooks. But yeah, at the end of the day you have to put in the effort and teach yourself everything anyway. Here's to a great career in STEM for CS and CE graduates! :)
CS teaches you possibly the 4 most important concepts apart from Data Structures and algorithms, Database Design, Networking, Software Engineering and System Design. If you planning on being a backend developer or go into Dev ops, you'll be applying all those concepts.
@@mitch7w Yeah sure...But you need to keep in mind that A LOT of companies require a CS degree for those roles, and for good reason. Most self taught programmers are web developers, but for higher paying fields like Dev Ops and Data Science, it's hard to get in as a self taught. CS degree is standard.
Please could you do another video like this one but instead where you talk about computer engineering and give your experience and someone else in their final year of computer science at tuks talks about their honest experience with the degree. That way we can grasp the idea of what it'll be like for us in the future. I'm struggling to choose between these two degrees to study next year so this video will really help me
Hey! I thought I'd add to this video for curious viewers who are considering BSc Computer Science at Wits, since it seems the courses differ. If you are doing the prescribed route your studied will look like this: First year: Intro to Programing Computer Organisation (gates, logic, computer representation of data) Calculus 1 and 2 Algebra and Linear Algebra Newtonian Mechanics Linear Optimization Numerical Methods Mathematical modeling. Second year: Mobile computing Databases Algorithm analysis Computer networking Multivariable calculus (Calc 3) Real Analysis (Calc 5) Differential Equations (calc 4) Mathematical Statistics Linear Algebra Abstract Mathematics (Modern Algebra) Mathematical modelling 2 Nonlinear optimization Lagrangian mechanics Numerical Analysis 2. 3rd year Computer Science 3 And computer applications.
I know at UL the degree is also called a BSC in Mathematical science majoring in CS..sounds like you guys also do a Maths degree dashed with programming,sounds really hectic and difficult💀
Hey Mitch I really like your videos because I know now how challenging University is, I thought it was like school but no it's on another level in terms of work ethic and cognitive thinking. I better prepare for the most challenging 4 years of my life!
I completed my BEng at Tuks almost 2 decades ago and it's amazing to see that these 2 courses and their differences haven't changed fundamentally. Great video!
Thank you very much for sharing such valuable information in a professional manner. Thanks for your sincere time and efforts to keep us informed. This is one of the best videos that clearly explained the differences os CS and CE. Thank you so much. wish you an excellent career as a leader in the Computer world. Stay happy, Stay blessed.
Thanks for the appreciation - I appreciate it. ;) Your detailed questions are more appropriately sent to someone at the varsity and faculty not a student. I advise you contact them. However, I'll give it my best non-informed shot. 1. See the varsity's yearbook www.up.ac.za/yearbooks/home for application details. Looks good so far. 2. Bursaries are income-dependent, scholarships are few and far between but I think there are quite a few work-back contracts (for engineering degrees at least) where companies will pay for your undergrad then you have to work for them for an equal amount of years afterwards. 3. There are occasional career fairs that employers come and advertise at but it's up to you to find a job, the varsity won't help you at all. 4. Comp eng = hardware and software, comp. sci = more software. In SA there are far more software jobs but comp. sci grads can't do the hardware jobs that comp. eng guys can and do apply for. But I think it's a pretty similar job market in SA yeah. 4. Let your son do his undergrad before getting set on doing masters. Undergrad degrees are hard and masters aren't often necessary in order to get a good job. CS and CE both have AI-research so contact faculty for more info. 5. Some personal advice. Remember that your son needs to live his life and enjoy his varsity years too. Don't get too hung up on deciding the rest of his future rn, like masters programs or post-varsity work, just pick a good degree and support him. You can learn so much just by yourself on the internet and so the choice of degree won't make or break you if you work hard enough.
When he said "if you're a CS student you probably think I'm a moron", I was like ... "yes, yes I do"... but I also get it Beng students only dala those 5 COS modules till the second year but trust me it gets really interesting in CS even though its most hectic, you can also choose data science electives when you do CS giving you the opportunity to broaden your scope and knowledge... great video btw @Mitch Williams 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
But I understand where they're coming from though. Traditionally and in most universities it is compulsory for CS students to do maths at major's level all the way to 2nd year, for example it's like that at Wits and UCT. I see it's difference at UP since you can choose to do it as an elective or avoid it completely. And CS is always offered by the science faculty unlike at UP.
Thx for the video I'm an electrical engineer in my third year I love communications and electronics, but I also love programming and AI, machine learning, app developments and these kind of stuff But I also hate low level programming languages (like assembly ) and dealing with the low level languages and processors (computer hardware in general)... So did I pick the right major? 😂 also when I finish my electrical engineering degree I will take a master degree in computer science, is it allowed to take a master degree with something different from your major? and also do u think is it a good idea to take the computer science master degree because I love these fields?
Dunno about doing a master's in a different area to your undergrad but you probs doing the right major. Tbh, so much can be learned from the internet - especially programming, app development and A.I. and I would lean toward more self-teaching yourself that.
I disagree with the math part, I did Electronic engineering.. and we did alot of math but it was more hardware focused. Where as I am studying Cs now and there is way more math in it as it covers all aspects of math. 3 years of Calc , LA and alot of stats. This allows easier entry into the data science field. The Theoretical concepts do improve your code as it improves your problem solving when it comes to coding specific tasks.
🤣 Its always hard to pick whats best for yourself ....but my deduction is if you really know you want to work at a software development Company and nowhere else its best if you go for BSc Computer Science Then if you see yourself looking to apply some bit of hardware and software then Computer Engineering is for you or rather if you unsure which you are more good at ( practical application of computers or rather theoretical application).
Hey, it's me again. What do you know about feeder course and how I can apply for them. I missed the maths requirements by 4% with my final mark. Great videos tho🎉
This video and your other videos as well are really informative and provided most of the answers i sought. Would you recommend UKZN for computer engineering or any other university? Also, I want to get a pilot license part time in my first year, do you think that this is possible (or is the workload alot)? Thanks.
Obviously I recommend Tuks. UKZN doesn't have a world-wide reputation but I am sure it's fine if you don't get in elsewhere. You will not be able to do a pilot's licence part time with varsity, too much workload
Hey mitch. I was wondering about studying further for computer science or computer engineering. Do you need to or is the bachelors degree enough and the rest you learn on the job or do you need to go further? Great video btw👍
Hello Mitch. Can I begin with an advanced diploma in computer engineering and then proceed to a masters degree in computer engineering here in Toronto canada ? Thanks for the content.
@@mitch7w Wow that's some serious culling. I have to admit the maths you show looks mind blowing. I'm probably one of your oldest followers - your dad's age. It's been great re-living my student days through you.
Not all dropped out, some moved to other degrees but it's quite crazy yeah. That's great though, cool to see how the varsity experience has changed in stone ways and not at all in others
I get you put a disclaimer that you are biased but just wanted to point out to prospective students that there is a lot of maths and stats in CS and you might even do wtw114 which is very notorious even Actuarial students know it😂..but the nice part is after 1st year it is your choice if you want to continue with maths
All different projects. Some hardware robot-based, some more software - all including major design and building out of complex engineering systems. Things like robot cars, puzzle-building robots, visible light communication, computer vision systems just to name a few
You can maybe do it if you improve and work hard. Comes down to your own ability. Check the yearbook for exact specifications of what the maths modules entail. But it is a lot of maths...
Similar but comp. science has Maths and more programming while Multimedia has programming and publishing/art/marketing side of things too: www.up.ac.za/yearbooks/2018/pdf/programme/12131013
so Mitch as an Aspiring Machine Learning Engineer i can still proceed with Bsc In CS at tuks or do they offer another degree like a Bsc in Data Science
Hey mitch,prospective UP student here... So im applying for study in 2023 and i applied to UP yesterday.Unfortunately i could not apply for computer science at UP because it was closed,although i was determined to get into comp sc.i applied to wits and 2 more universities.but if i get into tuks,ill be satisfied.since i was unable to apply for comp sc at UP.i applied for bsc mathematics.do you think its possible to switch to computer science later in the year or in 2nd year,or do you think i can do an honors in comp sc.i dont know how majors work,but apparently i can major in computer sc if i do a bsc in mathematics.
You can't switch degrees like that a year in, the syllabus is very different. You might be able to switch before you even start but I am doubtful/unsure. Contact Tuks admin for information about all these questions, I can't answer I don't have the knowledge :)
Hey Mitch, is there any advice you could give to first year Comp Eng students starting this year, in terms of networking while being fully online. Weird times right now. All the best for this year dude, go smash it 💪🏼
I'm going into 2nd year comp eng at Tuks this year. Only had like 6 weeks on campus lol, but in my experience the people I met by chance in those first 2 weeks will most probably be my friends throughout my degree. It's so useful making friends in your year and in your degree so that you can help out each other when either one gets stuck. I've had multiple 8hr discord calls with friends while we worked on a programming prac or helped each other understand a mechanics assignment. Obviously it's going to be a lot more challenging in your scenario, cause you can't just run into someone and start chatting. But I recommend just joining any of the comp eng whatsapp groups whenever they become available to you and try find people there. (I will say though, for whatever reason, the comp eng whatsapp groups are dead quiet compared to any of the other eng groups, idk why)
Geez, that's a hard one hey - tough to make friends fully online. I would say just don't be afraid to be the one to reach out to random people on your degree Whatsapp groups and make an effort to meet people around you and on campus if it ever happens
So if i get a computer engineer degree how do i fill in the gap of software and will it be worth it to do a CS degree after and is it a possibility to get exemption or hv one less year to do. Basically i want both degrees in the shortest time
You do not need both degrees. You learn a whole lot of software in Comp. Eng too and it is uneccessary to do another degree. You can learn what you don't learn in your degree on your own time. No one does 2 degrees like that.
Hi What are the chances of passing first year of computer engineering with no background knowledge of computer science and engineering drawing only maths n science
WITS is offering Bsc Computational and applied mathematics. Is it a better degree than CS ,Will I add value. Will the industry consider us as CS graduates or rather as mathematical graduates. Your kind opinion on it as a WITS student will be appreciated.
Lol, mitch is this a biased or rather a very misinformed review??, computer science students can take all the maths comp eng students take,hell we can take physics,chemistry,finance subjects and whatever else we want really until our final year but the most interesting is that computer science has a data science stream (Computer science+ mathematical statistics) we do the same stats as actuarial science students, we can determine risks and work in way more industries then computer engineers. E.g business analysts, actuarial analyst, quantitative analyst, data scientists, data engineer, business intelligence specialist,data architect,machine learning engineers,statistician,enterprise architect etc. In conclusion there's a reason why CS degree is part of the top 3 in demand degrees in the world and not computer engineering, hence CS>CE :)
@Tys W Dead serious,its just a matter of which modules you choose. You can do actuarial science modules with CS and get the accreditation from the Actuarial Society of SA. You don't necessarily have to be a qualified actuarial scientist to be an actuarial analyst,most just get actuarial science,mathematical statistics or comp science degree then go into that role. As long as you have a few exemptions you'll work as one
@Muhluri Golele If you'd taken the time to read the first line of the description you would have seen that I admitted to being very biased. But thanks for the insight into the Comp. Sci degree + electives you can take. It's really cool that you can tailor your path to a more mathematical and statistical path - sure that's useful in many industries.
