A level maths for Computer Science degree?`

Depends where you go. I would recommend doing it because it helps, even if you do a cover a lot of the material again in first year (saying that the majority of it is maths you don't dont do in a-level maths (discrete stuff)). You could get away with not doing it but it would make life a lot harder for you, and more self teaching.
 
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You probably don't *need* it, but it's recomended for a reason :) There is a lot of maths on a CS degree (or at least the one I did) and it helps if you've seen the concepts before.
If you're doing a modular A-level in maths Decision and Discrete is a useful module to do, assuming you have the option.
 
yeah, if you do a proper cs degree (and not just glorified software engineering) you will go into a lot of mathmatical theory.
 
Depending where you go to uni Maths can be a requirement. I know when I went to do CS at York you HAD to have done Maths and they liked it if you had done further Maths as well.
 
Most of the decent universities require that you have done A-level maths to do Computer Science - so yes you do.
 
Yup obviously depends where you go. When I looked into doing it at Cardiff Uni, although I wasn't doing math at the time they wanted me to get at least a C in Physics.
 
I'm thinking of Lancaster if I go to university, that way theres not much travelling, according to their prospectus they don't require any particular A level for their BSc but they want BBB.

Tbh though I'm more interested in the technical side of computing like setting up networks and servers and building computers etc.
 
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Energize said:
Tbh though I'm more interested in the technical side of computing like setting up networks and servers and building computers etc.
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well, thats not computer science :)

computer science is the theory behind computing, languages and stuff like that - its not a degree in building computers, networking and windows etc.
 
Energize said:
Tbh though I'm more interested in the technical side of computing like setting up networks and servers and building computers etc.
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Then you don't want to do CS then.
 
Hate said:
well, thats not computer science :)

computer science is the theory behind computing, languages and stuff like that - its not a degree in building computers, networking and windows etc.
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I know I just don't know what to do after I leave 6th form to get into these types of jobs, all the universities seem to offer is computer science.
 
You dont need a degree to set up a network. I can do that, and I've never done any computing qualifications at all.

Computer Science degrees are (I understand) partly about complex computer programming, and partly the theory behind computers and how they work. Lots of logic and such.

(Note I havn't actually done one, so not entirely sure.)
 
Well it would help, people like cisco put -
University Disciplines Preferred: Engineering/IT/Computer Science/Technology.

CS is pretty heavily theory though, you get very little hands on practice. Its good to suplement your practical skills with the theoretical underpinnings. If you want to understand how things work and are not a type of person that does not care so long as they work, CS is a good degree to study. A lot of time is spend analysing algorithms, searching/sorting/data structures. Coming up with the better ways to do something (problem solving).

The practical skills you just pick up with time, it goes without saying a lot of people have a clue about windows/networking/servers etc before they apply.

Here is a quote by a famous computer scientist to consider, "Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes." :p
 
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Most of the better unis prefer you to have done maths, even more than computing for the computer science courses. Most of them say that you need to have done it to apply to them.
 
if you go to a top uni like imperial then you do need it. I had to get an A in maths A-level, there is a lot of maths content and some is pretty tough.

The same is true of UCL, best thing to do is ask the uni. Even if it is not necessary I'd still do it - it is a very worthwhile and fun A-level.

daven
 
calnen said:
You dont need a degree to set up a network. I can do that, and I've never done any computing qualifications at all.
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I know I already know how to setup basic networks for stuff like file and print sharing and ftp but If I wanted a job in networking, wouldn't I need some sort of qualification for the employer to consider me?
 
experience is vitally important in the IT industry, i suggest if you do a degree to do a sandwich course so you get a year in industry too, then you may end up with a job at the end of it!

Check out degrees like Computer Systems Engineering or Networking based degrees.
 
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