Thinking of switching majors (B-Sci)

[CossieG]

So I'm thinking of switching majors from civil systems to Computing and Software Systems.

Since I'm only in my first ever semester I can easily make the switch but I'm not 100% sure if I should. I made this thread to basically get some advice.

Does computing and software systems lead to any postgrad study?
Which major is easier?
Which major has better job opportunities?

Any other advice would be welcomed and appreciated.

[daphaneng]

Which major is easier?

I know nothing about Civil systems & Computing and Software Systems. But I highly recommend you don't choose a major based on the difficulty of it. Do what you enjoy and what you are interested in.

[Inside Out]

So I'm thinking of switching majors from civil systems to Computing and Software Systems.

Since I'm only in my first ever semester I can easily make the switch but I'm not 100% sure if I should. I made this thread to basically get some advice.

Does computing and software systems lead to any postgrad study?
Which major is easier?
Which major has better job opportunities?

Any other advice would be welcomed and appreciated.

Since you're ONLY in your first semester, you have the privilege of not even having to decide/"switch" right now..you can fit the prerequisites for both majors during years 1 and 2.
Any who do answer you questions, computing and software systems leads to the masters of software engineering.
Computer science/software engineering job prospects are MUCH BETTER  than civil... i know a few people in civil who have to move interstate to get a job. Everything needs programmers. No offense but i can't believe you asked this question.. everyone knows that the field of computer and software is  super booming right now.

Which major is easier? depends. are you good at physics? civil will be easier. Are you good at probability/figuring out smart shit other people wouldn't know how to? computer and software systems will be easier. I don't think you can know what programming will be like unless you've done programming already or have solved algorithms before (google algorithms if you don't know what they are).

edit:People underestimate the difficulty of programming.
Also, i take that back. Physics 3/4 has nothing to do civil. Civil is not dynamics (the motion you studied in VCE) it's statics. DO you like analyzing things that are not moving (do you want to deal with equilibrium 99% of the time)? Then civil is for you.

[ldee]

The computing / software systems major can lead you along many postgrad pathways. The main one being MEng in Software, but if you take certain pre-reqs you can also study the MEng in mechatronics (and others). If you enjoy the theoretical components you can always go into the MSci in computer science.

I was in the same position as you last year. I didn't take Foundations of Computing in sem1, but decided to take it in sem 2 alongside ESD2, calc 2 and physics 2. This way it left options open either way. If you enjoyed the subject and want to keep pursuing computing, you can take Eng Comp alongside Eng Math and Eng Mech in semester 1 of 2nd year. At this point you will still have basically all the systems majors open to you. You can then begin to specialise in sem2 and if you choose computing as a major you would take Algorithms and Data Strutctures, and Object Oriented Software Development.

Note that you could still major in computing without taking foundations in sem2, but I would highly recommend you take it. It's a great subject which is very well taught, and will give you a good indication as to whether you want enjoy computer science or not.

[CossieG]

The computing / software systems major can lead you along many postgrad pathways. The main one being MEng in Software, but if you take certain pre-reqs you can also study the MEng in mechatronics (and others). If you enjoy the theoretical components you can always go into the MSci in computer science.

I was in the same position as you last year. I didn't take Foundations of Computing in sem1, but decided to take it in sem 2 alongside ESD2, calc 2 and physics 2. This way it left options open either way. If you enjoyed the subject and want to keep pursuing computing, you can take Eng Comp alongside Eng Math and Eng Mech in semester 1 of 2nd year. At this point you will still have basically all the systems majors open to you. You can then begin to specialise in sem2 and if you choose computing as a major you would take Algorithms and Data Strutctures, and Object Oriented Software Development.

Note that you could still major in computing without taking foundations in sem2, but I would highly recommend you take it. It's a great subject which is very well taught, and will give you a good indication as to whether you want enjoy computer science or not.

Decided to take this advice and keep both options open until the end of first semester next year. Thank you.

[Hancock]

Computer science/software engineering job prospects are MUCH BETTER  than civil... i know a few people in civil who have to move interstate to get a job. Everything needs programmers. No offense but i can't believe you asked this question.. everyone knows that the field of computer and software is  super booming right now.

Don't know where you heard this, most of the IT/Software grads I've been hearing of are having their work outsourced to other countries.