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In choosing to study computer science you have chosen a career in an exciting and rapidly changing discipline. As a computer scientist, you may become involved in many of the great changes in the future, for the computer will play a central role in these changes.
It is important, therefore, that you not only develop the practical and theoretical skills of a professional computer scientist but that you also try to obtain an understanding of the impact of computers on society. For that reason we would strongly encourage you to select your elective courses outside Computer Science in areas where you will broaden your knowledge of society. One way to do this is to select isolated courses that catch your interest; however, a more productive approach is to consider taking a concentration of courses in an area outside of Computer Science.
So in planning your course selection you should be thinking ahead and asking yourself not only which courses will give you a good Computer Science degree, but which courses will make you a good professional computer scientist. That implies a sound technical background, a broad education, professional ethics and a social conscience. You can't get all that in your first year but you can at least make a start.
Lastly we would like to remind you that computer science is an art as well as a science which means you cannot learn it entirely from a book - you must also practice it! That means long hours at the computer terminals. So be warned, do not try to take on too much. We recommend a maximum of three computer science courses per term.
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