Advice About Computer Science Choices for Math Majors/Minors
Math minors and some tracks in the math major require one or two courses in computer science or programming.   The following advice may be helpful.


 1)  Math majors or minors who need a single computer science course should consider either CSE 131 or CSE 200.  Either is a good first course.
  •           CSE131 is better for people who want a broader introduction to computation/computer science.
  •           CSE 200 is the better choice for people to gain experience specifically with Matlab.  (Notice that CSE 200 requires Math                       217,  Differential Equations, as a prerequisite or corequisite).  This course focuses more on  programming rather than CS                       concepts.
 For qualified students, some of the more advanced CSE courses can be used to satisfy math major/minor requirements, subject to Math
 Department approval.  (See Professor Freiwald)


 2) For majors or minors who would like one or more additional CSE courses, here are some comments from Professor Ron Cytron in the CSE Department

I'd suggest CSE 241 after CSE 131 for people who want more CSE and are math oriented.  CSE 241 is our algorithms course which analyzes the asymptotic complexity of some of our most important algorithms and teaches students how to reason about computational complexity.  A math student could then take advanced algorithms (CSE 441) at which point they just about have a CS minor degree: we could count your course Math 310 and then they just take CSE 132 which deals with concurrency and network programming.


3) Scheduling:  As of 2009-2010, CSE 131, 200 and 241 are offered every semester; CSE 132 just in the spring semester.

Students with questions about courses are welcome to contact Professor Ron Cytron in the CSE Department.

 
4) "Applied Track" majors are required to take Math 449 (Numerical Applied Mathematics).  Although it is always up to the instructor,
 numerical work in 449 is generally done using Matlab.  Students with a little computing experience (e.g., CSE 131) can generally learn the
 necessary Matlab as needed.   However, the learning curve for 449 might be easier with some prior Matlab experience -- for example, CSE 200.
    Students who have no Matlab experience and would like just a little headstart with how Matlab works prior to Math 449 are welcome to sign
for CSE 100B, Matlab Skills (a 1-unit, P/F course).  As of 2009-2010, CSE100B is offered both semesters but with more available sections in the fall semester.
 

5) Note on course numbering:  CSE formerly offered a course, CSE 126, as a general introduction to computing and CSE 131 was a 4 unit course.  CSE 131 has now been reduced to 3 units and is fairly close to what the former CSE 126 used to be.   Students who have already taken CSE 126 can still count it as fulfilling a math department CSE requirement.