<p>Well I’m going to be a freshman at Pitt and made my schedule months ago, originally opting to take a BASIC programming class so that I had more of a balance of social science and mathematics courses, (im taking Algebra as well). But now that i look at it, im thinking that taking the class might be a mistake (I’m not great in math and it looks kinda intimidating). To be honest, my parents were the ones who forced me to take it, thinking i’ll actually develop an interest in computers. Has anyone had experience with this type of class? How is it? What’s the workload like? They said it is tailored for social science/humanities majors, so maybe that’ll help. As a plan B, I was thinking of maybe swapping it with into to Economics (I’m actually an urban studies/planning major so it’ll definitely come in useful). Any thoughts?</p>
<p>BASIC is so n00bie that even Java programmers look down on it.</p>
<p>I didn’t know that BASIC was even taught anymore! I took it in 1981 or so.</p>
<p>For real, if all they offer is BASIC than do yourself a favor and buy a java or python book from amazon and teach yourself. Hell you can even start with C++.</p>
<p>I took BASIC and it was fun, it was a class combined with some other antiquated computer languages and hardware. I did not learn much: 10 “can i have my A now?” /20 Goto 10/ 30 Run</p>
<p>All in all though it was a fun course taught on TI 99 4a computers with floppy disks and everything. It was like stepping back into the stone age.</p>
<p>Don’t listen to the haters, BASIC is fun.</p>
<p>I didn’t know BASIC was taught anymore either. You should go for it though. BASIC is fun, easy, and very simple. I learned it in elementary school, as did many other people I know.</p>
<p>It’ll probably be fun enough - but why BASIC? Even intro courses these days should be taught in Python or Java or something else…</p>
<p>This is kinda like starting with Pascal.</p>
<p>I suppose though, since OP really doesn’t have an interest in computers, it really wouldn’t make since to take a higher level programming language. To answer OPs question about the course though, BASIC is painfully easy.
I think i’ve had a harder time learning the scripting languages for RO, TES, and mIRC then I did with BASIC.</p>
<p>My wife, with degrees in math and computer science, just updated her resume. It used to say Proficient in APL, FORTRAN, BASIC, COBOL, ASSEMBLY, PASCAL… She removed all of that. Makes her look old.</p>
<p>I took BASIC in high school for a math credit because I failed second semester AlGeoStat III. It was really easy and fun, and I thought a decent introduction to coding for someone that knew absolutely nothing starting off and wasn’t planning on going into it. </p>
<p>Incidentally, tetrahedr0n, my dad had me learn Pascal next. 
Eventually my interests led me to javascript and CSS instead, I never learned any legit programming languages.</p>
<p>I didn’t have a good experience with that class. My professor was a spineless snake who backed down when I confronted him about his unethical grading method.</p>
<p>Don’t listen to DB, his code was terrible he just can’t admit it. As for the class, if you know ABSOLUTELY nothing about programming it might be advisable to take the class…if you want to get into programming. I guess if you want an “easy” course you can take it…just make sure you listen and do what the professor wants you to do on assignments.</p>
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<p>I actually like Pascal. Too bad it went out of style so long ago. Emaheevul07, I’d consider javascript to be pretty damn legit, at least nowadays.</p>
<p>Though it does bother me when people say they know how to “program” in HTML.</p>
<p>My dad will never forgive me for having the audacity to graduate college without learning how to program my own computer. He’s been a programmer for around 30 years, and knows TONS of languages. I just run forums and websites for fun and like to be able to write codes and layouts for them, I’ll never be as serious about it as he is. XD</p>
<p>Taking BASIC is a waste of anybody’s time. If you are going to take a programming class, at a BARE MINIMUM take a Java class, but you’re better off taking a C or C++ class.</p>
<p>if then end makes me want to kill babies.</p>
<p>DrewCollins, don’t go there man… my energy’s starting to build up…
The professor was wrong and I was right.</p>
<p>Hmmm…you didn’t do what the assignment asked and your right? I am pretty sure that everyone who saw your code will agree that you didn’t do what the assignment asked. OP make a note to not pull a DB so you should do the assignment correct for ANY programming class.</p>