UF vs. FSU for Computer Science

Gator88NE
Sun, 21 Sep 2014 13:44:20 +0000

1. ABET accreditation. I believe FSU’s program has this, but UF’s doesn’t. Does this matter much for getting jobs or affect how good the program is?



UF has two CS programs, one in the college of engineering(COE)(CSE) and one in the college of liberal arts and sciences(CLAS)(CSC).

http://cise.ufl.edu/academics/undergrad/

Neither program has ABET accreditation. CS is a field that doesn’t require ABET accreditation, unlike most Engineering fields. A lot of other top schools also don’t have ABET accreditation for the CS program (many of which are in the colleges of liberal arts and sciences and not engineering college). I wouldn’t worry about it. No UF CS major ever got turn down for a job, because the program lacked ABET accreditation. In fact, a lot of folks are successful in CS without college degrees.The CS job market is (or can be) very different from Engineering.



2. Credits necessary to major- I heard UF requires some courses for this major that FSU doesn’t that are basically a waste of time/weed out classes.



You can view the courses required for all three programs (both UF programs and FSU’s) online. The UF program within CLAS requires that you meet the basic requirement for a liberal arts degree, while the COE program requires that you meet the basic requirements for an engineering degree. You may find the FSU curriculum more to your liking (or not).



3. Funding at UF. I’ve heard that UF was thinking about making cuts to the CS program, not sure what has happened. Also, I’ve heard UF’s CS programs operates under the engineering program while FSU’s is it’s own entity. Does this make a big difference.



A few years go, in response to the state legislature cutting funding to the university, UF looked for ways to save cost. The proposal was to do away with the CLAS program and combine it with the COE program. A lot of folks go upset (including the grad students in CLAS that would lose funding), but nothing came from it. I wouldn’t worry about funding, UF is the best funded public university in Florida, and FSU is committed to it’s CS program.



4. Jobs. Which college would better prepare me for a job and would look better on a resume after college and during college for internships



Both Universities will do a great job of preparing you for a job. Keep in mind that CS is all about skills learned, so it’s important that you get involved in internships, start ups, and such, while at college. You may also want to check out both schools Career services (job fairs, etc). In the Southeast, UF will look a bit better on a resume, but the CS field (much like engineering) isn’t as pre-occupied by college prestige as other fields. It’s all about demonstrated skills.

Don’t worry about not taking AP Computer Science. :)

Grab a book and start programming. Find out if it’s something you want to spend your life doing.

Good Luck!