diff --git a/content/resources/articles/should-you-take-z-section-2000-level-comp.md b/content/resources/articles/should-you-take-z-section-2000-level-comp.md index 3f99553ccb..079e090a59 100644 --- a/content/resources/articles/should-you-take-z-section-2000-level-comp.md +++ b/content/resources/articles/should-you-take-z-section-2000-level-comp.md @@ -1,16 +1,318 @@ --- -title: "" +title: "Should You Take COMP 1405-Z and 2000-Level COMP Courses In First Year?" date: 2025-06-16T00:00:00Z last_updated: 2025-06-16T00:00:00Z draft: false layout: article-question -summary: "" +summary: "Taking the accelerated COMP 1405 Z section enables you to take 2000-level COMP courses earlier, but it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone." contributors: - Matthew MacRae-Bovell - Aditya "Jacc" Padmakar sources: - - name: - link: + - name: COMP 1405 Z Syllabus + link: https://outline.scs.carleton.ca/media/2023/F/COMP1405ZF2023/COMP-1405-Z-F-2023.pdf related: - ---- \ No newline at end of file +--- + +Enrolling in the accelerated COMP 1405/6-Z section allows you to receive credit for both COMP 1405 and COMP 1406 by the **end of your first-year fall term.** + +This unlocks the ability to take **2000-level COMP courses in the winter term** of your first year. + +However, whether taking the Z section and 2000 level COMP courses early is the right choice for you really depends on your existing programming experience and your priorities as a student. + +
+ +## Am I Experienced Enough for COMP 1405 Z? + +
+ +**NOTE:** _If your admission average was **below 90%**, then you are not eligible for the Z section, and do not need to spend time reading further._ + +Although the Z-section requires you to have had a 90% in high school, there is no standardized set of learning outcomes Carleton can use to judge whether you have the necessary computer science background to succeed in this accelerated section of the course. + +You should **NOT register** in COMP 1405 Z if you feel uncertain about your ability to succeed in the course. It’s important to build a solid foundation in programming, and rushing through the introductory material before you’re ready can lead to a worse experience down the road. Struggling in 1405Z will seriously impact your confidence, your CGPA, and your enjoyment of the program. + +If you want to know whether you would likely succeed in COMP 1405 Z, read through the learning outcomes on the [course syllabus](https://outline.scs.carleton.ca/media/2023/F/COMP1405ZF2023/COMP-1405-Z-F-2023.pdf) and compare them to what you’ve done previously in high school and on your own time. + +**NOTE:** _The course syllabus linked is from the **Fall 2023 term** and may NOT reflect the exact content of the course in future terms._ + +
+ + + +#### COMP 1405 Z – Learning Outcomes + +- [ ] Can you explain and use the following programming concepts in your code? + - [ ] Data types and variables + - [ ] Propositional logic and Boolean expressions + - [ ] Conditional statements like `if` and `else` + - [ ] Loops such as `for` and `while`, including nested loops + - [ ] Lists (1D and 2D) and collections like dictionaries + - [ ] Functions and recursion +- [ ] Can you implement basic searching (e.g., linear search) and sorting (e.g., selection sort) algorithms? +- [ ] Do you understand the basics of runtime and memory complexity? +- [ ] Can you discuss trade-offs between different algorithmic approaches? + +#### COMP 1406 Z – Learning Outcomes + +- [ ] Can you write Java programs that follow the object-oriented programming (OOP) paradigm? +- [ ] Do you understand and apply the core OOP principles? + - [ ] Encapsulation + - [ ] Abstraction + - [ ] Inheritance + - [ ] Polymorphism +- [ ] Can you describe how memory is managed in a Java program? +- [ ] Are you able to solve problems using recursion? +- [ ] Can you use abstract data types (like stacks, queues, or lists) to solve problems? +- [ ] Do you know how to use exception handling to write programs that handle errors gracefully? + +
+ +While reading over the learning outcomes, ask yourself: do you understand **most or all** of the concepts? If so, then you likely would be a **good candidate** for the Z-section. + +If you’re reading the learning outcomes and finding you know **some or none** of these learning outcomes, then you would likely **NOT** be a good candidate for the Z-section. + +
+ +## Why Take 2000-Level COMP Courses Early?: Lessen Your 2nd Year Course Load + +The key reason why you’d want to take 2000-level COMP courses early is to lessen the course load of your second year. + +Anecdotally, most students agree that our second year is significantly more time consuming and difficult than our program's first year due to the number of required “heavy” courses students feel obligated to take. + + +As a general rule of thumb, it would be most ideal if all of your terms had the same number of “heavy courses”. Most courses under COMP, MATH, or STAT should be considered heavy as they tend to have large assignments or weekly tutorials that take up a lot of time. + + +During 2nd year, most students try to complete all the required 2000-level courses in a single year to unlock all the available 3000-level COMP courses options. + +In first-year, you'll typically take 2 to 3 demanding courses per term—but in second year, that often jumps to 3 or 4 heavy courses each semester, which can quickly lead to burnout and make it harder to fully absorb the material. + +By shifting some 2000-level courses earlier, you can lighten your second-year workload. However, this comes at the consequence of making your first-year workload heavier. + +
+ +### Recommended Course Load Without Z-Section + +In this layout, you will notice that the fall term of your 2nd year has **four heavy courses**. This is the a common course load for students who do not take the Z-section and do not take any 2000-level COMP courses in their first year. + +**Fall Term 1st Year 🟢** + + +**Winter Term 1st Year 🟡** + + +**Fall Term 2nd Year 🔴** + + +**Winter Term 2nd Year 🟡** + + +
+ +### Recommended Course Load With Z-Section + +In this layout, you will notice that every term has **three heavy courses**. This is a perfectly balanced course load, however it comes with the cost of having a heavier first year instead of a heavier second year. + +**Fall Term 1st Year 🟡** + + +**Winter Term 1st Year 🟡** + + +**Fall Term 2nd Year 🟡** + + +**Winter Term 2nd Year 🟡** + + +You now have four perfectly balanced terms of **three heavy courses each**. + +
+ +## Are There Other Ways I Can Lessen 2nd Year Course Load? + +Yes. There are other ways. + +While taking COMP 2000-level courses early is the most direct method and comes with the added advantage of enabling you to learn job related skills earlier, there are other strategic ways to balance your course load and reduce the pressure of second year without overloading your first-year schedule. + +
+ +### 1. Take a 2000-Level COMP Course in the Summer + +COMP 2401 and COMP 2402 have now been offered in the summer for the past few years. If you were to take any 2000-level COMP course during the summer of your first year, you could reduce the number of “heavy courses” you need to take in your second year fall term from four to three. + +
+ +### 2. Take STAT 2507 in First Year + +Taking STAT 2507 in first year reduces one of the required courses you’ll otherwise likely want to take in second year. + +By taking it in the Fall Term of your first year, you will end up with four perfectly balanced terms of “heavy” courses. This is the simplest way to logically lessen your 2nd year course load. + +
+ +### 3. Take MATH 2000+ Credit in First Year + +As early as winter of first-year, you can take a MATH 2000+ level course, which is a requirement of your major. + +However, by default you will have likely placed one of each of your 1000 level math requirements in each term to spread them out. + +This means if you blindly throw a MATH 2000+ course into your Winter Term, you will likely now have four heavy courses in the Winter Term of your first year. + +If you plan to do this, you should also move either your opposite MATH 1000 level requirement or COMP 1805 requirement to the fall to maintain having three perfectly balanced course loads. + +
+ +### 4. Push a 2000-Level Course to Third Year + +Instead of pushing courses earlier, you can also push them back further. + +Courses like STAT 2507, or your 2000 level MATH credit do not impact you gaining access to 3000 level COMP courses. + +You also are not going to take all your 3000 COMP courses in third year. So you do not need to complete all the necessary 2000 level prerequisites right away. + +
+ +### 5. Taking COMP 1805 in First-Year Fall Doesn’t Necessarily Lessen 2nd Year Course Load + +Taking COMP 1805 in first year fall does not really lessen your 2nd year course load unless you anticipate taking COMP 2804 in the winter of your 1st year. + +We recommend you **do not** take COMP 2804 before taking STAT 2507. Taking STAT 2507 before COMP 2804 makes the course experience easier because there is overlap between their material. + +If you just move COMP 1805 to the fall term of your first year, you’ll just end up with 3 “heavy courses” in the fall and 2 “heavy courses” in the winter. + +
+ +## Benefits of Reducing Your 2nd Year Course Load + +
+ +### 1. Better Prepared for Co-op or Internships + +Most students begin seriously preparing for internships and co-op placements in their second year, as that’s when co-op becomes available. Having extra time in your schedule means more opportunity to: + + +In contrast, students who are overwhelmed by the number of assignments in their heavy second-year course load often don’t have the time or energy to properly prepare—despite this being the most critical time to do so. + +
+ +### 2. Improved Grades and Wellbeing + +When you’re juggling too many demanding courses at once, it becomes harder to perform well in any of them. By spreading your required courses more evenly, you give yourself space to: + + +This often results in stronger grades and a more sustainable university experience. + +
+ +### 3. More Flexibility in Upper Years + +Finishing some required courses early can unlock more 3000-level COMP courses ahead of schedule giving you access to more scheduling options. + +
+ +## Why Shifting Courses to Your 1st Year Could Be a Bad Idea + +While there are clear advantages to lightening your second year, it’s important not to underestimate the adjustment period of the first year. + +You’re entering a brand-new environment and taking on too much too quickly can make it harder to adapt. + +Having a lighter first-year schedule gives you time to: + + +The reality is: most first-year students benefit from a slower start. You’ll have plenty of time in future years to push yourself academically. Don’t burn yourself out before you even find your footing. + +
+ +## Which 2000-Level COMP Course Should I Take? + +The best options to take early are **COMP 2401** or **COMP 2402**, as both serve as prerequisites for a large number of proceeding courses. Taking either of these in your first year will give you more flexibility and more course registration options in second year. + +
+ +**COMP 2401 (Introduction to Systems Programming)** is a prerequisite for: +- COMP 2404 (Introduction to Software Engineering) +- COMP 3000 (Operating Systems) + +
+ +**COMP 2402 (Abstract Data Types and Algorithms)** is a prerequisite for: +- COMP 3000 (Operating Systems) +- COMP 3005 (Database Management Systems) +- COMP 3007 (Programming Paradigms) + +
+ +If you haven’t taken COMP 1805 in the fall (which is required before taking COMP 2804), then your only other real option is **COMP 2406 (Fundamentals of Web Applications)**. While COMP 2406 does teach valuable, practical skills that can be leveraged for industry jobs, it doesn’t unlock any new courses by itself. It’s a prerequisite for COMP 3004, but COMP 3004 also requires COMP 2404, which you can’t take without first completing COMP 2401. diff --git a/content/resources/topics/course-registration.md b/content/resources/topics/course-registration.md index d6ab2cbd64..bb25abeea1 100644 --- a/content/resources/topics/course-registration.md +++ b/content/resources/topics/course-registration.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ layout: resource-topic header_image_url: images/general/game_lab.jpg articles: - why-you-should-consider-a-minor -- why-you-should-consider-a-minor +- should-you-take-z-section-2000-level-comp - why-you-should-consider-a-minor - why-you-should-consider-a-minor faqs: