Which program should I choose?

[adilujani]

Hello friends... I've completed my bachelor degree in electronics with GPA of 8.73/10 in a not so reputed college in India. But during the course I got more interested in computers and programming. So now I want to pursue Masters in Computer science in USA.

 

But I cant decide on the program to choose. Which program is best for me? BTW I'm not interested in research.

[compiler_guy]

A good place to start is the CS graduate school ranking:

 

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings

 

Other than that, I suggest you only go to a program which have classes and maybe research projects that fits your interests (Machine Learning, Systems, Computer Graphics and so on...)

[adilujani]

I think I should go for programming language program, since I love programming. Now I need to decide which universities to apply. Do you think I can get accepted into the universities mentioned in the rankings i.e top 20?

Edited November 16, 2013 by adilujani

[compiler_guy]

Programming languages is a great option, but don't confuse it with programming - that is usually the least significant part. It is more about the theory of programming languages, how to verify programs, correctly synchronize threads, etc..

[adilujani]

Programming languages is a great option, but don't confuse it with programming - that is usually the least significant part. It is more about the theory of programming languages, how to verify programs, correctly synchronize threads, etc..

I didnt find any program called programming. Do you have any more info about it?

[Pauli]

I didnt find any program called programming. Do you have any more info about it?

 

There is no "programming" program in CS grad school, because programming itself is not a research discipline. Do you mean something like software engineering? Or is there anything specific in CS that you want to do that involves programming? CS grad school involves programming, but  it isn't its major focus.

[adilujani]

There is no "programming" program in CS grad school, because programming itself is not a research discipline. Do you mean something like software engineering? Or is there anything specific in CS that you want to do that involves programming? CS grad school involves programming, but it isn't its major focus.

I like programming. So i want to apply for a program which involves programming as major part. I found "programming language" as a specialization in computer science from the rankings provided in the above link. Since I don't know much, could you be more specific about specialization's available in cs grad schools?

Edited November 18, 2013 by adilujani

[Pauli]

I like programming. So i want to apply for a program which involves programming as major part.

 

Unfortunately, CS grad school isn't learning about programming, just that it happens to use it as a tool. It's like that famous saying about astronomy not being about telescopes, only that it involves uses it. If you really want to focus on programming in grad school, then you should instead consider programs that have software engineering disciplines.

 

I found "programming language" as a specialization in computer science from the rankings provided in the above link. Since I don't know much, could you be more specific about specialization's available in cs grad schools?

 

Programming languages isn't about programming. It's about the theory involved in programming languages. If you want to do programming, you will not find it in a programming languages program. It's analogous to trying to learn English by taking English literature instead of English as a Foreign Language. If you want to focus on programming in grad school, don't do programming languages.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Pauli

[adilujani]

Unfortunately, CS grad school isn't learning about programming, just that it happens to use it as a tool. It's like that famous saying about astronomy not being about telescopes, only that it involves uses it. If you really want to focus on programming in grad school, then you should instead consider programs that have software engineering disciplines.

Programming languages isn't about programming. It's about the theory involved in programming languages. If you want to do programming, you will not find it in a programming languages program. It's analogous to trying to learn English by taking English literature instead of English as a Foreign Language. If you want to focus on programming in grad school, don't do programming languages.

Is software engineering a specialization or a program itself?

[Pauli]

Is software engineering a specialization or a program itself?

 

Could be either. Some offer it as a specialization, some offer it as a major. It depends on the university.

[adilujani]

Could be either. Some offer it as a specialization, some offer it as a major. It depends on the university.

I visited quite a few universities, but none of them had software engineering as a program. Furthermore most of them didn't mention what specializations they have in computer science. So how do I choose a university?