Why is Java a part of majoring in Computer Science?

Question

I'm thinking about majoring in Computer Science at a university. I was looking at the curriculum for 'Computer Science I' and the entire curriculum is learning about Java. Why? It's useless. Why doesn't the course start off learning C or C++ instead of Java? I don't want to waste time and money on something that isn't very applicable to the real world.

Please don't reply if you're not currently studying/recent graduate of Computer Science or if you're just going to make an insult -- I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, I'm just trying to understand and concerned about my future.

Answer 1

Java nowadays is VERY important because is a cross-platform language, which enables operatibility/communications within databases, programs, games (and much more) of different OS´s lots more easy.

In the past it was more difficult to get a bunch of systems to communicate with each other, now lots of programmers don´t need to go through double programming for web-based applications and other stuff.


Nowadays it comes in very handy with the Internet revolutionized world, almost all companies need Java for their web services and applications

Hope this helps

Answer 2

First of all, if "the entire curriculum is learning about Java" then it isn't a Computer Science degree. Programming languages are just a tool to STUDY Computer Science - and thus you have to become proficient at programming immediately in order to start learning everything else - structured programming, data structures, algorithms, database design, OS design, networking and N-tier applications, software engineering, etc.

While a CS degree should teach you C/C++, Java and C# are better languages to teach OO programming and design. C++ is a hack to make it OO. Any decent CS program will require you to learn and use a variety of languages and environments. In a compiler class you will most likely be given a made-up language so you can write a parser. If they gave you a real language, you could just download one off the Internet.

The problem is most college courses are too short to do real world projects - so in the interest of time, using Java or .NET which have such a complete framework (API) it saves a lot of time of getting to the detials of the course instead of wasting reinventing the wheel in C - unless provides the libraries you need.

So, yes, a CS program should teach you more than just Java. At the very least you should be exposed to C/C++, SQL, and some scripting languages as well - like PERL.

Answer 3

In the past few years a lot of universities have started using Java to teach programming because the Software Development Kit (SDK)can be downloaded from Sun on the Internet for FREE, instead of paying someone like Microsoft thousands for something like Visual Studio. Also, there are many high paying jobs for java developers and the logic skills required to write good programs in Java are the same as any other object oriented language like C++. Not all universities that offer Computer Science Degrees start with Java, if you look around your area you'll probably find one that uses C. I did, in Florida.

Answer 4

I am thinking the same thing.
Java program is slower than C program.
we see more c/c++ program than java Program.
(however, Azureus(bit torrent client) is java program.)

In small business IT industry, Java , c,and c++ does not really useful. I think Development tools like Visual Basic, Jbuilder, .net are more useful.

But If you know one of those basic language, it's easier to learn other development tool. And Java is the easiest one among those 3 language.

Java is good for Object-Oriented Programming.
(C is not OO)
Also, Java 1.5(tiger version) provides genericity,
(C# does not provide generics yet, is that right?)

As above person said, In CS, they use Language as tool to learn concepts. Computer Science more like natural science.

I have completed CS course in undergraduate, still in graduate school, pursuing Master in CS.

I have not learn about how to use database tool like sql, oracle. even though I learned some basic command.
but I have learned how database works and have implement database system.

I have not learned syntax of all the programming languages.
I have learned how they works and have implemented some lexer and parser using lex and Yacc.

In cs, they concentrated in Concept and algorithms.
I heard Information Technology concentrated on how to use tools.
(is this information right?)

Answer 5

I recently completed "Computer Programming 1 & 2" at a major university myself. The professor did make comments in the beginning that we are learning concepts using the Java language but, the fact that we used Java was not important. It was chosen because recently it is the prevalant language used that encompases all the concepts needed for a programmer to understand object-oriented structure and GUI programming. I just did an Internet search (because my school's library would not be viewable to you) to show usage trends..
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2006/08/programming_language_trends.html
http://www.procata.com/blog/archives/2006/05/10/programming-language-trends-via-google/

Answer 6

if it werent for java alot of flash and games would not be possible.