Question by ραλπθ: Do you really need to know physics as a computer science major?
Some universities require three calculus based physics and I’m desperately trying to get out of it. UC’s such as UCLA and UC San Diego, gladly berkeley doesn’t so I can still apply there and other UC’s. I’ve taken AP Physics before and the subjects gets really hard after awhile.
What are the pros and cons of not taking physics and just go for the chemistry series? I feel like I have a better chance of getting an ‘A’ in chemistry and be able to maintain a good gpa for berkeley.
i like math and i plan to make up to differential equations. i just dont want to take it same time with calculus based physics. its going to be hard.
Best answer:
Answer by cabbage
you don’t need physics at all, but there’s lots of advanced and different kinds of math in physics. especially calculus based physics, and the broader your knowledge in math is, the better you’ll be as a computer scientist.
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Physics is much more useful than chemistry to a comp sci major, given that it is essentially mathematical in nature and is more likely to form a part of any particular project (eg game industry).
Also, the kind of algebraic mathematics you do in physics when solving problems is exactly the kind of stuff you can expect to find in a comp sci degree.
Having said that, you by no means _need_ to do any physical science to be a successful computing scientist. You’d be better doing more pure/applied maths
I am an Electrical Engineering student, and having taken several Physics courses, I can tell you that Physics will help you no matter what your Engineering discipline may be.
You will learn basic circuit principles, as well as useful applications to every Engineering major. What’s also equally important is the thought process that you will develop while studying Physics.