Find solution
Is it better to major in Computer Science or Informatics?

Indonesia: What is the difference between computer science at UI and informatics at ITB in terms of curriculum and educational approach?

  • Answer:

    I am a bachelor from Informatics Engineering in ITB, or just call it IF-ITB. FYI, Informatics ITB means the master degree of Informatics, while Informatics Engineering is the undergrad degree. NOTES & DISCLAIMER I will only answer the curriculum exclusively from IF-ITB, since I have no knowledge about the CS in University of Indonesia. This answer also only applied during my years of undergrad program, which is currently has different curriculum (mine was 2008, now is the 2013 curriculum) I will not talk about the facility. Only about the curriculum. There are some mandatory class (M) and optional class (O). I separate the curriculum by the research group, but anyone can create their own curriculum, not tied to the specific research group. The research groups are: Computer Science (CS), governs the Graphics & Artificial Intelligence Lab, Distributed System Lab, and Computer Science & Engineering Lab. Data & Software Engineering (DSE), governs the Database Lab, Software Engineering Lab, and Programming Lab. 1st year: We were assigned to faculty, still not a major. The faculty called STEI, or in english SEEI (School of Electrical Engineering & Informatics). What we learnt: Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Electrical Circuits, and Basic Programming. For Basic Programming, we learnt Pascal. 2nd year: Those who choose to apply to IF-ITB will get this class: DSE: (M) Algorithm & Data Structure - LISP for func prog, C for data structure (M) Object-oriented Programming - C++, Java, a li'l bit of Javascript inheritance. PS: you'll make game here. (M) Software Engineering - learn the basic of SDLC (M) Database - basic of database & SQL practice CS (M) Probability & Statistics - self explanatory (M) Discrete Math - logical proposition, matrices, and trees (M) Engineering Math - self explanatory (M) Digital System - governed by electrical engineering (M) Computer Architecture - theory of bit, byte, CPU history (M) Logic of Informatics - logical porposition (M) Language Theory and Automata - explanation of programming language, grammar, syntax, and regex 3rd year: DSE: (O) Database System - how DBMS works, modify PostGre (O) Advanced Software Engineering - Object-oriented SE + RPC/ORB (O) Web Programming - not literally just web, but also how to make web service and dropbox (M) Information System - do a project to a company for 1 semester CS: (O) Computer Graphics - ancient computer graphics in Turbo C (come on, we are already in the age of OpenGL & DirectX) (O) Cryptography - self explanatory (M) Strategy of Algorithm - preliminary version of Artificial Intelligence. PS: all assigment were making games. (M) Artifical Intelligence - mostly about problem solving agent and machine learning (M) Operating System - how OS works, how to modifiy UNIX, how mobile OS change the world (M) Distributed System - a li'l bit hybrid of OS + Computer Networks (M) Computer Networks - data communication and mostly OSI layer 2-5 (M) Human-Computer Interaction - good/bad UI 4th year: DSE: (O) Software Project - project make software for client. Weekly meeting. OO approach (M) Management of Software Project - management of the item above (O) Non-relational Database - NoSQL e.g. temporal DB, OODB (O) Database Technlogy - advanced usage of DB (I didn't take this, I am not so sure about this one, maybe someone can suggest an edit) (O) Object-oriented Analysis & Design - approach of SE application in object-oriented model, also a li'l bit of web service. CS: (O) Knowledge-based System - knowledgeable agent with logical representation, such as fuzzy logic, rule-based system, genetic algorithm (O) Advanced Computer Network - the application of network (O) Natural Language & Speech Processing - how to process human sentence and speech. QA machine, spam filter, etc. (O) Machine Learning - make general model of problem using provided data. (O) Text Mining - specific application of NLP + ML in processing structured/unstructed text data (O) Multimedia System - kinect, mobile, video editing, noise filtering, etc (O) Numerical Method - approximation and mathematical modeling (O) Model & Simulation - this class usually closed due to low demand (O) Image Processing - image editing, edge detection, etc Neutral: (M) Internship - self explanatory (M) Thesis - do your own research Some extras added in 2013 curriculum (just few I remembered): Information Security, Parallel Processing, and Software Quality Well, that's a "snapshot" of IF-ITB curriculum. For the education approach, it might be delicate to explain. First, assignments are way, way too much, really. Some professor might not even consider the other professor assignment with a ridiculous deadline. However, this is one way to teach stress management and time management in ITB, especially if the students are active in student body or club. Second, most assignment are group assignment. How to create group, manage group, and manage assignment is a must. You can't speak well with the other students, most likely you'll be shunned. Communication skill will be one of the most valuable weapon here. You are good with programming, but you can't do so well in group, you should fix that. It's okay being introvert, but teaming here will provide a bonus, which leads to the next item. Third, most students join competition/hackathon. Students who've already found the matching group from above usually compete in many competition. Most students choose to join the game development competition, since most of the class make games. Sometimes, those group also become startups. Our current department head, Dr. Ayu Purwarianti, is very supportive in encouraging students to take part in competition. For her, students' accomplishments are much more important than just taking a class and good grades. However, the older professors usually only consider students for their class performance. Sorry if it doesn't help you compare with UI. Let's just hope there will be another person who will answer from the CS UI perspective.

Rido Ramadan at Quora Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Basically Informatics and Computer Science in ITB and UI is the same. We studied the same like the answer from Rido Ramadhan. It is just the different term/naming of the field of study. Computer Science name originated from US, while Informatics from Europe. So let me share the experience in studying in CS UI. Faculty of Computer Science in Universitas Indonesia has two major: Computer Science - More studying in Computer Science and Software Engineering. You may say it is more geek in contrast with, Information System - which is less geek than Computer Science. Study some part of Software Engineering, but more on practical side, management, IT governance, etc I am the student of Computer Science major. So I am unable to describe the experience in studying the Information System. First Year We learned the basic of computer system and programming. We studied: Fundamentals of Programming Object Oriented Programming Basic Digital System Basic Computer Design (i.e. Programming in Assembly language) Basic Math including Calculus, Discrete Math Second Year We went deeper with our fields. We studied: Data Structure and Algorithm Database Design and System Intermediate Math including Calculus, Statistics, Linear Algebra, and Applied Probability Computer Networking Operating System Web Programming Third Year In third year, we were now able to pick our preferred concentration. There are some concentration that is provided by the faculty which are: Theoretical Computer Science - as the name, it is more science and theoretical, which you may learn like Image Processing, Computational Logic, etc Software Engineering - it is more practical, such as Cryptography, Logic Programming, Functional Programming, Interaction System, etc Embedded System - It is more related to programming in an embedded system, well if you are interested with robotics, I believe this one is yours In conjunction with the concentration studies, we also have to continue our prerequisite studies where we learned: Language Theory and Automata - The real basic idea of computation Algorithm Analysis - How you measure and analyze your algorithm Software Engineering - How you design a software with methodological approach Software Project - We try to develop software with the full software development lifecycle Intelligent System - How you make computer smart. Well, actually computer is stupid. The Intelligent System is the approach in how we make the computer can actually "think" Fourth Year The final year usually only contains your concentration studies and also final project. My Personal Preference I took concentration in Software Engineering, which many of my optional courses I took from that concentration. In conjunction I also took some of courses in Theoretical and Embedded because I feel like I want to learn that. I took: Software Engineering Courses: Cryptography and Computer Security - I learned many cryptography and security mechanism in securing your data in your software. Learning this, I got a broad knowledge how security should be implemented in software Compiler Techniques - I learned how to make my own programming language! I took this because I feel geek enough to take it. Haha. But I think it worth the effort because I can understand how compiler works, and I also sometimes implement it in my side projects Logic Programming - I learned another paradigm in software programming, and logic programming is the most 'logical' approach in how you define a real logic. This programming paradigm is applicable to one of my favorite topics: Natural Language Processing Interaction System - How you design user interface, and human-machine interaction Web Application and Services - An advanced version of Web Programming System Programming - You modified Linux kernel here. Kernel is the core of computer operating system. With this course, you will know how they (kernel) actually coded. Geeky Scientific Computing Courses: Soft Computing - This is where you learn how to model a logical that is not rigid like boolean logic (true/false). Computer now modeled using boolean logic. But in reality, the world is not black and white, and with Soft Computing is how you model a logic that is not black and white. Image Processing - How you process an image in computer. Face recognition, pattern recognition goes here. Basically this is not a simple task. You got to be smart at calculus when going to this path. And I was not :P Information Processing - not really a concentration during my era, but there are lots of courses that is related with this topic Information Retrieval - This is the basic on how you make your own Google Natural Language Processing - This is how you make computer understand the human language. Not in terms of voice recognition, but in terms of how computer can understand grammar, sentences, and what's the meaning of it. In terms of Educational Approach, let me say this. The lecturer in UI is quite idealistic in computer technology. Almost all of them prefer open source things compared to proprietary. Find below for the technology we used during our courses: Programming Language: Java, C/C++ Database System: MySQL Web Programming: PHP, Java JSP/Servlet Scientific Writing: LaTeX (not enforced :P) But this does not limit you in learning other technology. And you must NOT! You have to be able to learn more technology, that is why they teach you the concept, not the specific technology. I personally HATE Java, even though I know very much of the language. I prefer Microsoft technology over them. Well, if you excel in learning the concept behind, it will be very easy for you to learn new things. And the lecturer in UI are among the best in the country. One of our lecturer also the founder of dot ID domain! Pusilkom UI, the origin of our country was also the pioneer of IT in Indonesia. I am sorry for making this tl;dr hahaha, but I just want to share my experience in studying Computer Science, which is an extraordinary experience. Whether you are admitted to UI or ITB, both of them will provide you similar experience, because I believe we both are the best in this country. *songong* *jangan digebukin ya* :P

Gilang Mentari Hamidy

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.