I have to take one of these and was wanting to next semester. Which is a better/easier course?

They're essentially the same course, Introduction to Programming.

CS 73 uses Fortran, CS 74 uses C++.

The course you need to take depends greatly on what your purpose is for taking the course and how much programming you expect to do after you get out of it.

If you're taking the course as a major requirement, and you are not interested in doing any programming after college or as a hobby or whatever, then you should probably take CS 73. Fortran is easier for the beginner to pick up on; its syntax is very similar to that of BASIC, and the language's format is very easy to pick up. It's also a very math- and science-oriented language.

Also, if you're a Mechanical, Aerospace, or Nuclear major, you'll have programming assignments in some of your major classes, and the instructors will have you use either Matlab or (guess what?) Fortran. From their point of view, they've had the assignments drawn up in Fortran for 5, 10, or 15 years, and they see no reason to port the code to C++ if they don't have to.

However, if you have ANY interest in taking up object-oriented programming as a hobby, you will WANT to take CS 74. In fact, you may even want to take CS 53. If you're a CompE, take 74 or 53 (you may have to take 53 anyway). CS majors of course will take 53.

However, understand that 73 and 74 classes are teaching programming; they're not really out to teach a language. Once you know the basics of programming in one language, it's not that hard to pick up another language with those same skills.

In short: If you're an ME, AE, or Nuke, I'd suggest 73. If you're a CpE, or you really want to know C++, I'd suggest 74.

If you decide to take 73 and get Ersoy for your lecture, be prepared for a very boring semester.

Thanks. I'm ME, so I guess I'll take 73.

This semester Ersoy was the only 73 lecturer. They were excruciatingly boring lectures. I wanted to get up, scream, and run out the door during every lecture I attended. He is great guy, and will help you out any way he can. He knows his stuff inside and out, but he is boring like none-other. I had never programmed before this class. (With the exception of extremely basic ti-83 stuff, like displaying this or that, and basic menus that will solve math problems) Now I can do all of that on a computer . I didn't think the course was that bad at all. I'm a NucE for those that don't know, so this one was required.

I too had Ersoy. The lectures are pretty boring. But luckly he posts great notes for all of the material covered on the net. Class attendance is not mandatory, and maybe 60% of the class regularly attended. But it wasn't too hard, and i had never programmed anything before. Fortran was pretty easy to lean. And it is excellent for programing anything dealing with numbers.
Now i kind of wish i would have taken 74 so i know C++ which is much more widley used, but all in all Fortran is a good first language to learn.

If you have any interest in learning C++, take 53. Don't take 74. You'll get shitty teachers if you take 74. Actually, the CS department puts only shitty teachers in the 7x lectures because those classes are specifically for non CS majors.

One of the instructors for 74 a few years ago was in one of my classes and got caught cheating. This person also was #2 on my list in the class of dumb people that shouldn't have been there (Christina Douglas was #1, for those keeping score at home).

How many years ago? The class has only been around for 3, going on 4 semesters..

Ummm...no. 74 was around when I was a freshman back in 1999.

You might be thinking of 54.

Anyway, this was back in 2002 or 2003.

Wow. I don't know who you are talking about but I have to agree on that Christina Douglas thing. I am not really sure if she knew anything

My bad. I should quit sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong.