Question for the professionals

[mystaem]

Hey Everyone,
I am in my last year of an Applied Computer Science and Criminal Justice dual degree at Troy University. I am interested in a professional’s input on what to consider when choosing a language to concentrate in. There are several languages that we have been taught and the courses have been heavily focused on algorithm design and implementation, in which I feel very fortunate. I know that this topic can bring volumes of knowledge to the table but I would just like some information pointing me in the right direction as to what languages might be better to master for the different areas of the professional field. Here is a list of what I have been taught and what is to come:

School:
C++
JAVA
VB.Net
COBOL

Self Study:
SQL
C#
Various web languages that I am not interested in...
Assembly, which interestingly enough, came extremely easy for me, binary math geek I guess, ha!

School to come:
Assembly
Operating Systems
Mobile Programming
Software Engineering
C#
Windows Programming Win32 API and MFC

Any input would be greatly appreciated and I am looking forward to a hearty discussion.

Matt

[PeejAvery]

Anything .NET is wise to study because of Microsoft's push towards the .NET framework.

Yes, this type of question can produce lengthy, and quite in depth answers. However, rather than look at the language first, you should look at your future. Choosing what you desire to do most in programming would show you on what languages you should focus.

[Brad Jones]

Assembly would be good because it teaches at a lower level how the computer is working. Understand the guts and it is easier to understand the higher-level systems. If the Operating System course is a 300 level or higher course, then it too could be good for helping your overall understanding of how systems work. Software Engineering might also be beneficial if you plan to do development in the real world.

If you are really planning to work in the real world, then I would actually recommend a few classes out of your core focus. Specifically, I'd recommend a Communications class as well as any business classes you can add. These will help when working with others.

Brad!