I've literally no knowledge in programming and in my 2nd year of uni/college. What am i in for with this module?
Data structures and algorithms is usually the second or often a third course in a series of programming classes. If your school is like most collages you shouldn't be in it without programming knowledge.
It'll likely feel like a combination math and philosophy/logic course. To start, you'll spend some time wrapping your head around (probably) linked lists, graphs and trees. You'll learn how long it takes (as compared to the number of elements contained) to do simple things to the graph/tree. You'll learn how to analyze the various traits of an "algorithm" (recipe to compute something). You'll study some of the more classic algorithms for different things. Depending on your curriculum, you may, or may not, implement some of the algorithms in an actual programming language.
No programming knowledge necessary.
I'm actually in this course right now. It is vital to have at least a basic knowledge of the language that the class is being taught in because of examples, assignments, etc. For example my class meets for lecture 3 times a week and lab once a week. Usually lab consists of a more practical assignment that we have to code up and submit in about a weeks time. It usually has something to do with what we have learned that week so if we are talking about linked lists we might have to create a linked list class and put some data in it.
Like clutch said though there is definitely a more logical side of the course when you start to talk about run times and all of the different notations. Personally there is no way I could do this course without the programming knowledge that I have (which isn't too much just basic). Being able to code things and see for myself how they work makes the class much easier to understand. Then again I doubt my curriculum is exactly the same as yours. Good luck!
Gray
+1
when i took that class that's exactly what it was.
Thanks for replies guys, just going to have to get head down and learn it sadly.