The Computer Science and Computing Systems degree courses cover all aspects of the hardware and software of computers. The courses Computer and Business Studies and Discrete Mathematics have an even wider range of modules and topics within them. The first year is demanding because it provides a firm foundation for the more advanced and specialised modules that follow.

We recommend you to do some preliminary reading during the summer before the course begins in late September or October. Do not try to read all these books, but reading most of three or four should help you get off to a good start.

The main programming language used during the first year is Java. If you have not used this language, or have not done any computer programming before, we recommend you to familiarise yourself with it. While the books below are good introductions to Java and programming, the actual recommended module texts may differ. For beginners, there is a huge range available (perhaps try from a local library first). Many students have found the following useful:

 Objects first with Java: a practical introduction using BlueJ by Barnes, D.J. & Kölling, M. (third edition, Pearson Education, 2006)

There are many online tutorial sites also such as :

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/index.html

If you already have significant programming experience, the following discuss Java programming in greater depth:

Understanding Java by Barry Cornelius (Addison Wesley, 2001) Java: How to Program by Harvey Deitel and Paul Deitel (seventh edition, Prentice Hall, 2007) Introduction to Java Programming by Y. Daniel Liang (sixth edition, Prentice Hall, 2006)

To complement the programming, if you would like to read up on the more general aspects of Computer Science, we recommend:

Computer Science: An Overview by J. Glenn Brookshear (ninth edition, Addison Wesley, 2006) Algorithmics: The Spirit of Computing by David Harel (third edition, Addison Wesley, 2004) The New Turing Omnibus by A.K. Dewdney (W.H. Freeman & Co, 2001)

The Linux operating system is used throughout the course, and useful introductions are:

Introducing UNIX and Linux by Mike Joy, Stephen Jarvis and Michael Luck (Palgrave, 2002) UNIX for Programmers and Users by King Ables and Graham Glass (fourth edition, Prentice Hall, 2006)

For the hardware/applications element of the course one of the following is recommended:

The Principles of Computer Hardware by Alan Clements (fourth edition, Oxford, 2006) Structured Computer Organisation by Andrew Tanenbaum (fifth edition, Prentice Hall, 2005)

The first year modules have a high mathematical content and some of the topics covered may appear somewhat abstract when compared with A-Level Mathematics. Two books well worth reading as preliminary work in this area are:

Foundations of Mathematics by Ian Stewart and David Tall (Oxford, 1977) Modern Engineering Mathematics by Glyn James (third edition, Prentice Hall, 2001)  

If you have chosen our Computer and Business Studies degree, the first three sections above (programming, computer science in general, and Linux) are part of your core modules. Modules on hardware and more detailed mathematics are options for you, so you are welcome to read about them in advance if you are interested. We recommend the following as an introduction to the business modules:

 Management Information Systems by Laudon K and Laudon J (tenth edition, Prentice Hall, 2007)

[This is a typical introductory textbook to applied information systems in business, with an emphasis on social implications that we consider very important.]

 Making IT Count: Strategy, Delivery, Infrastructure, Willcocks, L, Petherbridge, P & Olson, N (Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2002)
[This is a practically-oriented book that points out a number of key factors that can make the difference between success and the all-too-frequent failure of information systems projects in organisations.]

'IT Doesn't Matter?', Carr, Nicholas G. (Harvard Business Review, May 2003, 41-49)

[This is a controversial article that should make you think about the nature applied IT. You are likely to visit the issue several times during your course and working life; to find what we think, you'll have to see through the course!]

If you are coming to Warwick to study Discrete Mathematics have a look at the recommendations above to do with programming. You will take two modules that make use of the Java language in the first year. Among more general books we would especially recommend the one mentioned above by Harel on Algorithmics. Since several of your modules are being taken from Mathematics in the first year you should have a look at the recommendations to Mathematics students which you can find at:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/maths/admissions/ug/read_list/

For the modules dedicated to your course a book recommended in previous years has been:

Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications by K.H. Rosen (third edition, McGraw-Hill, 2007).

Recommended textbooks change from year to year, you should not assume that any of these books will be adopted as a module text, and you may prefer to borrow the books from a local library (you may also be able to get reading rights at your local university or college library). At the start of term these recommended texts should be stocked by the University Bookshop; there is also a strong second-hand market for module textbooks at Warwick University — both directly from students and through the Students Union.

If you already own, or have access to, a computer, then this will afford you valuable ‘hands-on’ experience before coming to Warwick. However, since we will provide all computing resources necessary for our courses, we do not require that you purchase a computer.