From algorithms to HighLoad: What languages and technologies are taught at the PAS Department

Purpose: Show the relevance of the technology stack. A common question at the open days is: “Will we learn only old languages or something modern?” The IT industry is changing rapidly, and the educational program of the PAS Department of VolgSTU is adapted to the real needs of the market. We do not tie students to a single language, we form a fundamental understanding of programming paradigms, allowing easy switching between technologies. Foundation: Algorithms and C++ / C# In the first courses, it is important to put “engineering thinking”. Languages with strict typing and manual memory management (C++) teach you how a computer works under the hood. Students will learn why one algorithm executes in milliseconds and another hangs the system. This is the base without which it is impossible to become a strong senior developer. Backend: Python, Django and databases The modern web is dominated by highly loaded systems. In senior years, students immerse themselves in the development of complex server logic. We use Python and powerful frameworks like Django. At this stage, the design of relational (SQL) and nonrelational databases is studied. Students learn to write secure APIs, configure routing, and work with ORM. Frontend: React, Vite and Modern UI The user interacts with the visual part of the product. Today, no one writes interfaces in pure HTML/CSS. The department pays attention to the component approach. Students master modern tools like React and assemblers (Vite), learn how to link the client part to the server, work with states and create dynamic, responsive interfaces. The result of such training is a full-stack graduate. A person who understands the whole data journey, from clicking on a beautiful button in a browser to a complex transaction deep in a database cluster.