One of the most popular degrees pursued by today, computer science is a rigorously scientific approach to systematically studying the structure, mechanization and feasibility of algorithms supporting various computer processes. Students of a computer science degree program focus on learning how computers relay information to users as well as the acquisition, storage, representation and processing of information encoded into a computer's memory. Specifically, a computer scientist becomes proficient in learning the theory and design of computation and computational systems.
Subfields of Computer Science
Computer science degrees offer specialization in the following subfields:- Computer graphics
- Programming Language Theory
- Computer Programming
- Computational Complexity Theory
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Symbolic/Numerical Computation
- Computer Security
- Cryptography
Degree Requirements
Because computer science is such a comprehensive field of study, courses vary greatly according to the field in which the student wants to specialize. In preparation for taking computer science classes, students should take upper level math and science classes in high school and be naturally inclined towards understanding complex mathematical and programming languages.
Examples of courses in a computer science degree program include:- Calculus
- Linear Algebra
- Statistics/Probability
- Discrete Mathematics
- Differential Equations
- Operating Systems
- Compilers
- Algorithm Design/Analysis
- Computational Theory
Students should be prepared to take courses heavy on mathematics, logic and programming languages as well as general education courses required for obtaining a four or six year degree.
Job Opportunities for Computer Science Majors
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, computer science occupations are expected to expand in coming years. The demand for computer science graduates will increase due to organizations rapidly adopting and integrating complex computer technologies into their daily operations. In fact, out of every 10 new openings, three of those jobs will be related to computer science while 1/6 of all new jobs will involve the information sector, especially the data processing and software publishing industries.
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