Benefits of having a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science
Majors Overview February 12, 2015Students in Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs in Computer Science will be given a solid background on computers. This opens up a broad range of career opportunities related to computing. Those that graduate will be able to continue their education at the graduate level or enter the field in several professional positions.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree Programs in Computer Science
Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science degree program are imparted a firm grasp of the theoretical and practical facets of mathematics, computer engineering, and computer science. Students enrolled in these programs may be required to complete a software engineering project, wherein they can engage in designing and creating an original program or gain hands-on experience through participation in an internship program.
Schools usually require the completion of numerous computer science courses by incoming students that are also expected to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma.
Coursework
Training in mathematics and computer science is imparted to enrolled students, who can expect to become adept in specialized, industry-specific computer applications, software systems, and programming languages. Coursework may include these topic areas:
•Computational structures
•Algorithm design
•Artificial intelligence
•Social and ethical issues in computer science
•Computer organization
•Data structures
•Programming languages
•Database systems
•Imperative computation
•Software engineering
Career Choices
Those seeking entry-level careers in computer science are usually required by employers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Graduates from the program are trained to be able to choose from various career positions, such as:
•Computer systems administrator
•Computer systems analyst
•Computer programmer
Job and Wage Outlook
In 2012, computer systems analysts, computer programmers, and computer systems administrators took home average annual wages of $79,680, $74,280, and $72,560 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). While systems analysts are expected to enjoy a job growth rate of 25% over the 2012 – 2022 decade; programmers and systems administrators are expected to enjoy growth rates of 8% and 12% over the same period (BLS).
Continuing Education
Graduates from the bachelor’s degree program can seek continued education by earning a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science.
Specific course requirements vary by school. Students in some programs can tailor their curriculum to meet their program objectives. Coursework may include the study of computer science theory, artificial intelligence, and various computer systems, such as storage systems and operating systems.
Varying with the program and students’ goals, master’s projects or thesis may have to be completed by students before they can graduate from the program. Those seeking continuing education beyond the master’s degree level can pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science. A dissertation based on original research would have to be completed by students before they graduate from the program.
