If you are interested in becoming a web developer or a software engineer, there are a few paths you can take. Two of the most popular paths are getting a degree in computer science or earning a coding bootcamp certificate.
College vs. Computer Science
A bachelor's degree in computer science takes about four years to complete. The curriculum is focused on providing students with foundational, theoretical knowledge of computation and problem-solving that will prepare them for a variety of careers.
"Computer science graduates have a strong grasp of software fundamentals like algorithms and data structures. Understanding how to use these and when they are applicable is very important for growing into a senior engineer role. On average, computer science graduates make stronger software engineers who grow further in their careers."
"A computer science degree will open a lot of doors. It's a common path into a development career and gives you great knowledge. The more complex your problems are, the more you're going to rely on the knowledge a degree gives you. You can gain some great skills from a bootcamp, but a degree will help you understand the theory and maths behind the code."
"I have hired three developers without formal degrees based on their skills and the certifications they have received. Coding bootcamp actually gives you more relevant and useful tools for a job than a computer science degree. While the degree sets you up with a solid foundation, a bootcamp teaches you specific skills that you can use immediately in a job.
"One of the biggest reasons for the gap in qualified developers and tech talent overall is that traditional education institutions have been slow to adapt. Often, the practices and training students learn in college aren't job-relevant, and they have to be re-taught on the job.
Computers are everywhere, from cell phones to cars. Increasingly experts use computer science in their work, from neuroscience to sociology to music. Oberlin provides a background in fundamentals of data science, logic, theory and programming, but we go beyond just coding. With an Oberlin CS degree, you will learn how the computer revolution is changing society and our lives, and how you can help shape its impact.
At Oberlin Computer Science students are more than a number. Our classes are gathering places, and we host over 40 special events a year including resume workshops, alumni talks, and affinity group lunches for international students, women and non-binary students, and students of color. We offer a broad curriculum with options for double majoring and exploring CS alongside other interests at a liberal arts college.
From smartphones to surveillance systems and automated machinery, sensor technologies and computers permeate our modern world. A new Oberlin learning community explores the liminal space between the physical and the digital.
From projects funded by the National Science Foundation to the Oberlin Summer Research Institute, students have the opportunity to collaborate with a faculty member on diverse research areas within computer science.
This course explores how humans interact with computers, and how computers mediate our interactions with the world. Topics covered include interface design, user studies, accessibility, and ubiquitous computing. We read current research papers in this area, and students complete a group programming project exploring some aspect of human-computer interaction.
Machine learning and data mining enable computers to learn to perform tasks without explicit programming, as well as discover interesting information from data. Students gain hands-on practice with popular machine learning and data mining algorithms, as well as discuss challenges, issues and solutions to working with complexities in real-world data.
By bringing the power of computer science to fields such as journalism, education, robotics, and art, Northwestern University computer scientists are exponentially accelerating research and innovation. Watch our video above or learn more at the link below.
Computer science is offered as a major in the McCormick School of Engineering and in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. In the McCormick School of Engineering, computer science is offered as a bachelor of science degree. In the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, computer science is offered as a bachelor of arts degree.
The programs are an ideal match for those who seek to learn how to design and implement complex software systems, effective human-computer interfaces, and machine learning and artificial intelligence applications, both individually and as a team member.
Weinberg computer science major students complete at least 45 total units of credit, which includes units in the computer science program in addition to seminar, writing proficiency, foreign language, and distribution requirements.
Below is the list of shared requirements for the bachelor of science in computer science program offered by the McCormick School of Engineering and for the bachelor of arts in computer science program offered by the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Core courses provide an introduction to computer science and include the Fundamentals of Computer Programming sequence (COMP_SCI 111, 150, 211), Mathematical Foundations of Comp Science (COMP_SCI 212), Introduction to Computer Systems (COMP_SCI 213), and Data Structures & Algorithms (COMP_SCI 214).
Technical electives allow students to explore advanced computer science topics in detail. Any 300- or 400-level COMP_SCI course may be taken as a technical elective in addition to select COMP_ENG and ELEC_ENG options.
The BS CSE and the BS CIS programs prepare students for a range of careers in Computer Science. The Computer Science portion of these two programs are identical to each other. The main difference between the two is that the BS CSE requires more math, science, and engineering while the BS CIS requires more general education courses including a foreign language.
For those who love problem-solving and understanding new technology, computer science could be the right career path for you. And the good news is: The industry is booming. In fact, computer science jobs are now the number one source of new wages in America.
The majority of these jobs require skills and knowledge gained through an advanced degree in computer science or computer engineering. If you are at the start of your career, however, deciding whether to pursue computer science vs computer engineering can be challenging.
One strategy for determining which path is right for you is to consider your career goals. For instance, if you are looking to work in cybersecurity or as a systems administrator, computer science may be a good fit for you. If your goal is to eventually become a software architect or developer, a degree in computer science or computer engineering will equip you for the job. Advanced computer science curricula thoroughly cover how networks and systems security protocols work while teaching programming and appropriate mathematical concepts.
The technology industry is booming with growth and opportunity. Careers in computer and information science are predicted to grow 19 percent by 2026, and computer hardware engineer jobs are expected to increase 5 percent in the same timeframe.
The salary for both computer scientists and computer engineers is also highly attractive for prospective professionals. Computer science majors can earn 40 percent more than other college majors, and all occupations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) pay more than non- STEM careers by 12-30 percent across all education levels. On average, computer scientists can earn $118,370 per year and computer engineers make $114,600 per year.
Not only do these career paths boast lucrative salaries and stable job growth, but earning a degree in either field can pave the way for many different career options. For example, you can advance from traditional database management or IT jobs and pursue data analytics or cryptocurrency positions with a computer science degree, as you learn how to apply statistical methods to large datasets with computational methods.
Other booming fields that are hiring both computer scientists and engineers are the artificial intelligence (AI) and the virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR) industries. The AI market is forecasted to be a $3.9T market in the future and needs computer scientists to program and code intelligent machines. Computer engineers are also needed to program and engineer the hardware of AI machines.
While these computer science and computer engineering degrees share similar courses and are both great choices for a strong technology career, there is a major difference to note. Computer science focuses mostly on troubleshooting issues on a software level. Expect to learn different programming languages, how to work with operating systems, and how to maintain databases.
Computer engineering focuses on solving problems and designing hardware and software interfaces. Expect some similarities between the degrees and job titles, since computer engineers can be responsible for the development and prototyping of software and hardware simultaneously.
Computer science degrees also vary depending on the school you attend and your willingness to relocate. Pursuing a tech degree in Florida, for example, may not offer as strong a competitive advantage as programs located in areas like Boston, Seattle, or Silicon Valley, since there are fewer tech companies to work for after graduation. A job search on Indeed.com shows over 8,500 computer science job listings in Florida compared to over 42,000 jobs in California. Computer engineers also make $33,740 more per year in California than in Florida.
Computer scientists at Harvard pursue work in a wide range of areas including theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence, economics and computer science, privacy and security, data-management systems, intelligent interfaces, operating systems, computer graphics, computational linguistics, robotics, networks, architectures, program languages, machine learning, and visualization. 2ff7e9595c
Comments