Computer Science
Computer Science Overview, Career Guide, Education

• What is Computer Science?
• Computer Science vs IT vs CIS vs MIS?
• Career Options with a Computer Science Degree
• Computer Science Offers Enormous Job Opportunities
• Computer Science Salaries
• Career Advancement

What is Computer Science?
Computer Science is often described as the rigorous study of how computing systems work and the design of hardware and software. Many people equate computer science with programming or building computers, and while all computer scientists learn programming and could probably build computers, they go beyond hardware and software. They study the very nature of computing to determine which problems are (or are not) computable. They compare various algorithms to determine if they provide a correct and efficient solution to a concrete problem. They design programming languages to enable the specification and expression of such algorithms. They design, evaluate, and build computer systems that can efficiently execute such specifications. And, they apply such algorithms to important application domains.

Computer science is a vast field that includes many sub-areas:

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Computer Science vs IT vs CIS vs MIS?
Computer Science is the "heavyweight" degree of the four. Computer Science focuses on the engineering and principles of computers and computing. IT focuses on the development hardware and software. CIS and MIS cover some coding, while CS gets much more in depth. CS covers topics such as:

• Algorithms
• Data Structures
• Design Patterns
• Low / High Level languages (such as Assembly, C/C++, Java, C#)
• Software Architecture

Management Information Systems (MIS) is business degree that basically covers anything that has to do with information within an organization. MIS includes but is not limited to capturing, gathering, processing, analyzing, presenting and disseminating information. MIS is primarily designed for business people who would like to gain knowledge of the use of computer technology and use systems and applications effectively in areas such as governance, marketing and accounting.

Information Technology (IT) is a major component of MIS, perhaps even the backbone of MIS but is only a part of the overall. IT largely has to do with the systems that support the capturing, gathering, processing, analyzing, presenting and dissemination of data but only as far as telecommunications, computers, etc. are concerned and usually only as far as the machines and software used to do this are concerned.

Computer Information Systems (CIS) is largely focused on computing...the use of hardware and software to manipulate, store and process data . CIS professionals might program databases, design a website, develop a network security plan as well as design and code a business application. Many are involved in system deployment and training users. They can bridge the gap between technology and business by using their system analysis, project management and communication skills.

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Career Options with a Computer Science Degree

• Associate's Degree - Those who earn an associate degree in computer science will be qualified for entry-level positions in application software development, software quality assurance and end-user support. Many associate degree programs are designed for those who will continue on to complete a Bachelor's degree.


• Bachelor's Degree - Graduates with this degree will have many career paths open to them including systems software engineer, applications software engineer, network administrator and database administrator, among many others. The industries a computer science major can work in are almost unlimited and could include computer service companies or any organization that provides their own computer services in-house.


• Master's Degree - A Masters degree in computer science is appropriate for those who want to develop expertise in one area and for those who have management aspirations. This is also a good opportunity for people who want to move into a computer science career but have a Bachelors degree in another field.


• Doctoral Degree - A Doctoral degree is a good choice for those who want to be involved in research on topics such artificial intelligence, performance issues, voice recognition and other leading-edge subjects and for those who want to become a computer science educator.

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Computer Science Offers Enormous Job Opportunities
Computer science can prepare you for one of the top jobs in America. According to Money Magazine, Computer / IT Analyst is ranked #7 on its 50 Best Jobs in America List with 10 year job growth projected at 36.10%.

From 2008 to 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 175,000 more computer software engineer jobs, 155,000 more network systems and data communication analyst jobs, and 108,000 more computer systems analyst jobs.

• Applications software development
• Systems software development
• Software engineering, software integration
• Database management with SQL
• Simulation and modeling
• Computer graphics

The application of computer science is almost limitless, thus creating an enormously broad range of career opportunities.

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Computer Science Salaries
Computer Science majors enjoy excellent salary potential. Depending on several factors, such as education, experience, location, and occupation, computer science professionals can expect to earn $45K to over $100K.

CNBC.com ranked Computer Science #4 (average starting $61,205) and Computer Engineering #5 (average starting $61,879) on their Top 10 Earning Bachelor's Degrees List.

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Career Advancement
Advancement in this field is directly related to both education and experience. Computer Science and Information Technology professionals must stay current with technology trends and software launches and updates, and employers like to see proof of their skills. In order to advance, professionals typically must earn a bachelor-level degree, and in some cases a master degree; careers in the research area of the Computer Science field require a Ph.d. Additionally, computer science professionals will benefit from obtaining different industry certifications throughout their career and may need to take a prep class or additional coursework geared toward passing the exam(s).

Want to Advance your Computing Career? Try an MBA...
For computer professionals who wish to advance their education and careers but don't want to pursue another technical degree, an MBA may be an excellent option. A recent article published by the IEEE Computer Society explains the benefits of an MBA to a computing professional. >> Read article

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