What Is Computer Science? A Complete Guide to Computer Science Jobs and Programs

An AI concentration teaches you to design and program computer intelligence and autonomous systems. You’ll learn about machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics.

Common applications of AI today include digital assistants like Siri, smart cars, chatbots, and advanced surveillance. Graduates can pursue a career as a machine learning engineer, AI researcher, or data scientist.

A computer graphics and visualization concentration entails creating images and animations with computer technology. You’ll also learn to create software that generates computer graphics, design camera technology, and plan physical simulations to represent motion.

Students take classes in computer animation, computer games, computational geometry, physics-based rendering, and learning-based image synthesis.

A computer systems concentration will teach you about designing distributed systems and solving common problems. You’ll learn to incorporate computer hardware like processors and storage with software systems.

Computer systems students take classes such as database systems, embedded systems, cloud computing, computer architecture, and operating systems.

Cybersecurity concentrations focus on protecting computer networks and systems from cyber-attacks and security threats. You’ll learn techniques for encryption, how to detect attacks with digital forensics, and how to enforce network security after testing vulnerabilities.

Common classes include cybercrime investigation, network security, and applied cryptography. Graduates often pursue careers as security analysts, cybersecurity consultants, ethical hackers, and network security technicians.

Simply put, data science is the study of all things data. You’ll learn how to collect, process, and analyze large amounts of information to uncover patterns and trends.

Classes include data acquisition, predictive modeling, data analysis, and data reporting. You’ll also work with real-world data to gain experience solving problems using data-driven techniques.

Game design and development degrees are all about creating and building video games. Using the latest computer science tools and technologies, you’ll learn how to design and develop games to bring your ideas to life.

Common courses for this concentration include game design, programming, 3D modeling, animation, and storytelling. You’ll get hands-on experience creating games from start to finish and work with other game design students on group projects.

A human-computer concentration involves the relationship between people and technology. The degree explores how computers can be designed to work seamlessly with humans to improve our daily lives — and how increased digitization impacts society.

Students learn how to design and build technology that is intuitive and user-friendly. You might take classes like human-computer interaction, user experience design, and human-centered software design.

In a machine learning concentration, you’ll study how computers learn and make predictions based on data. Machine learning allows computers to automate decision-making and learn from experience.

Machine learning professionals work on projects like self-driving cars and image recognition. Examples of machine learning classes include deep learning systems, scalability in machine learning, and probabilistic graphical models.

Computer networking focuses on how data and information is transmitted and received between different devices and systems. In other words, you’ll learn how computers and devices exchange data and resources.

A networks concentration focuses on network administration, design, and security.

Graduates can build networks and secure communication systems for organizations. Common careers include network engineer, network security administrator, systems manager, and IT administrator.

In a programming language computer science degree, you’ll learn about the design and implementation of computer programming languages. You’ll also explore the mathematical and logical foundations behind computer programming.

Classes you might take include operating systems, programming language semantics, theory of computation, and computer networks.

A robotics concentration teaches you how to design robotic systems, construct robots, and develop robotic learning techniques. You’ll get hands-on experience with robotics and explore theoretical concepts regarding a robotic future.

Potential courses include intelligent robotics, mobile robotics, robotic kinematics, advanced 3D computer graphics, machine learning, and computer vision.

In a software engineering concentration, you’ll learn how to design and develop software systems. Common courses in software engineering include quality and security testing, mobile application development, UI/UX design, secure coding techniques, and systems architecture.

Graduates can pursue careers like software engineer, UI/UX developer, systems architecture designer, software developer, and full-stack developer.