Is Computer Science a Good Major? What To Know

Thinking about majoring in computer science? If you're reading this article, you probably have questions. Specifically, you want to know if computer science is a good major to pursue.

Computer science is an excellent choice for students who enjoy technology, math, and science topics. Computer science degrees can lead to a variety of lucrative career opportunities in various in-demand industries, providing a high level of job security.

Read on to learn more about getting a computer science degree.

What Makes Computer Science a Useful Major?

Computer science degree programs are some of the most popular majors at many colleges. Students often pursue bachelor's degrees in computer science, though associate, master's, doctoral degrees, and certificate programs are also available.

Computer science is a useful major because of the high demand for computer science jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), computer-related occupations are expected to grow by 11.5% by 2029; this is three times as fast as the average for all occupations.

There are a variety of job opportunities for computer science graduates, and the job market is expected to continue growing.

Some of the many career paths you can pursue after obtaining a computer science degree include computer engineering and software engineering, web development, and data science and data analysis.

Regardless of the path you pursue, you can expect to earn a lucrative annual salary. While a specific salary can't be guaranteed, the majority of computer scientists earn six figures each year.

How Hard Is a Computer Science Degree?

So, we've established that computer science is a great degree to earn. But you're still curious about how hard you will have to work for your degree. How hard is the coursework for computer science programs?

Computer science is not generally considered an easy degree program. It involves taking a lot of advanced math, science, and technology courses.

As a computer science student, you can expect to learn about algorithms, data structures, and programming languages. You must become proficient in all of these topics.

Taking these courses will not only help you develop hard skills necessary for any tech job; they will also help you develop soft skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking, which will be essential for career success.

It's worth noting that, while many students consider computer science to be a challenging degree, other students may enjoy the challenge or even find the coursework to be easier than expected.

For example, if you are naturally good at science and math and have a knack for computers, you may find computer science degree programs easier than some of your peers. It all depends on your strengths.

If you're still in high school, it's a good idea to take some advanced math, science, and computer classes to help you prepare for the rigors of college and discover whether you enjoy these subjects.

What Courses Are Typically in a Computer Science Program?

As noted, computer science programs involve a lot of advanced STEM-related courses. But what are some of the specific types of courses you can expect to take?

Exact courses will vary from school to school, and more advanced topics are typically found in graduate degree programs.

If you are in a bachelor's degree program, though, typical computer science courses you can expect to take include:

• software development
• calculus
• cybersecurity
• computer architecture
• programming languages
• information technology
• artificial intelligence
• computer science theory
• algorithms

As part of your degree program, you may be required to participate in internship programs where you'll learn to put your classroom knowledge into action. You may also have the opportunity to pursue industry certifications to give you a solid foundation as you prepare for your career.

Specializations Within Computer Science

Computer science is a versatile degree, providing a broad foundation for a variety of career options.

Whether you're pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree, your degree program may offer specializations to help you personalize your degree and focus more on a specific part of computer science.

Some of the specializations you could pursue include:

• artificial intelligence
• machine learning
• information technology
• information security
• game design
• data science
• computer information systems
• programming languages
• computer graphics

Each of these specializations will help you qualify for specific computer science fields. For example, an artificial intelligence specialization will allow you to pursue careers developing or working with artificial intelligence.

Regardless of the specialization you choose, it's important to stay up to date with new technologies and programming languages (like Python) throughout your career.

Your computer science degree will teach you a lot, but technology is constantly changing. You will likely need to complete continuing education throughout your career to help you stay at the top of your game in the industry.

What Can I Do with a Computer Science Major?

We've mentioned that you can get a lot of good jobs with a computer science degree, and we've briefly touched on some of these jobs. But what are some of the other career options you could pursue?

Here are a few of the specific job titles available to you as a computer science major:

• software engineer
• data scientist
• computer systems analyst
• computer scientist
• network architect
• information research scientist
• information security analyst
• computer programmer

Completing some form of higher education, such as a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, is crucial for obtaining any of these roles. Computer science grads have a much better chance of landing these positions than self-taught computer scientists without a degree.

In other words, having your computer science degree is helpful and often necessary for securing entry-level to advanced positions in computer science, regardless of the specific position in question.

For many jobs, a bachelor's degree is acceptable. For others, such as computer and information research scientists, having a master's degree is the industry standard.

You may also decide to pursue a master's degree if you've been working in computer science for a while and want to pursue a pay increase, promotion, or managerial position.

Regardless of your long-term career goals, getting your degree in computer science is a necessary first step on your journey.

Start Your Computer Science Degree Today

Ready to get started in computer science? A wide variety of high-paying and in-demand careers are waiting for you as soon as you finish your degree. Check out the many colleges and universities that offer computer science degree programs to find one that will work for you.