Is Computer Science a STEM Degree?

Over the years, there's been a push for a greater focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Programs for STEM education are common in elementary schools, and they are also popular choices for college students. One common STEM major is computer science.

Computer science is the study of computers and can cover everything from programming languages to data analysis to cybersecurity. Keep reading to learn more about computer science as a STEM degree.

What Is a STEM Degree?

STEM degrees, as the name suggests, focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. These fields of study include a strong foundation of math and science classes.

Examples of popular stem majors include:

• biological sciences (biology, biochemistry, and ecology)
• engineering (aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering)
• mathematics, including applied mathematics
• physical sciences (astronomy, geology, and physics)
• technology (e.g., computer science, cybersecurity, data analytics, and information technology)

Many STEM majors offer the opportunity to choose a concentration or specialization. This allows students to focus their studies on their intended career path. For example, a computer science degree may include concentrations like:

• artificial intelligence
• data science
• machine learning
• software development
• web development

Why Computer Science Is a STEM Degree

The word ''science'' in ''computer science'' might be a clear giveaway for inclusion in STEM. Still, several other factors classify computer science as a STEM degree. We've broken them down below.

Foundation in Mathematics and Science

One thing that all STEM fields have in common is a strong foundation in math and science. Most STEM degree programs require students to take courses in subjects like algebra, calculus, chemistry, and physics before beginning their major courses.

Of course, STEM is a broad field, and someone studying biology may have different math and science requirements than someone studying mechanical engineering. Common foundational science and math requirements for computer science programs often include:

• calculus
• discrete mathematics
• linear algebra
• statistics

These programs also involve many other math and science courses focusing on programming, algorithms, and data structures.

Involvement of Engineering Practices

Engineering is the E in STEM, and it's an important part of computer science. There are some computer-focused engineering careers, like computer engineers and software engineers, but the computer science field also uses engineering practices.

Computer science utilizes multiple engineering practices. According to the National Science Teaching Association, standard engineering practices include:

• asking questions and defining problems
• developing and using models
• analyzing and interpreting data
• using mathematics and computational thinking
• constructing explanations and designing solutions

All these engineering practices are used in computer science to assist with everything from basic problem-solving to designing information systems to complex computer programming.

Diverse Career Paths in STEM

Many STEM majors lead to multiple career options, including computer science. Some common STEM careers for computer science majors include:

• computer programmer
• computer scientist
• database administrator
• full-stack developer
• information security analyst
• software developer

All these STEM jobs require knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and math principles.

Technological Innovation

Many STEM fields, especially technology, are focused on technological innovation. They seek to improve current technologies or create new technology.

Computer science often focuses on improving computers or developing new products for computers, like hardware, software, applications, and programming languages. With the increased reliance on computer systems and other types of technology, technological innovation is common within computer science.

Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology

Often, STEM fields require research and experimentation to find answers. To do this, they use both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Qualitative methods gather non-numerical data and include things like interviews or focus groups. Computer scientists may use these methods to learn more about how well their software or programs work for people.

Qualitative methods, on the other hand, use numerical data and include methods like experiments, data reports, and surveys. Computer scientists may use these methods to determine how efficiently their programs are running or how strong their security systems are.

Is Computer Science a Science?

Some people argue that computer science shouldn't be considered a science because science is often defined as a field concerned with observing and learning more about the natural world. However, many others define it as the pursuit of knowledge in general.

As a result, whether or not computer science is a science depends on your definition of science. Regardless, it is a STEM field, as it includes all other fields of STEM. It uses math to build algorithms, engineering to design software, and technology to run computers.

Is Computer Science the Easiest STEM Field?

''Easy'' is a subjective term. While computer science may not be as rigorous as chemical engineering, it can still be tricky for some students. On the other hand, those who enjoy statistics, data analytics, and programming may find it easy.

Majors that are considered to be some of the easiest STEM degrees include:

• agricultural sciences
• environmental science
• nutrition science
• animal science
• information science
• geology

Some students list computer science among the easiest STEM degrees, although, again, this can vary from person to person.