Education and Training

A computer science degree can focus on a variety of different aspects of the computer industry depending upon the school in which it is earned and the student’s personal and career interests. As such, the coursework you take while earning a computer science degree can vary dramatically. For example, your coursework may focus on software engineering, systems engineering, general software applications, programming, and more.

Employment Opportunities

Earning a computer science degree opens the door to a number of different employment opportunities. The most obvious career your computer science degree will prepare you for, however, is that of a computer scientist. A computer scientist engages in research and inventions within the computer industry. You may work in a number of different areas within the field, such as improving upon human-computer interaction capabilities, virtual reality, and designing robots.

A person with a computer science degree may also pursue a career as a database administrator. A database administrator is responsible for working with database management systems software and identifying methods for organizing and storing data. The administrator may also be responsible for adding new users to the system and creating and implementing system security measures.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for individuals with a computer science degree choosing to pursue a career as a computer scientist or database administrator are expected to grow faster than the average occupation. This is largely due to the increasing dependence throughout the world on computers and technology. The Bureau reports that the median annual salary for a computer scientist in May 2004 was $85,190 while database administrators earned $60,640 that same year.

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