Maybe you are passionate about computers and want to go into this field, but you worry “is computer science hard?”. While being hard shouldn’t be something that stops you from working towards your dream. Sometimes it helps to understand just what you’re getting into so that you know what to expect. This will help you get the motivation that you need to push through, even though this industry may be hard. By reading on, you can learn about whether or not computer sciences are the right field for you.
Understanding Computer Science Careers: What to Expect in Schooling and Career Options
Computer science is simply the study of computers, including every aspect of how they perform. This field includes studying the physical devices (hardware), software/programs, and any theories that are the backbone of this industry. As you study in this field, you will often be required to learn a minimum of one programming language. The typically options people choose to learn for this purpose is Swift, Ruby, Python, and Java. You will also need to learn the basics of science (including physics), English, and math.
You will also need to complete coursework in various other fields, so choose electives based on what your specialty will be. For instance, if you want to focus more on hardware, then taking coursework in electrical engineering and math can be beneficial to you. This means that it’s important that you carefully consider what you want to specialize in to help you better select your courses.
Jobs Variety
Once you get your degree, you may be wondering what your career options are. The good news is that just because you have a computer science degree. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are stuck only working as a computer programmer or a software engineer. There are actually a wide variety of jobs that you can get with your degree. Some of these jobs include:
- Game designer
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Computer support specialist
- Computer researcher
- Web developer
- Network administrator
- Systems analyst
- Database manager
- Business analyst
- Computer project manager
- Data structure analyst
- Data scientist
Whatever field you do decide to get into, you can feel comfortable knowing that you can get a decent pay in this industry. The average hourly salary in this industry is around $42/hour. Software developers in particular get paid very well, with an average hourly salary of over $50/hour. Another benefit of this industry is that since computers are a major part of life and business. There is great job security, and the job growth rate is higher than other industries.
But is computer science hard? The answer is yes. This is an industry where you need to have awesome problem-solving skills as well as enjoy a challenge. You will not only need patience to complete your degree in this field, but you also need a lot of patience in your work as you come across complex problems. Additionally, this field can be hard because it requires ongoing training to always understand the latest standards and practices in this industry. As hard as this industry is, you will get competitive salaries and benefits, which can be a good trade for your hard work.
Getting Degrees in Computer Sciences
The most common approach is to get a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences, especially if you want to work as a software engineer. Though, you should know that there may be a lot of jobs that require you to have an advance degree like a master’s or a PhD. Particularly if you are interested in working in research labs or academia.
If you already have a bachelor’s degree in another field, you could still use that degree to get a job in this industry without having to go through another 4 years for a new bachelor’s degree. You can look at options like a trade school or schools with career-focused two-year programs or professional certifications in this field, which can help you get into this career path.
Is Computer Science Right for Me?
Is this the right field for you? The first thing that you need to consider is whether or not you want to work with computers, as this is the primary focus for this career field. Computer science skills can be used for more than just making software or fixing computers, as nearly every business and industry requires computers to function. This means that if you have other passions, you may be able to take your computer science skills and your other professional skills to create a unique niche for yourself that can help you stand out as a candidate or forge your own career path.
To be successful in a computer science career, you need to be able to apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills every day. Some careers will require you to just focus on applications. While others require applying logic and theories (including algorithms), to complete the jobs. You also will need to work with other people that may not have the same background as you. So you need to be comfortable working in those types of environments.
It’s also important to remember that technology is always changing and advancing. This does mean that you will require frequent training to stay on top of the latest in this industry. There are also certifications that are required for you, depending on the industry that you are in. These can be difficult and expensive to get, but it can help you get far in this industry.
As you can see, it does require a lot of hard work, determination, and passion to succeed in this industry. If you’re ready to put in the hard work, you can have a rewarding and profitable career.
Conclusion
Computer science isn’t a field for everyone, but if you have the specific problem-solving skill set and determination required, you can be very successful in this career path. It is hard work but if this is your passion, you can achieve your dreams in this industry.