What Can You Do With A Computer Science Degree?

Have you considered going down the route of a ‘software engineer’? From leadership to programming, if you studied computer science, you will have gained many technical and non-technical skills that employers highly value. The ever expanding scope of computer science means you have a lot of choice in a wide variety of highly specialized areas.

Computer technologies play a major role in modern life, so your skills are likely to be in demand across a wide range of industries. These include financial organizations, management consulting firms, software houses, communications companies, data warehouses, multinational companies, governmental agencies, universities, and hospitals. 

Computer science is one of the most evolving fields, and employers are looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong understanding of the subject.  You might like to consider taking on some voluntary work for charities or companies that focus on using computer technology in an innovative way. The more knowledge you have of emerging trends, technologies and applications, the better suited you will be when it comes to applying for positions within the industry.

Having completed relevant work experience is always beneficial. Besides your degree, you should also consider putting together a portfolio of your own independent projects, which might involve coding, moderating online or even developing an app. This will demonstrate to employers your interest in the subject as well as your problem-solving skills, creativity, and initiative.

IT Consultant

IT consultants advise their clients on the planning, design, installation, and use of information technology systems in order to meet their business objectives or to overcome problems. Their role is broad, with a focus on business strategy. IT consultants work as part of a team – including department heads and other staff – to meet business goals and requirements.

As an IT consultant, your job will be similar to that of systems analysts, systems designers and applications programmers, whose roles are more specialized but nonetheless work on a consultancy basis. Your work will depend on the size of your company and the scope of its outsourced IT services.

With an IT consultant career, you’ll use your knowledge of IT to give advice and solve people’s problems. You should be friendly and clearly communicate complex issues in a way that other people can understand. It will help you if you have networking and communications skills as well as experience working on computers or IT systems.

Cyber Security Consultant

Depending on what computer science specializations you studied during your degree, you may choose to specialize as an information security consultant. Maintaining cyber security has become increasingly important, so this role focuses on understanding the risks to the security of information or data.

As a cybersecurity consultant, you’ll use your expertise to find security breaches and suggest solutions for implementing stronger protection. You might also proactively test how well existing defenses could withstand malicious attacks from outsiders, and even help defend against dangerous insiders with information on how to detect breaches.

Information Systems Manager 

The information systems manager is typically a full-time employee, responsible for the effective operation of computer systems within their company. Their tasks and responsibilities will vary depending on the size of the company and its particular needs, but most organisations require that their ISM has a good grasp of hardware, software and troubleshooting skills. An information systems manager should be able to work closely with other departments to ensure computer networks are properly integrated with business processes and staff requirements.

You’ll be in charge of the entire upkeep of your organization’s ICT infrastructure (possibly with the help of a team of IT staff), with typical tasks including system installation, ensuring systems are backed up and that backup systems are functioning properly, purchasing hardware and software, setting up secure access for all users, and ensuring data security.

You must ensure that the ICT facilities meet your company’s needs and are modern, while staying within a set budget, and within all applicable software licensing laws. In order to contribute to organizational policy regarding quality standards and strategic planning in relation to IT, you may need to understand business and management principles.

Database Administrator

Database administrator (DBA) is a position of key responsibility within the information technology industry. Many companies are keen to heavily promote the importance of their database administrators (DBAs) and the role they play.

A Database Administrator is a specialized version of the Systems Administrator, who has taken on a greater role in computer system maintenance as well as development. DBA’s oversee electronic data storage and retrieval systems such as relational databases and content management systems.

The role of a database administrator is to maintain the integrity and quality of an information system through defining, documenting and monitoring users and their access rights on the database in question. They are also responsible for assuring that the overall computer system stays online, secure and performing at optimum levels with minimum downtime.

By nature, this role ensures data remains consistent, is clearly defined, easily accessible, secure, and can be recovered in an emergency. You’ll also need to troubleshoot any issues that arise; liaise with programmers, operational staff, IT project managers and technical staff; provide user training, support, and feedback; and write reports, documentation, and operating manuals.

Database administrators (DBAs) are responsible for the maintenance and security of the database. In fact, if you’re working as a DBA and considering an upgrade to your current career path, there are several options. For example, you could consider becoming a data architect, or moving into a software engineering role as server administrator or technical consultant.

Multimedia Programmer

A multimedia programmer is responsible for designing and creating media products that use sound, graphics, digital photography and video. You’ll move beyond technical programming concepts and develop creativity to improve the way that people interact with a computer. Because of the digital nature of what a multimedia programmer does, you will need to be comfortable working in a virtual environment with concept images, sketches and models.

A multimedia programmer is an individual who has the knowledge associated with programming and with using different forms of popular media to create multimedia programs and computer games. These individuals use their talents to construct detailed models that can be displayed on a computer screen or that other individuals can interact with.

Working with the designer, you will need to understand the design concept, discuss how it can be technically implemented, identify the operational requirements, write efficient computer code that implements the features, run tests that identify bugs, and rewrite code as necessary.

After you have completed the product, you will be responsible for providing product technical support. In addition, you will need to keep up with the latest industry news and developments to suggest and implement improvements.

Systems Analyst

A systems analyst is an individual with both business and technological expertise. System analysts utilize computers and associated systems to design new IT solutions, as well as alter and upgrade existing systems to incorporate new features or enhancements, all in order to improve business efficiency and productivity. Although different industries can require specific analysis skills, a fundamental element of this role is problem-solving.

Systems analysts may be required to have excellent business acumen and communication skills, as they usually report directly to top management and perform work from concept formulation to implementation. They may also act as a consultant or extension of IT services to outside departments.

A high level of technical proficiency and knowledge of current business practices are required for this role. Your clients may be internal, e.g. Depending on your employer, you may work in internal or external departments.

Games Developer

Games are created for personal computers, game consoles, social/online games, arcade games, tablets, mobile phones, and other handheld devices. This role is divided into two parts. The first is the creative aspect of designing a game, which includes dealing with art, animation, and storyboarding. Second, there is the programming aspect, which involves the use of programming languages such as C++.

To become a games developer, you’ll need a good technical knowledge of software and computer technology. You’ll typically study computer science or another relevant degree at university, where you’ll typically take modules such as programming for games, artificial intelligence and graphics. It’s also helpful to have an understanding of mathematics and physics at this level, in addition to art or animation skills.

To get into games development, you need to have the experience and related study. A good place to work on your portfolio is the Bestowed platform, which will help you showcase your work in front of thousands of employers and recruiters in the industry.

Whether you are wanting to pursue a career writing video game code or creating computer art for games, you will have to show employers that you have the right skills and experience for the job. This is something that you can easily do with practice and determination during your degree, and then by creating a strong portfolio or demo reel.

Technical Writer

A technical writer is responsible for producing manuals and instructions to help people understand how to use a product or service. This means an understanding of the product is vital. The strong technical knowledge that you’ve gained during your computer science degree will be very useful in this role, particularly your knowledge of software packages, as you could be writing manuals for high-tech products.

Technical writers work in-house for all sorts of businesses – from banks and financial institutions to government offices and nuclear facilities. Their employers range in size from one person sole-traders to multinational corporations, and they need good technical skills as well as strong writing ability. They can write blogs, articles and books for their employer or clients.

Other Computer Science Careers

If none of the above computer science careers appeal to you, other options with a computer science degree include working in other areas of development (such as web, games, systems, products, programs, and software), as an analyst (whether business continuity, systems, or technical), as an administrator (of databases or networks), or in an academic or industrial research capacity, contributing to the ongoing development of computer science. You could also work in teaching, IT training, journalism, management, or entrepreneurship if you have a background in computer science.