Types Of Computer Degrees
What are the different types of computer degrees? From the generation of vacuum tubes and punch cards, with computers filling up an entire room, computers have become a virtually ubiquitous tool in the modern world. As a direct consequence of their proliferation into almost every facet of modern life, computer studies has become a very diverse field. The classical computer degree, often known as the computer science degree, that is offered in most institutions of higher learning combine a little bit of this and that from the various subsections of computer studies. This often means that the undergrad will learn about basic programming and software development using various languages such as Java, C++, Python and etc, computer architecture such as the hardware systems, principles of web design using languages such as HTML and CSS. Other types of computer degrees have emerged lately, offering the opportunity for students to specialize early on in this broad field rather than be barely competent in many subfields.
The various types of computer degrees around the globe thus focus on producing various specialists, so instead of having an all rounded computer scientist, one can now have a highly skilled software programmer/ engineer, or a network specialist or a systems engineer among the many specialisations that one can pick depending on what course he/ she chooses from the many types of computer degrees out there. A computer scientist studies the basic theoretical fundamentals relating to computers, a software engineer focuses on activities which relates to the production of software putting in mind all the limited factors such as time and resources while a system engineer is concerned with the production of computer based system development which includes both the system and the hardware.
There are very many types of computer degrees out there. While certain degrees may not be considered computer degrees by a casual observer, a keen observer will note that something such as telecoms is very much a computer degree. While its greatest focus may lie on telecommunications, computer knowledge is at the heart of it all; after all, mobile phones and countless other devices used in telecoms are nothing but embedded computers, learning how to pre-program them, locking phones to particular networks, encrypting communications between phones and many other things done in the telecoms industry rely heavily on computing.
Another course that may not be considered purely within the types of computer degrees but should be are the engineering field of robotics or mechatronics. Both are fields that are heavily reliant on computer knowledge; without all the computer programming skills, these fields would be non-existent.
The ubiquity of computers in professional life is apparent in postgraduate studies where every course has a computer majoring Masters field. A pertinent example would be Bioinformatics for an undergrad course such as Biomedical Science and Tech, or Statistical Computing, using new languages such as R or S in data gathering.
Clearly then, there are probably numerous types of computer degrees out there, degrees that even their owners may not be aware of. In this fast paced modern world, a computer is more than just visible CPU juxtaposed to a screen; there plenty more computers in embedded systems, from watches to gas fillers. Computer degrees are nowadays more about a fusion of a classical study with a new tool, such as engineering or medicine, so as to give rise to highly specialised fields such as computer assisted medicine, where surgery can be performed by robots being controlled by a qualified doctor, or unmanned aerial vehicles, which are controlled by powerful computers at the hands of able men.
Whatever computer degree you choose, be sure it is your passion, because, to paraphrase a computer guru, if your work is your passion, it becomes like play and you will never tire of it.
