A person considering a degree may wonder what computer science is. Because so many occupations involve the use of computers or the internet, it’s important to know what this concept and area of study includes. Understanding what computer science is could help you decide if this is the right career path for your skills and strengths.
General Study of Computers
In general, the concept of computing science refers to the study of computers. It begins with a fundamental understanding of how a computer makes calculations. The foundation of this science involves a lot of theory and the application of concepts such as- logic
- physics
- electrical engineering
- mathematics
- what computers can do
- how they are made
- what can go wrong with them
- how they can be improved
Hardware
The hardware side of computing has a lot of overlap with physics and electrical engineering. The electrical engineering portion has to do with:- the wiring
- physical connections
- physical design
- layout
- use of space
- relays
- network setup
- logic gates
- the architecture of electron flow
- the buildup of heat
- how friction affects moving parts
- how processes change over time
- physics
- electrical engineering
- math
- logic
Software
The science of computers also includes the software aspect. Software is the set of instructions that controls the functioning of the hardware. These sets of instructions are typically referred to as programs. Computer engineers typically deal with the hardware aspect of computing. Programmers and computer scientists usually focus on the software aspects of computing. The software side of the science involves the development of programming languages. It also includes compilers, operating systems and applications. Computer programmers create:- computer source codes
- algorithms
- functions
- the graphic design
- user interface
- user experience
Computer Science As a College Major
According to Tech Terms, another way to define computer science is as a college major. As a college major, computer science involves the study of:- computing
- logic
- algorithms
- coding
- data theory
- an introduction to computing
- fundamental programming concepts
- cryptography
- data structures
- networking concepts
- analysis of algorithms
- database systems
- computing theory
- computer graphics
- video game design
- computer programming
- database analysis
- website development
- artificial intelligence
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