Becoming A Computer Science Major

What Do First Year Computer Science Majors Learn?

Do you love to play on your smartphone? Do you enjoy social media and new forms of technology? If so, you may want to consider becoming a computer science major. As a computer science major, you will learn a number of skills that can help you to land a job in Silicon Valley or with other top-paying employers. If you're unsure about what computer science students do, below is a review of some of the material first year majors will learn.

Computer Programming

Take the introductory course offered by your university to find out if you want to pursue a computer science degree. Most universities will teach students basic computer programming skills in their introductory courses. These skills allow you to create databases and develop web applications.

Your First Year

After taking the right computer programming, mathematics, and science courses, you will know how to access technical resources, document programs, understand web-based information, evaluate the quality of programming, understand how apps are developed, and possibly how to build your own app. The goal for computer science majors is to learn how to solve problems by using technology. While students will not be able to do everything during their first year, they will learn a great deal. This will help them get ready for subsequent years where they build websites, design apps, and program new software. Just about every business will need to hire a computer science major at some point, and those pursuing this field will have a bevy of career options to choose from.

Computer hardware: Stockvault

Skills You Need

While some people take a course in high school to learn about computer science, the courses held at universities are different. You may have a slight advantage if you take a high school course, as most students come in with relatively little experience. You will need to have excellent problem-solving skills, an ability to work in a team, and strong communication skills. You need to rely on other people to help with coding and other things, meaning that you must be able to work well with others.

Preparing Yourself

Once you sign up for a course in computer science, you need to prepare yourself for a few of the things you will encounter. Some people like to work alone on their projects. When you are school, you will need to work as a team for the most part, and after graduation, you can choose to work on your own if you want, where you don't have to work with other programmers.

To complete a degree in computer science, you not only need to have a passion for programming and computers, but you should also be prepared to take a lot of math courses. Sitting in class and learning from lectures can help, but one of the best things you can do is acquire some hands-on experience in the field. Look for internships and other opportunities so you can advance your skills and become marketable to employers after graduation.

Byline

Jared Franklin writes on computer science, software, gadgets, gadget accessories such as the kensington ipad keyboard case, gizmos, the tech business and other assorted topics.