9 Reasons to Opt for a Computer Science Degree

The world is becoming increasingly tech-oriented, with each aspect of life now associated with some form of technology. Every sector of the world is using technology to enhance its capacity and growth, and the demand for tech or IT professionals will only increase in the future.

Are you thinking of making a career in the tech industry to enjoy all the perks the companies offer? If yes, then sit tight, as this blog is for you.

The first step of making a tech industry career is getting the required qualifications by getting a degree in computer science. You can choose the specialization you want and make yourself super competitive so that your competitors cannot reach you as much as they try. 

Before venturing into what you can do after a computer science degree, first, you need to know the benefits of the degree.

The benefits of studying computer science

In simple words, computer science deals with exploring creative problem-solving processes. 

Students in this field learn to design, develop, and evaluate many aspects of hardware and software to solve various problems for their employers. 

Moreover, computer science involves numerous study sections such as AI, security, database, and other aspects. Gaining expertise in this field can help students advance their careers effectively. 

We’ve also described some other reasons to advocate for the importance of choosing a computer science degree. These reasons are:

• Become a programmer

While pursuing a computer science degree, you can learn about different programming languages and gain expertise in a few. 

Programmers have become in-demand professionals today, and their skills are highly valued. After getting your computer science degree, you can also choose to become a full-stack developer. However, it’s also necessary to attain certain full stack developer skills to enter this profession. Thus, here are some skills developers should acquire for this vocation:

• Public dealing skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills
• Languages such as Java and Python
• Database management and UI/UX skills

• Learn about cybersecurity

Besides programming, cybersecurity seems the next more vital subject to study while pursuing a computer science degree. 

We observe how hackers have become more fanatical in their attempts to infiltrate business networks and steal customers’ information. 

So, gaining expertise in cybersecurity makes you a valued asset for modern-day employers. Cybersecurity professionals deal with preventing these infiltrations and find weaknesses in your security systems to update and upgrade them.

• Acquire transferable skills

While finishing your CS degree, you can gain certain skills that are still useful after switching careers. 

Career gurus call them “transferable skills,” and they make a degree worth obtaining because of their universality in the job market. For instance, we talked about critical thinking and problem-solving as some necessary skills you should have to become a computer scientist. 

But these skills have become necessary in virtually every vocation out there. So, transferable skills boost your employability.

• Needed almost everywhere

A computer scientist attains skills that nearly all employers are looking for nowadays. 

It’s easily observed that – from engineers to filmmakers – computer science now dominates different sections of the business sector, and thereby a degree in this field opens up various career pathways. 

Thus, students should consider a computer science degree to enter this amazingly diverse profession.

• Get paid handsomely

Computer scientists – since they possess in-demand skills – earn handsome paychecks primarily due to their scarcity nowadays. For instance, advanced technologies, e.g., blockchain and cybersecurity, in 2022 are marked by a shortage of professionals. This shortage makes computer scientists well-paid. 

Therefore, it’s estimated that an average computer scientist makes over $120,000 every year. Even the lowest-earning employees are making more than $70,000 annually in this amazing vocation.

• Almost recession-proof jobs

But how are these handsomely-paid jobs affected by the recession? The COVID crisis has made many Americans worried about the future of their jobs. However, CS-related jobs appear recession-proof or almost unaffected by recessions. 

Again, it’s because computer science graduates aren’t growing as fast as CS-related jobs are emerging in the industry. Companies won’t ever cease feeling the need to have computer science professionals in their offices so graduates can expect a decent future.

• Opportunities for innovation

Students shouldn’t assume that CS fields are all about coding. Instead, it’s about looking at problems and seeking creative solutions, as we’ve discussed. 

You can become a coder, entrepreneur, or someone behind some amazing technology or application.  

Remember that different social media portals, e.g., Twitter and Facebook, were invented by college students like you.

• Seek global opportunities

Unsurprisingly, multinational corporations today are recruiting computer scientists as well. And this recruitment means worldwide career advancement options for computer science degree-holers. 

So, you can have international employment prospects after obtaining this academic distinction. Just get a CS degree competently to become eligible for the topmost positions in this vocation, e.g., mapping the spread of diseases or leveraging big data to gain fair insights into customers’ buying habits.

• Strengthen your employability

In the end – by combining all the factors mentioned above – we can claim that a CS degree boosts a student’s employability and enhances their overall skills.

It’s estimated that 31% of computer science graduates receive job offers by graduation. It makes CS the third-best major after finance (38%) and mechanics (33%). 

Moreover, even if you decide to opt for computer science as a minor, this subject hones the resume. It strengthens your employability even if CS stays just a minor concentration during your studies.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve talked about why students should choose a computer science degree. It is evident how computers have become widespread in every sector today and are needed everywhere. 

So, gaining expertise in computer science bolsters your employability, thereby honing your hiring prospects. The computer science degree helps you get handsome starting salaries, acquire transferable skills, and get more creative. The transferable skills we’ve mentioned allow you to switch to another profession. 

Moreover, computer science students can learn important subjects such as cybersecurity and programming. You can also become a full-stack developer with a computer science degree after gaining the required coding skills.