Computer Science Careers: Why Computer Science Is For Everyone 11/03/2022, 10:27 AM

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Computer Science Careers: Why

Computer Science Is For Everyone
October 20, 2021 / edX team

From software development to cybersecurity, the computer science field is full of exciting, diverse,
and high-growth careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics GBLSH, computer science
jobs are projected to increase by 13% from 2020 to 2030.

Whether you’re just starting, thinking about switching careers, or looking to advance your computer
science knowledge, this guide will help you navigate the many different computer science career
paths, jobs, and skills needed to break into the industry.

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Computer Science Careers: Why Computer Science Is For Everyone 11/03/2022, 10:27 AM

Explore Computer Science

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Table of Contents

Is A Computer Science Career Right For You?

Top 9 Computer Science Jobs

Computer Science Career Paths

How to Get Into Computer Science Without A Degree

Is a Career In Computer Science Right For You?

Computer science is a lucrative field with applications across diverse industries. Generally, if you are
interested in working with computers, complex mathematics, and problem-solving, you are probably
a good fit for a career in computer science.

At its core, computer science is about problem-solving using computers, which requires a foundation
in mathematics, data structures and algorithms, and programming. Much of the prerequisites for an
undergraduate computer science degree require discrete mathematics, linear algebra, and calculus.

“You can be a lawyer who's now building software to be used by law

offices. You can be an artist that's building ways to be artistic, to create
installations, or create something virtually.”

However, adding computer science skills can be tremendously beneficial to your career. “You can be
a lawyer who's now building software to be used by law offices,” said David Joyner, computer
scientist and executive director of online education at the College of Computing at Georgia Tech and
instructor for edX courses such as GTx’s Introduction to Python Programming. “You can be an artist
that's building ways to be artistic, to create installations, or create something virtually.”

O"ce Hours: Why you need to learn to code (and more)

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Diverse Computer Science Career Paths: Where Can

It Take You?
One of the most popular career choices for computer science graduates is software engineering and
other high-demand technical specialties like cloud computing.

"For those looking for the best career paths, it is evident that cloud-native
computing, DevOps, Linux, and security hold the most promising
opportunities."

“For those looking for the best career paths, it is evident that cloud-native computing, DevOps,
Linux, and security hold the most promising opportunities,” said Linux Foundation Executive Director
Jim Zemlin.

However, a background in computer science can open doors to many other careers and fields. Some
of these careers include data science, product management, quality assurance, project
management, and system administration.

For example, edX learner Juan Carlos was able to transition from engineering to product
management at Rolls-Royce by gradually building his computer science skills. “MIT’s Introduction to
Computer Science and Programming Using Python was just the first of several online courses that
eventually enabled me years later to confidently change my career at Rolls-Royce, from an
engineering role into product management,” said Carlos.

What Are The Best Computer Science Jobs? 9

Exciting Careers

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There’s more to computer science jobs than software engineering. Computer science skills can take
your career in just about any direction, from cybersecurity to data science. Below are just a few of
the most popular computer science jobs on the market.

WHY LEARN TO CODE?

Read tips from seven industry and academic experts in fields from cybersecurity
to cloud computing to learn how code-curious learners can begin exploring skills
and career paths and why now is a great time to get into coding.

1. Software Engineering

Software engineering is considered one of the best jobs in computer science due to lucrative
salaries and remote work options. Software engineers are computer programmers who apply
engineering principles to create software and applications. Software engineers must be versed in at
least one programming language, web frameworks, version control, and test-driven development.

Software engineers enjoy high salaries over the course of their careers.

While many software engineering jobs require a formal computer science bachelor’s degree, it’s
highly possible to become a self-taught software engineer if you learn the appropriate technologies
and have a portfolio of projects.

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Computer Science Careers: Why Computer Science Is For Everyone 11/03/2022, 10:27 AM

2. Full Stack Developer

Full stack developers are versed in both front and back end development. They are generally
proficient in a wide range of new technologies and languages such as Java, Python, HTML, and CSS,
and sometimes work with databases and APIs. As a full stack developer, you can choose to develop
a specialization in either front or back end development. Many smaller companies and startups
require the skill set of a full-stack developer.

3. Cloud Engineer

One of the most in-demand cloud computing jobs is cloud engineering. A cloud engineer updates
and maintains resources in the cloud. Their responsibilities vary, but some of what they are
responsible for are building and maintaining infrastructure and networks using tools such as
TerraForm. According to Upkar Lidder, senior software engineer and instructor of IBM’s Full Stack
Cloud Developer Professional Certificate, there are many versions of cloud engineering.

“If you are more into data, the role of cloud computing data engineer would be to write different ETL
pipelines in order to gather data, transform data and make sure it's ready for whatever the next step
might be,” said Lidder. “For example, data science. Depending on what your interests are, if you're
into security, that's another big field in cloud computing on how to secure your clusters and secure
your environment.”

4. Mobile Developer

Unlike web developers, mobile (or app) developers design and build applications for mobile devices
like smartphones or tablets. Most mobile developers specialize in native platforms such as android
or iOS operations systems or use a cross-platform technology. In either case, mobile developers
must have strong front end development knowledge and programming languages such as HTML,
CSS, and Javascript.

5. DevOps Engineer

According to the 2021 Open Source Jobs report by edX and the Linux Foundation, one of the top
skills in high demand by hiring managers is DevOps. DevOps is the bridge between development and
operations. DevOps engineers monitor how software is deployed and generate scripts to automate
updates, deploy software, and more. DevOps is ideally for someone who enjoys getting things
working rather than writing code themselves.

6. Product Management

Product management is the combination of user experience, business, and technology. Product
managers own the experience of a product, and one of their major tasks is to work cross-
functionally with developers, marketers, and designers to create features. Often, an understanding

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of computer science can be helpful to determine what software code is needed to create those
features, which is why many software engineers often transition into product management.

7. Security Engineer

According to a workforce study by GISCH2 there is a global talent shortage for cybersecurity
professionals. One of the most important cybersecurity jobs is the information security engineer,
who designs and tests security software that is resilient to cyberattacks. Information security
engineers must have a strong background in computer science and cybersecurity frameworks.

“We'll see a lot of expansion in cybersecurity, especially given some of the recent news on different
hacks and compromises,” said Joyner. “It's a rich area as well, because it's not an area where we
know all the answers and we can now just implement the answers.”

8. Computer Systems Analyst

If you’re looking to get into information technology GITH, the computer systems analyst position may
be a good fit. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics GBLSH, computer systems analysts
earn a median salary of $93,730. The role of a computer systems analyst is to research an
organization’s computer systems and make recommendations or improvements.

9. Data Scientist

Much of the skillsets demanded from data scientists and data analysts naturally overlap with
computer science. Data science professionals often use programming languages like Python or R to
automate much of their work and spend much of their time cleaning data for their machine learning
algorithms.

“The reliance on technology that's developed over the past 12 months has just meant that there's
even more data out there to do stuff with, which in some ways, is a bigger challenge because more
data doesn't necessarily mean better data,” said Joyner. “But it means there is more opportunity out
there to derive useful conclusions from what we're logging and everything anyway.”

How to Get Into Computer Science Without A Degree:

Expert Advice
Not all computer science careers require a relevant undergraduate or master’s degree. For example,
in cybersecurity, employers look at certifications more than degrees. Still, formal education can be
critical for some careers like software engineering. Data from a 2020 survey by StackOverflow
reports that 75% of developers have a bachelor’s degree.

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IS A COMPUTER SCIENCE MASTER’S DEGREE WORTH IT?

The popularity of online master’s degree programs coupled with changing

industry standards is prompting more professionals to ask themselves: is a
master’s in computer science worth it? Read on to find out.

With that said, here are a few tips on how to break into computer science sans a degree.

Be Prepared To Learn

You won’t become an entry-level software engineer or a computer scientist overnight. The process
can take several months to years, especially if you don’t have a technical background. That’s why it
is important to supplement your learning with online courses and programs.

“I gained admission into the computer science program at a local engineering college,” said Akshay
Kulkarni, a former software engineer at Microsoft. “However, I found the classes uninteresting and
didn’t learn anything substantially. I was really confused and began considering other career options.
nThen] I took Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python by MIT, and the
course turned my life around. I realized not only was I good at programming but I also actually loved
it.”

Get Hands-On Experience

Learning computer science concepts and theories can only get you so far in your career. One of the
best ways to get hands-on experience is to apply computer science skills to real-world problems.
For example, if you want to improve your programming skills, you can start a personal project like
developing an app or a game. You can even become a contributor to open source projects on
platforms like Github and build a portfolio.

Start Building Your Career in Computer Science

The computer science field is constantly changing. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you need to
keep your knowledge up to date to thrive in the industry. If you’re interested in learning computer
science fundamentals or want to add computer science skills to your repertoire, explore industry-
aligned courses and programs on edX.

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COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMMING CAREER RESOURCES COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

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