A computer scientist is a scholar who specializes in the academic study of computer

science.[1]

Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computation, as

opposed to the hardware side on which computer engineers mainly focus (although
there is overlap). Although computer scientists can also focus their work and
research on specific areas (such as algorithm and data structure development and
design, software engineering, information theory, database theory, computational
complexity theory, numerical analysis, programming language theory, computer
graphics, and computer vision), their foundation is the theoretical study of
computing from which these other fields derive.[2]

A primary goal of computer scientists is to develop or validate models, often

mathematical, to describe the properties of computational systems (processors,
programs, computers interacting with people, computers interacting with other
computers, etc.) with an overall objective of discovering designs that yield useful
benefits (faster, smaller, cheaper, more precise, etc.).

Education
Most computer scientists are required to possess a PhD, M.S. in computer science,
or other similar fields like Information and Computer Science (CIS), or a closely
related discipline such as mathematics[2] or physics.[3]

Areas of specialization
Theoretical computer science – including data structures and algorithms, theory of
computation, information theory and coding theory, programming language theory, and
formal methods
Computer systems – including computer architecture and computer engineering,
computer performance analysis, concurrency, and distributed computing, computer
networks, computer security and cryptography, and databases.
Computer applications – including computer graphics and visualization, human–
computer interaction, scientific computing, and artificial intelligence.
Software engineering – the application of engineering to software development in a
systematic method
Employment
Computer scientists are often hired by software publishing firms, scientific
research and development organizations where they develop the theories that allow
new technologies to be developed. Computer scientists are also employed by
educational institutions such as universities.

Computer scientists can follow more practical applications of their knowledge,

doing things such as software engineering. They can also be found in the field of
information technology consulting, and may be seen as a type of mathematician,
given how much of the field depends on mathematics.[4] Computer scientists employed
in industry may eventually advance into managerial or project leadership positions.
[5]

Employment prospects for computer scientists are said to be excellent. Such

prospects seem to be attributed, in part, to very rapid growth in computer systems
design and related services industry, and the software publishing industry, which
are projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy.[2]

See also
Computational scientist
Software engineering
List of computer scientists
List of computing people
List of pioneers in computer science
References
 Orsucci, Franco F.; Sala, Nicoletta (2008). Reflexing Interfaces: The Complex
Coevolution of Information Technology Ecosystems, Information Science Reference. p.
335. ISBN 978-1599046273.
"Computer and Information Research Scientists". U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September
2019.
"Fields of Employment for Physics Bachelors in the Private Sector, tuty of 2010 &
2012 Combined". American Physical Society. Archived from the original on 17 October
2011. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
"Computing Disciplines & Majors" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6
September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
Perry, Benjamin Beau. "What is a computer scientist?". The University of
Newcastle. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September
2019.
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