When I tell people that I am studying computer science (CS), there are a few misconceptions that always come up. Most of the time people think that computer science consists solely on coding and programming. I’ve even ran into freshmen that are blindsided when coding isn’t the main focus in many of our classes. Although coding and programming is an important part, the field of computer science is vast and multifaceted. With this post I want to define and clarify what CS encompasses while also explaining its real world applications.
Defining Computer Science
Computer science can be defined as the study of computers and computational systems. There are a wide range of topics that fall under the computer science umbrella. Fundamentally, it focuses on understanding how computers work and applying this knowledge to solve complex problems. Computer scientists deal with the theory, design, development, and application of solutions to a problem. Below are some core areas of study that fall under the computer science umbrella.
- Core Areas of Study:
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Theory of Computation
- Computer Architecture
- Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Databases and Information Systems
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Cybersecurity
- Networking
- Video Game Development
Side note: Computer engineering is a separate field that has a ton of overlap with computer science, but they are significantly different. Computer science is mainly theoretical, while computer engineering focuses more on the actual hardware and has more practical applications.
The Role Coding plays in Computer Science
Programming as a Tool
Although knowing how to code and develop programs is an essential skill in CS, it is simply a branch in the field. Since computer science deals with solving large and complicated problems, software is developed in order to test theories and algorithms. From my experience, I have spent more time developing solutions, understanding algorithms, and analyzing theoretical concepts than I have coding. Programming is a means to an end in CS, not the end itself.
Beyond Coding
The most important skill I have developed while earning this degree is problem solving. The problems we are tasked with solving can seem so gigantic that it can be overwhelming. This is where a strong set of planning and critical thinking skills are needed. Coding should be the last thing you do when developing software.
Firstly, you must truly understand the problem at hand thoroughly. Then plan, plan, plan, and plan some more! You plan how you’re approaching the issue, what solution you’re implementing, which algorithm will be best to apply, what data structure makes the most sense, what the end user is asking for, and many other things. Not only does this ensure that you’ll have a well thought out solution but also you won’t have to stop halfway through a program because you realized it won’t work.
Key Concepts and Real-World Applications
Below are a few important branches studied in the field of computer science and how they apply in the real-world.
- Algorithms and Data Structures:
- Methods for organizing data and optimizing solutions for solving problems.
- Applications: Search engines, social media platforms, and e-commerce.
- Theory of Computation:
- Branch of CS and mathematics which deals with what can be computed and computational limits.
- Applications: Cryptography, automated theorem proving.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:
- The creation of systems that can learn and make decisions using statistical algorithms.
- Applications: Self-driving cars, recommendation systems, healthcare diagnostics.
- Cybersecurity:
- The practice of protecting data and systems from attacks.
- Applications: Secure banking systems, encryption for communications.
- Human-Computer Interaction:
- Focuses on improving the usability and user experience of systems.
- Applications: User interface design for software, virtual reality.
- Networking:
- Enabling communication between computers to transmit information.
- Applications: Internet, cloud computing services.
- Video Game Development:
- The design and programming of interactive virtual environments using algorithms, graphics, and physics engines.
- Applications: Game design, simulation training, and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
Misconceptions and the Importance of a Broad Understanding
Computer science is not software engineering. Many students finishing their CS degree find themselves with a lack of programming skills. It is a common misconception that you will go directly into a software engineering role right after graduating with a computer science degree. New grads find that they lack the skills that a software engineering role requires. In order to fit these roles, computer science graduates usually have to learn a different set of skills since the roles are usually more specialized.
There are many areas of CS that require minimal or no coding experience as well. Data analyst, UX designer, technical writer, and project manager are just a few examples of roles computer scientists can fall into where the bulk of their job does not require coding.
As you can see there are many fields that branch out of computer science and they can vary in many different ways. In order to grasp what CS really is you have to see the big picture and understand that most of these fields are interconnected. Many of these branches build off each other and have some type of overlap between them. This is why it is so important to understand this field from a wide scope and not get boxed in.
The Future of Computer Science
The field of computer science is always evolving, now faster than ever. Looking ahead, there are many emerging technologies that computer scientists are currently developing. Quantum computing is a fairly new technology that uses quantum mechanics to solve problems. Quantum computing will be able to solve complex problems that have never been solved before and do it faster than any supercomputer ever could. I highly suggest reading up on this new technology because of how fascinating (and scary) it is!
Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are technologies that have been in development for some time now but recent advancements have made it more accessible and useful for every day life. Machine learning is the method in which computers are essentially taught using algorithms and large amounts of data. This is another exciting branch of CS today and I believe we should all be familiarizing ourselves with these new technologies.
With all of this emerging technology and new practices it is crucial that you are always learning in this field. Continuous learning is essential because of how fast paced technology is evolving. This is why it is also important to at least be familiar with other branches within CS and collaborating. Working with other computer scientists brings many benefits.
Conclusion
As you can see, computer science goes well beyond coding. It’s a field that deals with solving complex problems using theoretical concepts and then applying them. All of these CS core concepts that range from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity are deeply integrated into systems we use in our day to day lives. This field is forever evolving and at a very fast pace so continuous learning and adaptation are essential.
If you are curious about CS and starting to explore this field, I encourage you to dive deep, further than the coding aspect, to really discover the various opportunities this field can offer. Nowadays, computer science concepts are used in pretty much every aspect of modern life making it one of the most versatile fields today.