What
is Computer Science?
Computer
Science is a relatively young academic discipline
that has matured rather quickly due to the rapidly
changing technological environment. Computer professional
today need an excellent education foundation to enable
them to deal with this ever-changing world of computer
software and hardware.
If
you're looking to focus on computer-science at the
undergraduate level, look for a school program to
provide training in the utilisation of existing systems,
as well as providing an in-depth study of system implementation.
In addition, the college program should offer a strong
theoretical component so that graduates can participate
in the creation of the software systems of the future.
By integrating the concepts, theory, and practice
of computer science in a challenging curriculum, students
are prepared for professional employment or for further
study. Graduates are ready to join the ranks of systems
developers and programmers within industry, business
and government.
Computer
science is much more than knowing how to use the latest
application package or access nodes on the Internet.
It has a core that changes superficially very frequently,
but whose essence provides the thread that binds successive
generation of computer science graduates into a common
discipline. Like other academic disciplines, computer
science is a collection of related subfields that
share a fundamental of knowledge and practice. Here
are some of the areas that lie within the broad concept
of computer science, but it is only one aspect of
the discipline. Current emphasis on object-oriented
programming is an attempt to incorporate into software
construction engineering principles, such as system
modularisation of components that have successfully
reduced size and cost of hardware products. Programming
in industry is generally a team activity using productivity
tools and adhering to sound engineering practices.
Computer
Architecture
All
computer professionals should have sound knowledge
of how bits of information are moved and processed
in the computer. The computer architect is concerned
with organising the data paths, functional units and
instruction set of the machine to maximise its performance
given the constraints on the cost and typical use
of the machine.
Programming
Languages
The
various programming languages have features such as
scooping of identifier, parameter passing, recursion,
and function return that can be implemented in different
ways, or not at all. A language can be based upon
a particular mathematical system, or be described
within a mathematical framework.
Artificial
Intelligence
Specialists
in artificial intelligence concern themselves with
one or two central projects: (1) studying the nature
of intelligence by trying to simulate it computationally,
or (2) building machines that can communicate with
people on human terms using natural language. These
machines can also function in a rapidly changing environment,
using visual and other forms of information gathering
and general reasoning capabilities.
Database
An
important class of applications programs deals with
the storage and retrieval of information form large
banks of data. Design and maintenance of databases
requires a particular expertise. Different organising
principles are employed to associate selected keys
and retrieve relevant records from a database.
Systems
Programming
Systems
programming deals with the topic of concurrently running
processes and how to appropriately regulate their
access to shared system resources.
These,
and other fields, constitute or build on the core
body of knowledge and practice of computer science.
Each has challenging problems that will stimulate
continued learning and intellectual growth. Each has
rewarding career opportunities. And each can be a
lot of fun for those who enjoy seeing their intellectual
creations come to life on the screen in front of them.
IN short, computer science is a discipline that requires
good analytical skills, an abundance of patience and
the ability to work closely with other people.
Ann
Winfield
Director of Enrollment Communications
Marist College
