Studies & Degrees in Computer Science
Computer Science Study Programs
Computer science is the study of computation: how information is represented, how problems are turned into algorithms (sets of instructions that tell a computer what to do), and how software and hardware are built to run them. It is a broader subject than programming. A degree covers the mathematics behind computing, the design of programs and systems, and the ways computers are applied in business, science, medicine and other fields.
A typical programme starts with programming, discrete mathematics, algorithms and data structures, and computer architecture. It continues with operating systems, databases, networks and software engineering, and ends with electives and a project. The research groups of Stanford University's Department of Computer Science show the range of the field: artificial intelligence, robotics, foundations of computer science, scientific computing and systems.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree. In the United States a bachelor's degree takes four years; the University of Texas at Austin publishes degree plans that map out the four years semester by semester. In Spain the official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and is usually called Grado en Ingeniería Informática; at the Universidad de Salamanca, for example, it lasts four academic years and is taught in Spanish.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. In the United States a master's degree usually requires two to three years of study after the bachelor's degree, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some universities offer combined routes: UT Austin has an integrated programme in which its computer science students earn both a BS and an MS in five years. Stanford states that its master's programme welcomes candidates from all areas of undergraduate study.
- Two-year and vocational routes. US community colleges award associate degrees and short certificates. The Community College of Rhode Island, for example, offers associate degree concentrations such as Computer Programming and a 21-credit certificate that prepares for industry certifications. In Spain, higher vocational training (FP de grado superior) includes the Técnico Superior en Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Multiplataforma, a 2,000-hour programme. Instituto FOC in Maracena (Granada) teaches the official higher-level programmes in multiplatform applications, web applications and networked systems administration, on site and online.
- Accreditation. In the United Kingdom, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, accredits computing degrees at more than 100 higher education institutions. The BSc (Hons) Computer Science of London Metropolitan University is one accredited example.
Admission
Universities expect a good level of mathematics, but usually no previous programming. Requirements are set by each institution: London Metropolitan University asks for a minimum of grade C in three A levels, or 96 UCAS points from an equivalent qualification. For bachelor's degrees in Spain, students with foreign school qualifications apply through UNEDasiss, the service of the UNED that assesses the academic records of international students and runs the tests needed for access.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 335 active schools for computer science. The United States has 199, the United Kingdom 31 and Spain 12; Australia, Canada and Brazil have eight each, Germany seven and Ireland five. The list also includes schools in China, Greece, Sweden, India, Iceland, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Examples in the United States are Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, Purdue University, The Ohio State University, The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Southern California and San Diego State University, as well as community colleges. Elsewhere the list includes London Metropolitan University, the University of Akureyri in Iceland and Kathmandu University in Nepal.
English is the language of instruction in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and most of Canada. In Spain, bachelor's degrees and vocational programmes are taught mainly in Spanish.
Careers
Graduates work as software developers, systems and network administrators, database and security specialists, data analysts and researchers, in technology companies and in almost every other sector. The BLS states that software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers typically need a bachelor's degree, while computer and information research scientists typically need at least a master's degree.
The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations in the United States to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 280,000 openings each year. Within that group, it projects employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers to grow 10 percent, and employment of computer and information research scientists to grow 22 percent, over the same period.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to program before starting a computer science degree?
Usually not. Programmes start with introductory programming. Each university sets its own entry requirements.
How long does a computer science degree take?
A bachelor's degree takes four years in the United States and in Spain, where it has 240 ECTS credits. A master's degree adds 60 to 120 ECTS credits in Spain, or two to three years in the United States according to the BLS.
Is there a shorter route than a university degree?
Yes. US community colleges award associate degrees and certificates, and Spain has 2,000-hour higher vocational programmes such as Desarrollo de Aplicaciones Multiplataforma.
What is the difference between computer science and information technology?
Computer science concentrates on the theory and design of software and computing systems. Information technology programmes focus on installing, running and supporting systems and networks in organisations.