In countless old Star Trek episodes, a baffled captain asked the computer for help, and the computer promptly replied with an answer. What was once science fiction is becoming reality, thanks to computer scientists working in voice recognition.
If you study computer science, you may learn how to design computer programs that allow humans and computers to speak to one another. Keep in mind, your work is more likely to help a vision-impaired person than a captain navigating the universe, but you never know.
Computer science majors learn about computer systems and the way humans and computers interact from a scientific perspective. Instruction includes programming and the theory and design of software.
“I really enjoy the area of human-computer interaction, which combines the areas of graphic design and computer science.” -Bonnie, senior, computer science, University of Maryland, College Park
Will you be accepted into the college’s computer science program as a freshman or must you wait to apply as a sophomore?
Does the college require a minimum grade point average in your computer science classes to be accepted into the major?
If you’re interested in the circuitry of computers, does the college offer electrical and computer engineering courses?
Will you have the chance to specialize, in artificial intelligence or databases, for example?
Did You Know? While programming is essential to studying computer science, the major can prepare you for careers that involve no programming at all.
Course Spotlight As a computer science major, programming courses will be a key part of your studies. These classes cover languages such as C++ and Java, and introduce you to the precise thinking behind computer programming. You’ll learn how to solve problems by translating a question into instructions a computer can follow to come up with the answers. And you’ll explore what goes on inside a computer when it’s solving a problem.