If you wish you could develop video games or create digital tools to improve people’s lives or just enjoy learning how things work and how to manipulate them, you should consider pursuing a career in computer science.
“It’s fascinating being able to have the computer do things that I don’t think I’m capable of doing, like learning on its own and automating processes in very small amounts of time. It’s just really fascinating,” says Jordan Scharkey ’22 , a University of the Pacific computer science graduate.
Computer science students learn about what computers and computing systems are and can do. They study programming languages, operating systems, algorithms, network security and ethics, and learn how to develop web apps and manage databases, for the purpose of making computers more useful for people and society.
Computer science is a relatively new discipline, compared to most college-level fields of study. It was originally a branch of mathematics that used computers to do numerical analysis. The first commercially available computers were built in the 1950s, and computer science departments were created at universities during the 1960s. Because of its emphasis on algorithms and the mechanics of computation, computer science became a separate field of study.
“I started out in mathematics and that was fun,” Shawn Kerns ’10 recalled. “But I decided I had more of an engineering brain. I want to be able to apply the material, so I switched over to civil engineering, thinking I’d go into architecture. I ended up in computer science, where I found total success, focusing on simulations as well as information security, cyber security.”
What jobs can you get with a computer science degree?
Most jobs for computer scientists fall into two categories: information technology and application development.
Information Technology
- Systems architect: Systems architects design, set up and maintain computer systems and networks, making sure that these systems are equipped to handle the demands placed on them and keeping them up to-to-date.
- Cybersecurity analyst: Cybersecurity analysts monitor computer systems and networks to identify and fix vulnerabilities, protecting organizations from data breaches and investing breaches in rare situations when they do happen.
- Systems analyst: Systems analysts often recommend updates to computer systems and the acquisition of new platforms to solve business problems and increase efficiencies in an institution’s systems.
- Database administrator: Database administrators are responsible for making sure that databases are organized in ways that make it easy to extract useful information, and that the data that they contain is reliable and secure.
- Network administrator: Network administrators are responsible for the daily operations of computer systems and networks, troubleshooting issues that arise and assisting the organization’s other employees as needed.
- Hardware engineer: Hardware engineers focus on computing networks’ physical aspects, making sure that components such as processing power and memory as sufficient for the demands placed on systems.
Application Development
- Computer programmer: Computer programmers write and update code that makes operating systems and applications work properly, and keep it updated to account for new standards and to add new and improved functionality.
- Software application developer: Software application developers create apps—including games—for desktop, mobile and other platforms.
- Systems developer: Systems developers do the back-end programming necessary to make computer systems work together, including working on integrations and data migrations.
- Front-end web developer: Front-end web developers are responsible for the look and feel of website and mobile apps and often work closely with digital designers.
- Back-end web developer: Back-end developers are responsible for the functionality of websites and mobile apps, making sure they work as intended and providing updates.
Another possibility is teaching. “It’s probably one of the more rewarding steps of my career so far because I get to see 20, 30 folks in a class go from ‘what is this?’ to full proficiency at the end,” says Kerns, who teaches in Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and works for Pacific Technology. “That’s really an amazing thing. It kind of gives me goosebumps to think about it.”
Why study computer science at Pacific?
Computer scientists are also some of the best-paid professionals today, with starting salaries between $50,000 and $70,000. But starting salaries for Pacific computer science graduates are higher, averaging more than $14,000 over the national average.
Pacific professors prepare their students for the wide range of possible careers in the field. “Knowing how expansive the area of computer science is, there is no way that you’re going to be able to learn all of it within your time at university. So, a big part of all these classes is being able to learn how to learn, and a lot of faculty understand that,” said Scharkey.
Computer science internships
Like most students at Pacific’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, computer science majors can take part in the school’s CO-OP program. CO-OP students spend two academic terms working in industries related to their majors, earn an average of $3,700 a month and receive academic credit. This professional experience gives Pacific students a competitive edge in the job market.
Scharkey worked at NVIDIA during his CO-OP experience, where he worked with a team to run simulation tests on graphic cards and chips and report on their performance. “I became really mindful of what other members of my team were doing and how I could reach out to them for help, and when they would reach out to me for help, how I could assist them with what I knew,” he said. Scharkey was hired after he graduated.
Takori Rooks ’23, a computer science major who did his CO-OP with Boeing, encourages students to make connections during their internships. “Network, Network, Network. Make as many meaningful relationships as you can. If you don’t know something, ask. In my experience people are inclined to help because they know that you are an intern,” Rooks said.
Opportunities for collaboration
Pacific also provides opportunities for students to incorporate their interests and work collaboratively with students in other degree programs. Computer science major Thypien Son ’22 worked with history, music education, political science, biological sciences and international relations majors to develop Tiger Strides, an app that provides an augmented-reality tour of Pacific’s Stockton Campus that highlights the university’s history of student leadership and activism.
“It’s a really cool app, honestly, and the process has taught me a lot,” said Son. “It taught me how to work in a team with people who aren’t actually like me most of the time, in the sense of our majors. But it also taught me how to use my skill set to connect with them and learn their skill set to make my work better. And I feel like that’s something I can apply in the real world for my career.”
Learn more
Explore computer science at Pacific.