PORTFOLIO 1

Computer Science as a Discipline and the Five Computing Majors

Get Started

Introduction

Computer Science and related majors are at the heart of today’s digital world, shaping industries from healthcare to finance.
This presentation looks at Computer Science as a field and introduces the five main computing majors recognized around the world.
By understanding these areas, you’ll get a clearer picture of possible career paths and see how computing helps tackle big challenges across the globe.

Computer Science as a Discipline

Focuses on both theoretical foundations and practical applications of computation.
Defined as the study of algorithmic processes, computational machines, and computation itself (Denning, 1999).
Encompasses problem-solving, data representation, programming, and system design (Denning et al., 1989).
Viewed as both a science and an engineering field, merging creativity, mathematics, and real-world application (National Research Council, 2004).

Importance of Computer Science

Provides the intellectual and practical foundations for all other computing disciplines (Sedgewick & Wayne, 2016).
Encourages computational thinking: the ability to break down problems into solvable steps, now considered essential in education and professional fields (Abelson & Sussman, 1996).
Advances industries such as healthcare, education, finance, engineering, and entertainment by driving innovation and efficiency.

Majors

Professional guidelines identify five distinct computing disciplines (Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula, 2013).
Each major focuses on a specific set of skills and knowledge areas, allowing students to specialize based on interest and career goals.
These majors collectively cover the entire computing ecosystem, from hardware and software to management and applied technologies.

Computer Science

Focuses on algorithms, data, theory, software, and computer systems.
Prepares students for careers in research, development, programming, and systems design.
Builds core skills in problem-solving, programming, and creating innovative software solutions.

Software Engineering

Emphasizes systematic approaches to software design, development, testing, and maintenance (Joint ACM/IEEE, 2014).
Emphasizes teamwork, project management, and solid engineering practices.
Prepares graduates for careers in large-scale software development, quality assurance, and system integration.

Computer Engineering

Combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop both hardware and software systems (Joint Task Force, 2016).
Focuses on hardware design, microprocessors, embedded systems, and networking.
Careers include hardware engineer, systems architect, and embedded systems developer.

Information Systems

Concentrates on the integration of technology with organizational processes and business strategy (Topi et al., 2010).
Connects technical teams with management by aligning IT strategies to organizational goals.
Leads to careers such as systems analyst, IT manager, business-IT consultant, and database administrator.

Information Technology

Focuses on applied computing, infrastructure management, security, and user support (Lunt et al., 2008).
IT professionals manage systems, maintain networks, and ensure information security.
Careers include IT administrators, cybersecurity specialists, and network support analysts.

aboutMe

I’m Alfer. I’m really into fitness, music, and a bit of sports. Fitness helps me stay disciplined and push myself, music keeps me creative and inspired, and sports remind me of the fun and energy of working with others.

I decided to go into programming not just because people say it pays well, but because I actually enjoy it. I find it fun, kind of like solving puzzles or building something cool from scratch. It keeps me curious, challenges me, and makes me feel accomplished every time I figure something out. For me, coding isn’t just a career choice, it’s something I genuinely like doing.

References

Abelson, H., Sussman, G. J., & Sussman, J. (1996). Structure and interpretation of computer programs. MIT Press.
De Veaux, R. D., Agarwal, M., Averett, M., Baumer, B. S., Bray, A., Bressoud, T., Bryant, L., Cheng, L. Z., Francis, A., Gould, R., Kim, A. Y., Kretchmar, M., Lu, Q., Moskol, A., Nolan, D., Pelayo, R., Raleigh, S., Sethi, R. J., Sondjaja, M., … Ye, P. (2017). Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate programs in data science. Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application, 4, 15–30.
Denning, P. J. (1999). Computer science: The discipline. In A. Ralston & E. D. Reilly (Eds.), Encyclopedia of computer science (4th ed., pp. 405–419). Nature Publishing Group.
Denning, P. J., Comer, D. E., Gries, D., Mulder, M. C., Tucker, A., Turner, A. J., & Young, P. R. (1989). Computing as a discipline. Communications of the ACM, 32(1), 9–23. https://doi.org/10.1145/63238.63239
Joint ACM/IEEE-CS Task Force on Software Engineering Ethics and Professional Practices. (2014). Software engineering 2014 curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in software engineering. ACM.
Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula. (2013). Computer science curricula 2013: Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in computer science. ACM.
Joint Task Force on Cybersecurity Education. (2016). Computer engineering curricula 2016: Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in computer engineering. ACM.
Lunt, B. M., Ekstrom, J. J., Gorka, S., Hislop, G., Kamali, R., Lawson, E., LeBlanc, R., Miller, J., & Reichgelt, H. (2008). Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in information technology. ACM.
National Research Council. (2004). Computer science: Reflections on the field, reflections from the field. National Academies Press.
Sedgewick, R., & Wayne, K. (2016). Computer science: An interdisciplinary approach. Addison-Wesley.
Topi, H., Valacich, J. S., Wright, R. T., Kaiser, K., Nunamaker, J. F., Jr., Sipior, J. C., & de Vreede, G. J. (2010). IS 2010: Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate degree programs in information systems. Association for Computing Machinery.

Proceed to Analysis