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Computer & Information Sciences Major

Computer & Information Sciences

Types of Degrees Computer & Information Sciences Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many computer & information sciences graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level Number of Grads
Bachelor’s Degree 118,656
Master’s Degree 77,842
Basic Certificate 39,710
Associate Degree 35,940
Undergraduate Certificate 14,517
Graduate Certificate 3,961
Doctor’s Degree 2,892

What Computer & Information Sciences Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, computer & information sciences majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Computer & Information Sciences Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in computer & information sciences should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

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  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills for Computer & Information Sciences Majors

When studying computer & information sciences, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

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  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Abilities for Computer & Information Sciences Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a computer & information sciences student include the following:

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  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Can You Do With a Computer & Information Sciences Major?

People with a computer & information sciences degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title Job Growth Rate Median Salary
Compliance Managers 8.0% $107,480
Computer and Information Research Scientists 19.0% $118,370
Computer and Information Systems Managers 12.0% $142,530
Computer Network Support Specialists 8.2% $62,770
Computer Science Professors 8.1% $82,220
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects 9.3% $90,270
Computer User Support Specialists 11.3% $50,980
Data Warehousing Specialists 9.3% $90,270
Database Administrators 11.5% $90,070
Database Architects 9.3% $90,270
Geospatial Information Scientists and Technologists 9.3% $90,270
Loss Prevention Managers 8.0% $107,480
Multimedia Artists and Animators 8.4% $72,520
Network and Computer Systems Administrators 6.1% $82,050
Regulatory Affairs Managers 8.0% $107,480
Search Marketing Strategists 9.3% $90,270
Security Managers 8.0% $107,480
Software Developers, Applications 30.7% $103,620
Web Administrators 9.3% $90,270
Wind Energy Operations Managers 8.0% $107,480

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer & Information Sciences?

118,656 Bachelor's Degrees Annually
23% Percent Women
43% Percent Racial-Ethnic Minorities*
This major attracts more men than women. About 77% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of computer & information sciences majors is as follows:

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Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 22,222
Black or African American 9,963
Hispanic or Latino 14,388
White 50,426
International Students 11,371
Other Races/Ethnicities 10,286

Geographic Diversity

Students from other countries are interested in Computer & Information Sciences, too. About 9.6% of those with this major are international students.

Some degrees associated with computer & information sciences may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to computer & information sciences have obtained the following education levels.

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Education Level Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma 0.2%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) 6.0%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) 5.7%
Some College Courses 7.2%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 10.4%
Bachelor’s Degree 52.4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. 3.6%
Master’s Degree 11.9%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. 0.7%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. 0.3%
Doctoral Degree 2.0%
Post-Doctoral Training 0.1%

Online Computer & Information Sciences Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level Colleges Offering Programs Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) 0 0
Certificate (1-2 years) 3,306 488
Certificate (2-4 Years) 298 80
Associate’s Degree 6,418 1,148
Bachelor’s Degree 1,116 388
Post-Baccalaureate 0 0
Master’s Degree 2,874 758
Post-Master’s 142 0
Doctor’s Degree (Research) 620 60
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) 8 2
Doctor’s Degree (Other) 0 0

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to computer & information sciences.

Major Number of Grads
Communications Technologies & Support 15,672

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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