Information and computer science

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A lab in which computer and information science (CIS) is studied. CISLab.jpg
A lab in which computer and information science (CIS) is studied.

Information and computer science (ICS) or computer and information science (CIS) (plural forms, i.e., sciences, may also be used) is a field that emphasizes both computing and informatics, upholding the strong association between the fields of information sciences and computer sciences and treating computers as a tool rather than a field.

Contents

Information science is one with a long history,[ citation needed ] unlike the relatively very young field of computer science, and is primarily concerned with gathering, storing, disseminating, sharing and protecting any and all forms of information. It is a broad field, covering a myriad of different areas but is often referenced alongside computer science because of the incredibly useful nature of computers and computer programs in helping those studying and doing research in the field – particularly in helping to analyse data [1] and in spotting patterns too broad for a human to intuitively perceive. While information science is sometimes confused with information theory, the two have vastly different subject matter. Information theory focuses on one particular mathematical concept of information while information science is focused on all aspects of the processes and techniques of information.

Computer science, in contrast, is less focused on information and its different states, but more, in a very broad sense, on the use of computers – both in theory and practice – to design and implement algorithms in order to aid the processing of information during the different states described above. It has strong foundations in the field of mathematics, as the very first recognised practitioners of the field were renowned mathematicians such as Alan Turing.

Information science and computing began to converge in the 1950s and 1960s, as information scientists started to realize the many ways computers would improve information storage and retrieval.

Terminology

Due to the distinction between computers and computing, some of the research groups refer to computing or datalogy. The French refer to computer science as the term informatique . The term information and communications technology (ICT), refers to how humans communicate with using machines and computers, making a distinction from information and computer science, which is how computers use and gain information.

Informatics is also distinct from computer science, which encompasses the study of logic and low-level computing issues.

Education

Universities may confer degrees of ICS and CIS, not to be confused with a more specific Bachelor of Computer Science or respective graduate computer science degrees.

The QS World University Rankings is one of the most widely recognised and distinguished university comparisons. They ranked the top 10 universities for computer science and information systems in 2015.

They are:

A Computer Information Science degree gives students both network and computing knowledge which is needed to design, develop, and assist information systems which helps to solve business problems and to support business problems and to support business operations and decision making at a managerial level also.

Areas of information and computer science

Due to the nature of this field, many topics are also shared with computer science and information systems.

The discipline of Information and Computer Science spans a vast range of areas from basic computer science theory (algorithms and computational logic) to in depth analysis of data manipulation and use within technology. [3]

Programming theory

The process of taking a given algorithm and encoding it into a language that can be understood and executed by a computer. There are many different types of programming languages and various different types of computers, however, they all have the same goal: to turn algorithms into machine code. [4]

Popular programming languages used within the academic study of CIS include, but are not limited to: Java, Python, C#, C++, Perl, Ruby, Pascal, Swift, Visual Basic.

Information and information systems

The academic study of software and hardware systems that process large quantities and data, support large scale data management and how data can be used. [5] This is where the field is unique from the standard study of computer science. The area of information systems focuses on the networks of hardware and software that are required to process, manipulate and distribute such data.

Computer systems and organisations

The process of analysing computer architecture and various logic circuits. This involves looking at low level computer processes at bit level computation. This is an in-depth look into the hardware processing of a computational system, involving looking at the basic structure of a computer and designing such systems. [6] This can also involve evaluating complex circuit diagrams, and being able to construct these to solve a main problem.

The main purpose behind this area of study is to achieve an understanding of how computers function on a basic level, often through tracing machine operations.

Machines, languages, and computation

This is the study into fundamental computer algorithms, which are the basis to computer programs. Without algorithms, no computer programs would exist. [7] This also involves the process of looking into various mathematical functions behind computational algorithms, basic theory and functional (low level) programming.

In an academic setting, this area would introduce the fundamental mathematical theorems and functions behind theoretical computer science which are the building blocks for other areas in the field. Complex topics such as; proofs, algebraic functions and sets will be introduced during studies of CIS.

Developments

Information and computer science is a field that is rapidly developing with job prospects for students being extremely promising with 75.7% of graduates gaining employment. [8] Also the IT industry employs one in twenty of the workforce with it predicted to increase nearly five times faster than the average of the UK and between 2012 and 2017 more than half a million people will be needed within the industry and the fact that nine out of ten tech firms are suffering from candidate shortages which is having a negative impact on their business as it delays the creation and development of new products, [9] and it's predicted in the US that in the next decade there will be more than one million jobs in the technology sector than computer science graduates to fill them. [10] Because of this programming is now being taught at an earlier age with an aim to interest students from a young age into computer and information science hopefully leading more children to study this at a higher level. For example, children in England will now be exposed to computer programming at the age of 5 due to an updated national curriculum. [11]

Employment

Due to the wide variety of jobs that now involve computer and information science related tasks, it is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of possible jobs in this area, but some of the key areas are artificial intelligence, software engineering and computer networking and communication. Work in this area also tends to require sufficient understanding of mathematics and science. [12] Moreover, jobs that having a CIS degree can lead to, include: systems analyst, network administrator, system architect, information systems developer, web programmer, or software developer.

The earning potential for CIS graduates is quite promising. A 2013 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that the average starting salary for graduates who earned a degree in a computer related field was $59,977, up 4.3% from the prior year. This is higher than other popular degrees such as business ($54,234), education ($40,480) and math and sciences ($42,724). [13] Furthermore, Payscale ranked 129 college degrees based on their graduates earning potential with engineering, math, science, and technology fields dominating the ranking. With eight computer related degrees appearing among the top 30. With the lowest starting salary for these jobs being $49,900. [14] A Rasmussen College article describes various jobs CIS graduates may obtain with software applications developers at the top making a median income of $98,260. [15]

According to the National Careers Service an Information Scientist can expect to earn £24,000+ per year as a starting salary. [16]

Related Research Articles

Computing Branch of knowledge

Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computing machinery. It includes the study and experimentation of algorithmic processes, and development of both hardware and software. Computing has scientific, engineering, mathematical, technological and social aspects. Major computing disciplines include computer engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, information systems, information technology and software engineering.

Computer science Study of the foundations and applications of computation

Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines to practical disciplines. Computer science is generally considered an area of academic research and distinct from computer programming.

Programmer Person who writes computer software

A computer programmer, sometimes referred to as a software developer, a software engineer, a programmer, or more recently a coder, is a person who creates computer software.

Computer engineering Engineering discipline specializing in the design of computer hardware

Computer engineering is a branch of electrical engineering that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and hardware-software integration instead of only software engineering or electronic engineering. Computer engineers are involved in many hardware and software aspects of computing, from the design of individual microcontrollers, microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design. This field of engineering not only focuses on how computer systems themselves work but also how they integrate into the larger picture. Robots are one of the applications of computer engineering.

An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information. From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems are composed by four components: task, people, structure, and technology. Information systems can be defined as an integration of components for collection, storage and processing of data of which the data is used to provide information, contribute to knowledge as well as digital products that facilitate decision making.

Theoretical computer science Subfield of computer science and mathematics

Theoretical computer science (TCS) is a subset of general computer science and mathematics that focuses on mathematical aspects of computer science such as the theory of computation, lambda calculus, and type theory.

A computer scientist is a person who has acquired the knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application.

Computational science, also known as scientific computing or scientific computation (SC), is a field in mathematics that uses advanced computing capabilities to understand and solve complex problems. It is an area of science that spans many disciplines, but at its core, it involves the development of models and simulations to understand natural systems.

The Bachelor of Computer Science or Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is a type of bachelor's degree awarded after collegiate study in computer science. In general, computer science degree programs emphasize the mathematical and theoretical foundations of computing.

NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (NUST-SEECS), formerly NUST Institute of Information Technology, is a constituent school in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was created on a self-financed basis in April 1999 as a constituent college of National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan (NUST). It was formed due to the demand for quality IT education in the country and the requirement for NUST to launch its own IT department.

École pour linformatique et les techniques avancées

The École Pour l'Informatique et les Techniques Avancées, more commonly known as EPITA, is a private French grande école specialized in the field of computer science and software engineering created in 1984 by Patrice Dumoucel. It is a private engineering school, member of IONIS Education Group since 1994, accredited by the Commission des titres d'ingénieur (CTI) to deliver the French Diplôme d'Ingénieur, and based at Le Kremlin-Bicêtre south of Paris.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. is a technical school which specializes in engineering, technology, communications, and transportation. The school is located on the main campus of the George Washington University and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs.

De La Salle University College of Computer Studies

The College of Computer Studies (CCS) is one of the eight colleges of De La Salle University. It was established in 1981 as the Center for Planning, Information, and Computer Science offering only a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. The department was formally declared as a college in 1984. In 1990, the college was transferred to its new building, the INTELLECT Building, which was eventually renamed as the Gokongwei Building. In 1996 the college was granted semi-autonomous status along with the Graduate School of Business which led to the establishment of De La Salle-Professional Schools, Inc. The college became a part of De La Salle Professional Schools but later transferred back to the university.

The Diploma in Computer Science is a diploma offered by several post-secondary institutions:

A Business and Computing is a dual degree program offered jointly by some computing and business schools. The program generally lasts four-five years instead of seven-eight years to complete separate the two degrees and results in the candidate earning both a Bachelor of Business degree and a Bachelor of Computing degree. Graduating Business and Computing students may choose to work on computing/technical matter, or enter the business world, or even enjoy the gray area between business and computing fields such as IT security officer, IT consultant, etc. Even though a majority of Business and Computing graduate from a single university, there are people who earn these degrees from different universities.

Informatics is the study of computational systems, especially those for data storage and retrieval. According to ACM Europe andInformatics Europe, informatics is synonymous with computer science and computing as a profession, in which the central notion is transformation of information. In other countries, the term "informatics" is used with a different meaning in the context of library science.

A Bachelor of Science in Information Technology,, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the information technology. The degree is normally required in order to work in the Information technology industry.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to formal science:

UO Computer and Information Science Department

Computer and Information Science (CIS) at the University of Oregon is a leading computer science department established in 1970. It has been consistently ranked among the top 100 computer science programs over the decades. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks the graduate program as tied for 63rd with Iowa State University, University at Buffalo—SUNY and the University of Iowa, placing the computer science program 1st in the state of Oregon.

This glossary of computer science is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in computer science, its sub-disciplines, and related fields, including terms relevant to software, data science, and computer programming.

References

  1. ↑ "Data Mining: What is Data Mining?". Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  2. ↑ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015 – Computer Science & Information Systems".
  3. ↑ "What is Computer Science?". Archived from the original on 2017-06-12.
  4. ↑ "What Is Programming? – Problem Solving with Algorithms and Data Structures". interactivepython.org. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  5. ↑ "information system". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  6. ↑ "What is Computer Architecture? – Definition from Techopedia". Techopedia.com. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  7. ↑ "What is a computer algorithm?". HowStuffWorks. 5 September 2001. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  8. ↑ "What can I do With My Degree?". Prospects. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  9. ↑ "Computer science graduates: why do they top unemployment tables?". The Guardian. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  10. ↑ "A Push to Boost Computer Science Learning Even at an Early Age". NPR.org. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  11. ↑ "Teaching our children to code: a quiet revolution". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  12. ↑ "What is Computer Science". Archived from the original on 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  13. ↑ "Starting Salaries for New College Graduates" (PDF). Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  14. ↑ "Computer science major ranks No. 8 for salary potential". Network World. Retrieved 2015-11-19.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "8 Entry-Level Computer Science Jobs that are Actually Hiring!". www.rasmussen.edu. Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  16. ↑ "Job Titles – Information Scientist" . Retrieved 2015-12-10.
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