Computer and Information Sciences, General

Common careers

• Computer and Information Systems Managers

  Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Health Informatics Specialists

  Apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the health care system.

  Medium preparation needed

• Computer and Information Research Scientists

  Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

  Extensive preparation needed

• Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

  Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Database Administrators

  Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Data Warehousing Specialists

  Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Network and Computer Systems Administrators

  Install, configure, and maintain an organization's local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), data communications network, operating systems, and physical and virtual servers. Perform system monitoring and verify the integrity and availability of hardware, network, and server resources and systems. Review system and application logs and verify completion of scheduled jobs, including system backups. Analyze network and server resource consumption and control user access. Install and upgrade software and maintain software licenses. May assist in network modeling, analysis, planning, and coordination between network and data communications hardware and software.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

  Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Video Game Designers

  Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Information Technology Project Managers

  Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of projects. Plan project stages and assess business implications for each stage. Monitor progress to assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met.

  Considerable preparation needed

• Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

  Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

  Extensive preparation needed

Occupations linked to this field of study by the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk; descriptions from O*NET.