Introduction to Computing & IT
In years gone by, Computing & IT courses were usually thought to be taken mostly by the stereotypical male “geek”. However, in the digital age, more and more students (both male and female) are realising how vitally important it is to have strong IT skills.
Employers too are recognising that Computing & IT graduates have a much larger skill set than just being good at the tech side of things.
Universities are offering an increasingly diverse range of courses that fall under the Computing & IT bracket, from courses that give you a good general knowledge of the subject to specialised courses that lead to more specific career paths.
What is a Computing & IT subject?
Subjects that are listed under the Computing & IT umbrella include:
- Computing & IT
- Computing
- Computer Science
- Business Information Technology
- Computing & Software Engineering
- Computer Games Design
- Computer Networking & Web Design
- Forensic Computing
There are many different types of Computing & IT degree, leading to all kinds of jobs after graduation. During the course of your degree you could study everything from basic software programming to artificial intelligence depending on the course you choose.
What are the career options for a Computing & IT graduate?
Realistically, there are hardly any businesses in the developed world that don’t use, and even rely on, computers and technology to operate.
This means that almost all employers will be looking for someone that is more than just computer literate. Some of the big companies, such as IBM, Apple, and Google, recruit new Computing & IT graduates every year, but any company, large or small, is a potential employer.
Here are some of the common career options for Computing & IT graduates:
- IT consultant
- Information systems manager
- Data administrator
- Computer games developer
- Systems analyst
- App developer
- Web designer
- Web developer
- Network engineer
- IT sales professional
- Secondary school teacher
However, don’t worry if none of these options sound appealing. You’ll have gained many highly transferrable skills during your degree and further study, such as a Masters, could help you move to an entirely different sector.
What skills does a Computing & IT degree give me?
As we said, not only will you gain many industry and subject specific skills, but you’ll also gain a skill set which can be used regardless of your future career path.
These transferrable skills include:
- Teamwork and leadership
- Communication skills
- The ability to solve problems
- Negotiation and persuasion
- Time management and organisation;
- Report writing and written communication skills
- Presenting reasoned arguments
- Retrieval of information
- Numeracy skills
- The ability to cope with rapid technological changes
- Commercial awareness
As the industry and technology is constantly changing, it’s also important that you keep your knowledge and skills up to date throughout your career by Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
This can be done in the workplace or in your own time with additional courses and other forms of learning.
Where can I study a Computing & IT subject?
Now that we live in a technologically advanced age, almost every university in the UK offers some kind of Computing & IT degree course(s).
This includes: Bournemouth University, Plymouth University, Southampton Solent University, University of Hertfordshire, University of Birmingham, and the University of Kent.
