BSC Assistant Professor Anthony Winchester – who teaches in the College’s Applied Computer Science program — was recently interviewed by TechGuide.org on the value of a bachelor’s degree in computer science.  

Q. How did you first get into computer science (what kind of degree or work experience led you to the field)?

A. I decided to go into the field of computer science while I was an electrical engineering major. There was a conversation in the student computer lab. I was told I could focus on one of these areas: control systems, power, or computing. It appealed to me to focus on computing, and then went to another layer and found out there were sub-disciplines within computing.

Q. Why get a bachelor’s in computer science and why now?

A. As we continue to move rapidly into the Digital Age, our society is more reliant on computers than ever before. There will always be a need for people who understand the code that makes computers and other machines work. People who are in computer science have a good grasp of both theories and principles, and application of those theories and principles.

Q. What’s the best way for students to prepare for a bachelor’s in computer science (what kinds of skills or knowledge do they need to be successful)?

A. I believe that for students to be successful in computer science, students need to be able to think critically about problems and determine several possible solutions. Students should also be able to work well individually and in team settings, since business projects require both individual work and group work from time to time.

Students also need to be able to adapt quickly, as what is valid today can become invalid soon, and what was believed to be impossible can become reality. Depending on where the student wishes to focus, they need to have a knowledge of coding standards, software development life cycles, the similarities and differences between programming languages, and the importance of code documentation. 

Q. What kinds of other topics, electives, or majors fit well with computer science?

A. Some may disagree, but I believe that good presentation skills are key for doing well in computer science. A future employee may need to present a prototype to peers or to their business counterparts. Issues may be revealed within project requirements that must be shared with peers or direct management. A new scenario might arise that has to be handled but will impact the scope of the project.

It is important for this future employee to be able to communicate ideas, thoughts, and any underlying concerns as clearly as possible. Therefore, any type of speech or presentation classes or electives would be beneficial to those in the computer science major. 

Lastly, students need to have their emotional quotients up to par. The focus should be on the project and not individual egos. This is one factor that will allow consistency and success. 

Q. What computer science topic are your students interested in right now?

A. Students are interested in coding for hardware like robots or drones and other cyber-physical systems.

Q. What types of jobs are computer science graduates finding? Is there a favorite company or organization where students like to look for a job? What do entry-level computer science jobs look like?

A. The types of jobs that computer science graduates are finding today are in various industries, such as utilities, healthcare, finance, and government. Entry-level computer science jobs mostly consist of making modifications and adjustments to other co-worker’s code and they are usually in training under seasoned developers.

Q. If you had to choose one or two books, articles, documentaries, podcasts, etc. to be included on a required reading list for computer science students, what would it be?

A. If I had to select something to be on a required reading or listening list for computer science students, it would be the podcast  “Spark with Nora Young,” the Netflix documentary “High Score,” and the book “Einstein and the Quantum: The Quest of the Valiant Swabian” by A. Douglas Stone.