Re: What does a computer scientist do exactly?

Michael,

Computer applications are expanding like never before so occupations in 
computer science are very diverse.  For example, some computer scientists 
are systems analysts.  They design hardware and software systems for a 
company based on their needs.  On a daily basis they might work with 
managers and computer users to determine their corporate goals and what kind 
of hardware or software would benefit them most.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain software.  They conceive, 
design, and test logical structures for solving problems with a computer.  
They write code in various languages, some conventional, some object-
oriented.  There are applications programmers who write software for a 
specific job usually in science, engineering, or business.  Systems 
programmers maintain and control system software and networks.

Because of the expanding field of computer science, there are many, many 
more tasks computer scientists can do.  There are web designers who write in 
HTML for a company, computer security specialists who implement firewalls to 
secure information in a network, customer service representatives who help 
people use software or hardware they bought, or computer engineers who 
design, develop and test new hardware, or programmers who write to predict 
protein structure or genetic homology.

Most positions require a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer 
engineering, or electrical engineering.  A graduate degree is usually 
necessary for research at an academic institution.

Hopefully, this gives you an idea of what a computer scientist does.  Please 
write back if you would like more info on a certain area of computer science 
and I will try to find out for you.

Bonnie