Bachelor of Computer Science

Why Study Computer Science?

Accredited by the Canadian Computer Science Accreditation Council, UNB's Bachelor of Computer Science program involves theory and practice and cutting-edge knowledge. You will study a rapidly evolving field with new technologies and ideas. Your degree will prepare you for many different computing careers - from designing and building software to creating efficient solutions to real-world problems in fields such as robotics, computer-enhanced vision, and digital forensics.

After first or second year, you can choose an honour or majors degree program within one of the areas of specialization. You are not bound in any way to follow an area of specialization, but you must have your program approved by the faculty.

Areas of Specialization

• Hardware Systems: Emphasizes digital systems logic, communications and organization.
• Software Systems: Emphasizes program design, applications and systems software.
• Information Systems: Emphasizes the data and information processing area of computer applications including data base management systems.
• Theory and Computation: Emphasizes the theoretical basis for several important areas of computer science development.
• Multimedia Systems: Emphasizes the technical and creative aspects of multimedia systems development.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Emphasizes the application of computers to the storage, retrieval, and processing of geographically referenced information.

What Can You Be With a Bachelor of Computer Science?

Whether it's controlling climate change, improving health care, fighting terrorism, discovering new medicines or improving literacy levels, computer science plays a significant supporting role. This leads to many creative, fun, and interesting jobs and careers in computing fields. Here is a sample:

• Application Developer
• Project Manager
• Business Analyst
• Communication Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• Technical Support Analyst
• Technical Program Manager
• Information Management Analyst
• Database Analyst
• Database Administrator
• Network Manager
• Web Applications Developer
• Web Designer
• Computer Animator
• Corporate Security Specialist
• Graphic Artist

Search for Careers for more career possibilities.

With additional education/training or experience...

• High school Teacher
• Professor
• Lawyer
• Pilot
• Air Traffic Controller
• Technical Consultant
• Business Consultant
• Computer Hardware Manufacturer
• Database Engineer

Where Can You Work?

Almost every major challenge facing our world is turning to computing for a solution, from conquering disease to eliminating hunger, from improving education to protecting the environment. This means you could work in any virtually any industry, anywhere in the world. Following are just some examples:

• Healthcare
• Provincial and Federal Governments
• Security Intelligence Services
• Research Institutes
• Telecommunications
• Wireless Communications
• Multimedia Industry
• Software/Hardware Companies
• Robotics
• Digital Forensics
• Insurance Industry

What Skills Can You Develop?

You will develop technical skills that will be directly applicable to some careers, and general skills that are valuable to all employers.

Technical Skills

• Research, design and develop computer systems
• Building and using database management systems and other software tools
• Programming
• Using existing software libraries to carry out a variety of computing tasks, such as creating a user interface
• Being aware of the uses to which computers are put, recognizing issues to do with security, safety
• Looking at innovative ways of using computers, creating tools, providing tools support

General Skills

• Problem solving skills
• Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret results
• Communicating in writing, giving effective presentations and product demonstrations
• Negotiation skills (both in traditional environments and electronically)

Organizational skills

• Time management skills
• Research skills
• Recognizing the challenges and opportunities of keeping skills up-to-date and understand how to do so
• Being an effective team member

Professional Associations & Resources

Professional associations can be a great way to meet, learn from and network with professionals in your field of interest. Some associations offer student memberships, often at a reduced rate. Below is a sample of professional associations and industry-related websites you can explore.

• CIPS Canada’s Association of Information Technology Professionals
• Association for Computing Machinery
• IEEE The world’s leading professional association for the advancement of technology
• ICTC Information and Communications Technology Council
• ITAC Information Technology Association of Canada
• Computing Degrees & Careers
• UNB Computer Science Association

Contact the Department

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