Popular Bachelor of Science Degrees for Tech Savvy Students

With technology evolving at break-neck speed, degree programs that focus on building skills needed in this field are becoming increasingly popular. If you’re a tech savvy individual who wants to study the nitty-gritties of technology and build a solid career in the field, enrolling for a Bachelor of Science degree could be your best bet. 

Not sure which undergraduate degree program to pick to learn all about technology? We’re happy to help. Here’s a comprehensive guide to popular bachelor’s programs that could work for you, if you’re a tech savvy student. 

To put it simply, a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree is an undergraduate degree that can be earned after completing a specific course of study in the sciences or related fields. This program focuses on scientific, technical, or quantitative subjects and offers specialized education in areas such as mathematics, computer science, engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, or psychology. It generally requires around four years of full-time study at a college or university.

Let’s break down the main differences between a BA and a BS degree:

1. Focus of study: While a BA degree focuses on liberal arts education, a BS degree emphasizes scientific and technical subjects, such as mathematics, computer science, engineering, or natural sciences.
   
2. Curriculum: As a BA student, you can enroll for a wider range of courses in different fields. On the flipside, BS programs have a more structured curriculum with a specific focus on your major subject.
   
3. Skills and Career Path: A BA degree generally emphasizes critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills that can help you build a career in teaching, writing, social work, or public relations. On the other hand, B.S. degrees are associated with technical or scientific fields, and are appropriate if you want to gain specialized skills required for professions like computer programming, data analysis, or engineering.

Opting for a Bachelor of Science degree offers several advantages. Let’s look at some promising reasons of opting for a Bachelor of Science degree:

1. Specialized Knowledge: A Bachelor of Science degree allows you to delve deeper into a specific field of study, providing you with specialized knowledge and skills. As a tech savvy student, this expertise can be valuable to build a career that requires a strong foundation in scientific or technical areas.

2. Research and Innovation: Because BS programs emphasize  research and encourage critical thinking skills, you could be exposed to opportunities that let you contribute to scientific advancements and innovation in your chosen field.

3. Higher Education: If you plan to pursue advanced degrees like Master’s or PhD programs, having a BS degree is a common prerequisite. For tech savvy students, it offers a solid foundation for further education and research.

4. Career Options: A number of industries and employers value candidates with BS degrees, especially in fields such as technology,  engineering, research, and even environmental sciences. Having a BS degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities and potentially increases your marketability in competitive job markets.

5. Higher Earning Potential: As a tech savvy student with a BS degree, on average you’re likely to earn a higher salary as compared to those with just a high school diploma or an associate degree. A huge contributor to this increased earning potential is the specialized knowledge and skills that you gain with a BS program.

6. Professional Networking: During your BS program, you might have the chance to connect with faculty, fellow students, and professionals in your field. These connections could lead to mentorship opportunities, job referrals, and other kinds of collaboration in the future.

When considering enrolling for a BS degree, make sure the program’s curriculum aligns with your interests, personal aspirations and career goals.

Tech savvy students could opt for these popular programs when pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree:

Computer Science:

A computer science degree helps you build skills in programming, software development,  algorithms, and computer systems. This degree program can widen your career options in software engineering, data science, and web development.

Data Science:

A popular field of study, data science programs focus on analyzing and interpreting large datasets to extract meaningful insights. As a student of data science, you get to learn statistical analysis, data visualization, database management, and machine learning. This field has recently witnessed a substantial increase in demand across industries.

Information Technology: 

An information technology (IT) degree combines technical knowledge with business principles. With this degree, you can gain skills that come in handy for network administration, database management, cybersecurity, and IT project management. 

Cybersecurity: 

With the rise in cybercrime and increasing concern for protecting digital information, a degree in cybersecurity can prepare you to combat cyber threats. The curriculum broadly covers topics like ethical hacking, cryptography, network security, and risk management. If you pursue this degree, you could potentially kickstart a stable career, as cybersecurity specialists are needed by most companies to safeguard systems and data.

Software Engineering:

Typically, software engineering programs focus on designing, developing, and maintaining software systems. As a student who aspires to be a software engineer or developer, you could learn programming languages, software testing, software architecture, and project management. 

Computer Engineering: 

A unique degree program, computer engineering blends computer science with electrical engineering. If you opt for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, you would learn about hardware design, computer architecture, embedded systems, and digital signal processing. This field prepares you to get entry-level jobs in computer hardware development and designing advanced computing systems.

Artificial Intelligence: 

A relatively new program choice, Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs concentrate on the theory and application of AI technologies. Students study machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and data mining. AI professionals are sought after for developing intelligent systems and applications.

While these are just a few popular choices, it’s best to explore each program’s curriculum, research opportunities, and career prospects to understand which one is ideal for you.

Once you earn your Bachelor of Science degree in a tech-related field, here are some of the career options for tech-savvy students:

1. Software Developer/Engineer: Software developers and engineers design, code, and test software applications and systems for clients or organizations. The average annual salary for a Software Developer I in the US is close to $76,940 as of June 2023, which showcases that you could earn a lucrative salary if you choose to get an undergraduate degree in this field. Another statistic by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the employment rate for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to substantially grow by 25% from 2021 to 2031.

2. Data Scientist: As a data scientist, you get to analyze and interpret large sets of data to extract insights and share them with the decision makers of the company. BLS suggests, as per May 2021, the median annual wage for data scientists was $100,910, and the projected growth rate from 2021 to 2031 is 36%

3. Cybersecurity Analyst: Typically, a cybersecurity analyst protects computer networks and systems from cyber threats and develops security measures. As of June 2023, the average salary of an entry level cybersecurity analyst in the United States is $76,258.

4. Network Administrator: As a network administrator, managing and maintaining computer networks, ensuring their smooth operation and security. As of May 2021, median annual wage for network and computer systems administrators was $80,600. The projected growth rate from 2021 to 2031 for this profession is around 3%.
   
5. Web Developer: As a web developer, you get to create and maintain websites, and dabble with front-end and back-end development. Data suggests the median annual wage for web developers was $77,030 in May 2021.

6. IT Project Manager: IT project managers usually oversee technology projects, coordinate with internal teams, and ensure project’s success. An IT project manager’s typical salary ranges anywhere between $110,577 and $134,331 annually. 

7. Systems Analyst: Assessing organizational technology needs and designing efficient systems and processes is a system analyst’s job. Recent data states that the median annual salary for computer systems analysts is $99,270. Also, the projected growth of employment for this profession is expected to rise by 9% from 2021 to 2031.

8. Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Engineer: The job responsibilities of an artificial intelligence or a machine learning engineer include developing AI algorithms, models, and applications for automation and intelligent systems. As a relatively new field in technology, this profession offers substantial opportunities to earn a lucrative salary. For example, the average lead machine learning engineer salary in the US is $176,180 as of June 2023. The range, however, typically falls between $160,510 and $197,110.

9. Database Administrator: As a database administrator, you would get to design, implement, and manage databases to store and retrieve data. An entry level job as a data administrator can fetch you a salary of $70,300 as of June 26. The range, however, is anywhere between $62,800 and $79,600.

10. UX/UI Designer: Much in demand, UX and UI designers create user-friendly and visually appealing interfaces for website and software applications. The average annual salary for a UI designer II as of June 2023 was estimated at $93,990. Also, the projected growth rate for these career choices from 2021 to 2031 is around 23%, which is a decent rise in employment. 

11. IT Consultant: IT consultants typically are experts who offer advice and solutions to businesses on technology-related opportunities, and help resolve technical challenges. With a projected growth rate of this profession is 4.1%, as an IT business consultant, you could potentially earn an annual salary of $95,354 in the US.
    
12. Cloud Architect: If you decide to become a cloud architect, you get to design and implement cloud-based infrastructure and solutions for companies. Annually, the median salary for a cloud architect was $120,520 in 2021, and the projected growth rate from 2021 to 2031 is around 4% 

13. Robotics Engineer: A unique and interesting profession in the field of technology, robotics engineers design and develop robotic systems and automation solutions. The average base salary of a robotics engineer is usually around $95,036.
    
14. Game Developer: Game developers have an interesting job as they get to create and program video games for various platforms. On average, a game developer earns a base salary of $66,463 annually.

15. IT Analyst: As an IT analyst, you would evaluate and implement technology solutions to improve business processes. The median annual wage for computer systems analysts was $99,270, with a projected growth rate of 9% from 2021 to 2031.

While these are just a few popular examples, the tech industry offers a wide range of career paths. Additionally, there could be opportunities for further specialization or advancement through graduate studies or certifications.

As a tech savvy student, you have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to a Bachelor of Science degree. With the ever increasing demand for tech experts, it’s wise to invest in a higher education degree to build a solid foundation in the tech industry. A Bachelor of Science degree also allows you to switch from one technology-centric profession to another with ease, as you have a good foundational education for many careers. 

We hope this guide helped you gain a deeper understanding of the popular Bachelor of Science degrees and how you can make the most of it as a tech savvy individual.