Computer Related Majors include the differences between the CS and IT majors. Let’s take a look!
Computer science has always been a popular major for international students. According to the “2022 China University Graduate Employment Report”, graduates in computer-related majors have considerable income.
The field of computer science encompasses many specialized areas, among which CS (Computer Science) and IT (Information Technology) are two common majors with many applicants.
However, many people are curious before applying: what exactly are the differences between these two majors, which both belong to the computer field?
Computer Science
Computer Science is a discipline that systematically studies the theoretical foundations of information and computation, as well as the practical technologies for their implementation and application in computer systems.
In other words, studying computer science allows students to gain more understanding of knowledge systems, programming languages, distributed computing, information systems, mathematics/statistics, and spatial information domain knowledge, and based on this, develop and deploy computer applications.
After graduation, students can choose to become developers or engineers in network and information security, multimedia visual processing, software engineering, and intelligent systems.
Information Technology
Information Technology refers to the various technologies used primarily for managing and processing information. It mainly applies computer science and communication technology to design, develop, install, and deploy information systems and application software.
Generally speaking, studying information technology helps students create technical solutions to solve specific business problems in various fields such as business, government, health, entertainment, and society.
After graduation, students can consider positions such as information security analyst, network architect, database administrator, and system administrator within corporate networks and information systems.
CS and IT have some differences in certain courses and future career paths, but both require applicants to have some programming skills or a background in quantitative subjects.
In addition to the differences in the majors, there are also some differences in the application requirements, mainly reflected in the requirements for the academic background.
Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne’s computer-related majors rank first in Australia in this year’s QS subject ranking. In the fields of computer science, information systems, and software engineering, the University of Melbourne has always been a leader in international research.
The computer program at Melbourne places great emphasis on practical teaching, providing advanced experimental facilities such as the Computer Research Institute, Cyber Security Center, and Simulation Laboratory for students to learn about the latest technologies.
Melbourne’s IT program does not restrict applicants’ academic backgrounds, meaning cross-disciplinary applications are accepted, but applicants must have completed at least one course related to computer programming.
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However, the CS course requires applicants to have a background in computer-related majors, and the university also recommends that students have experiences in formal logic, discrete mathematics, and university-level mathematics/statistics.
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USYD University of Sydney
The University of Sydney’s computer-related majors belong to the engineering department, which is the first engineering college in Australia and remains one of the top engineering colleges in the country. The School of Computer Science at Sydney University is also among the best in Australia.
The school’s research covers artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithms and visualization, complex systems, human-centered technology, network platforms and security, information systems, and service computing.
The computer-related majors at the University of Sydney will undergo some changes in 2024. Currently, the information technology and information technology management courses available for application will transition into a brand new computer science program, and the application requirements will also be adjusted.
The information technology-related courses for Fall 2023 still require students to have a background in IT-related majors.
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UNSW
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales also has outstanding strengths in computer-related majors, ranking third in Australia in the QS subject ranking.
The School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW ranks first in Australia in internationally recognized CS rankings for research in algorithms, artificial intelligence, databases, embedded and real-time systems, and operating systems. It also has a world-class quantum computing and communication technology laboratory.
UNSW offers CS and IT courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Applicants for the CS undergraduate course need to achieve 75% or higher in their college entrance examination.
The IT master’s program accepts cross-disciplinary applications, but applicants must have taken at least three mathematics-related courses, including discrete mathematics, linear algebra, engineering mathematics, calculus, statistics, probability, actuarial mathematics, numerical methods, and vector algebra. The average score requirement must reach a level equivalent to 65% at UNSW.
In addition, universities like the University of Queensland also offer master’s programs in both CS and IT, where the IT program accepts cross-disciplinary applications, while the CS course requires applicants to have a background in computer science or software engineering.
