What Can I Do With a Computer Science or AI Degree?
This list is intended to serve as a starting point for exploring the many career opportunities available to students pursuing degrees in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. The job titles included are examples of common career paths and are not an exhaustive list of what you can do with your degree.
Degree requirements can vary significantly by employer, industry, and position. Students are encouraged to carefully review job descriptions and qualifications for roles that interest them, as some employers may require a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or a related field, while others may specifically prefer or require a BA or BS degree.
In many cases, employers place greater emphasis on technical skills, projects, internships, work experience, and demonstrated competencies than on whether a student earned a BA or BS. However, there are some important considerations:
- Students interested in pursuing graduate school (Master's or PhD programs) may find that a BS degree provides stronger preparation due to additional coursework in mathematics, science, and technical electives.
- Certain government, defense, aerospace, and contracting positions may specifically require or prefer a BS degree.
- Specialized careers in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, robotics, and research often benefit from additional mathematics, statistics, or graduate-level education.
- Many software engineering, web development, cybersecurity, product management, consulting, and technology roles are accessible to students with either a BA or BS degree.
Use this guide as a starting point for career exploration and research. Students are encouraged to investigate specific career paths, review job postings, connect with professionals in their fields of interest, and meet with a Career Development Coordinator to discuss career goals and degree pathways.
Job Title | Description |
| Software Engineer | Designs, develops, tests, and maintains software applications and systems. |
| AI Engineer | Builds and deploys artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. |
| Machine Learning Engineer | Develops algorithms and models that enable systems to learn from data. |
| Data Scientist | Analyzes large datasets to identify trends, generate insights, and support decision-making. |
| Data Engineer | Designs and maintains data pipelines, databases, and infrastructure for data processing. |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | Protects systems and networks from cyber threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities. |
| Cloud Engineer | Develops and manages cloud-based infrastructure and services. |
| DevOps Engineer | Automates software deployment, testing, and infrastructure management processes. |
| Full-Stack Developer | Builds both the front-end and back-end components of web applications. |
| Front-End Developer | Creates user-facing interfaces and experiences for websites and applications. |
| Back-End Developer | Develops server-side systems, APIs, and databases that power applications. |
| Game Developer | Designs and develops video games, game engines, and interactive experiences. |
| AI Researcher | Conducts research to advance artificial intelligence technologies and applications. |
| Robotics Engineer | Designs intelligent robotic systems that interact with the physical world. |
| Computer Vision Engineer | Develops systems that analyze and interpret images and video. |
| Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer | Creates AI systems that understand and generate human language. |
| Product Manager | Leads the development of technology products by coordinating technical and business teams. |
| Solutions Architect | Designs technology solutions to meet organizational and customer needs. |
| Systems Engineer | Builds and manages complex computer systems and technical infrastructure. |
| Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) | Ensures applications and systems are reliable, scalable, and efficient. |
| Quantitative Analyst | Uses mathematics, programming, and data analysis to support financial decision-making. |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | Uses data and analytics tools to support business strategy and performance. |
| Technical Consultant | Advises organizations on technology solutions and implementation strategies. |
| UX Engineer | Combines software development and user experience design to improve products. |
| Technical Program Manager | Oversees technical projects, timelines, and cross-functional teams. |
| Generative AI Engineer | Develops applications using large language models and generative AI technologies. |
| AI Product Manager | Guides the strategy, development, and deployment of AI-powered products. |
| AI Ethics Specialist | Evaluates responsible AI practices, fairness, privacy, and governance. |
| Prompt Engineer | Designs and optimizes prompts to improve AI system performance. |
| AI Solutions Consultant | Helps organizations implement and integrate AI technologies. |
| AI Operations (MLOps) Engineer | Manages the deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of machine learning systems. |
Interested in Salary Information?
Want to learn how much these careers pay? Explore salary ranges, job outlook, and industry trends using the resources below:
- Labor Market Trends: http://career.cales.arizona.edu/labor-market-trends/
- Levels.fyi: https://www.levels.fyi
- O*NET OnLine: https://www.onetonline.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): https://www.bls.gov/ooh
- Glassdoor: https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/index.htm
These resources can help you research salary expectations, required skills, and career outlooks for a variety of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence careers.