What do you learn in a bachelor's in computer programming?

Are you interested in pursuing a career writing code to help businesses solve problems? Find out how the courses you take in a computer programming bachelor's program can help you make that goal a reality.

What to expect from a computer programming bachelor's program

A bachelor's in computer programming program can help you gain experience designing, developing, testing, and deploying computer and software applications in the real world. In this course of study, you learn how to detect and analyze problems, create solutions, and translate those solutions into usable code.

You will likely take courses in math (including algebra and statistics), computer programming, information technology, and data science. To graduate, you may be required to maintain a satisfactory grade point average in upper-division courses and complete a final project.

You can expect to spend four years pursuing a bachelor's in computer programming. Many programs require students to earn 120 total credits.

As far as cost, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, students paid $15,200 at public schools and $29,700 at private nonprofit institutions during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Bachelor's in computer programming curriculum

In your program, you'll likely take courses on a variety of topics related to statistics, computer engineering, and software engineering. Common courses include:

• Data structures: This class teaches the foundations of data specification, application, and implementation, covering a wide range of topics like abstract data types, stacks, queues, linearly linked lists, binary search trees, and recursion.
• Analysis of algorithms: This course covers how to design and analyze recursive and iterative algorithms, the foundations of algorithmic strategies (including brute force, recursive backtracking, and more), complexity bounds and classes, and time and space tradeoffs.
• Programming languages: This class offers various programming languages, which may include Java, Ruby, and C++.

These courses can help you develop foundational programming skills and ensure your readiness to build systems and applications from the ground up.

Specializations and concentrations

Computer programming students often have access to a variety of specializations, like data analytics. Some of the most common concentrations include cybersecurity, mobile computing, health informatics, web development, and game development.

Take some time to think about your career aspirations so you can choose a concentration that aligns with your personal and professional goals.

Graduation requirements for a computer programming bachelor's degree

Most bachelor's programs in computer programming require you to earn 120 credits, including a certain number of high-level, upper-division courses to ensure you have had sufficient exposure to advanced material and concepts in the field.

Additionally, your school may require you to maintain a “B" or “C" average to pass these courses to ensure you are able to retain what you have learned.

Many computer programming degree programs also require students to participate in an integrative capstone design project. This project may require you to develop and implement a software application that solves a real-world problem. You may be required to use agile sprint cycles that include demonstrations, progression analysis, and regular reporting.