Add a byte to your degree

Prabhdeep Singh

India is the world’s largest sourcing destination for the information technology (IT) industry, accounting for approximately 67 per cent of the $124-130 billion market. The industry employs about 10 million people and has led the economic transformation of the country and altered the perception of India in the global economy. India’s cost competitiveness in providing IT services, which is approximately 3-4 times cheaper than those in the US, continues to be the mainstay of its unique selling proposition (USP) in the global sourcing market. The IT industry has also created a significant demand in the Indian education sector, especially for engineering and computer science. The Indian IT and ITeS industry is divided into four major segments — IT services, business process management (BPM), software products and engineering services, and hardware. All this points to the fact that training in computers can brighten your job prospects. 

But all roads to a roaring career as a computer professional don’t pass through an engineering college. There are other degrees and courses which are equally recognised by IT companies when it comes to hiring. So, even if you didn’t have the PCM combo in Plus II or don’t want to join the thousands entering engineering colleges each year, you can get a degree in computers. Courses like BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications), BSc. Computer Science and BSc. Animation and Multimedia Technology can be pursued after Plus II in any stream and can help you become a computer professional.  

Career Prospects after BCA/ BSc. Computer Science

A number of job options are available to students after BCA/BSc. Computer Science. These include programming, networking, data base management and web-designing. Depending upon the specialisation chosen, following careers can be pursued after doing graduation in computer applications or science 

Computer programmer

A programmer, computer programmer, developer or a coder is a person who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to programming may also be known as a programmer analyst. A programmer’s primary computer language (Assembly, COBOL, C, C++, C#, Java, Lisp, Python, etc.) is often prefixed to these titles, and those who work in a Web environment often prefix their titles with Web. The term programmer can be used to refer to a software developer, web developer, mobile applications developer, embedded firmware developer, software engineer, computer scientist or software analyst. 

Computer scientist 

A computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired the knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application. Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computer systems, as opposed to the hardware side that computer engineers mainly focus on (although there is overlap). Although computer scientists can also focus their work and research on specific areas (such as algorithm and data structure development and design, software engineering, information theory, database theory, computational complexity theory, numerical analysis, programming language theory, computer graphics, and computer vision), their foundation is the theoretical study of computing from which these other fields derive.

Systems analyst

A systems analyst is an IT professional who specialises in analysing, designing and implementing information systems. Systems analysts assess the suitability of information systems in terms of their intended outcomes and liaise with end users, software vendors and programmers in order to achieve these outcomes. A systems analyst is a person who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology. Systems analysts may serve as change agents who identify the organisational improvements needed, design systems to implement those changes, and train and motivate others to use the systems. A systems analyst is typically confined to an assigned or given system and will often work in conjunction with a business analyst. These roles, although having some overlap, are not the same. A systems analyst will often evaluate code, review scripting and, possibly, even modify such to some extent.

Database administrators/analysts  

Organisations like banks, airlines works upon huge amount of transactions which involve data. A database administrator, frequently known just by the acronym DBA, is a role usually within the IT department, charged with the creation, maintenance, backups, querying, tuning, user rights assignment and security of an organisation’s databases. 

The role requires technical training and expertise in the specific RDBMS used by the organisation, in addition to other skills such as analytical thinking and ability to concentrate on tasks, as well as experience working with databases in the real world. The DBA role is a critical member of the IT team.

Web designer/developer

Web-Designers and Developers are responsible to create the look, layout and features of a website. The job involves understanding both graphic design and computer programming. Once a website is created, a designer helps with maintenance and additions to the website. They work with development teams or managers for keeping the site up-to-date and prioritising needs, among other tasks. 

The writer is senior faculty in Computer Applications Department at Chandigarh University, Gharaun

BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)

Bachelor in computer application or (BCA) is an undergraduate degree course in computer application. With the rapid growth of IT industry in India, the demand of computer professional is increasing day by day. This increasing growth of IT industry has created a lot of opportunities for the computer graduates. Bachelor in computer application (BCA) is one of the popular courses among the students who want to make their career in the IT field. The duration of the course is three years and it comprises subjects like database, networking, data structure, core programming languages like 'C' and 'java'. This course provides a lot of opportunities to the students who are interested in computers and wants to work in the IT sector as programmer or software developer.

BSc. Animation and Multimedia Technology 

A three-year professional undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Science in Animation is an exciting option for those keen on pursuing a career in animation, film, television, VFX, advertising, and gaming. Offered by a handful of institutes around the country, it combines traditional theory with application-based modules that equip students with the necessary skills to pursue their passion in this field. The course begins with basic training in drawing with computers and using software such as Photoshop and Flash, and culminates with training in more specialised technology used in animation. Generally, it involves an integrated internship for students to understand industry requirements and the work environment.

Career prospects 

After completing UG degree in animation and multimedia, the students, depending upon the choice of animation, can pursue the following careers: Animator, Modeller, Background Artist, Layout Artist, Story Broad Artist, Clean-up Artist, Compositor, Character animator, Special effect artist, Key frame animator, Lighting artist, Image Editor, Rendering artist, 2-D Animator, Texture Artist, Rigging artist and 3-D animator. 

Impressive growth chart

• The IT sector is expected to grow at the rate of 11 per cent per annum and triple its current annual revenue to reach $350 billion by FY 2025, as per National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM).
• India, the fourth largest base for new businesses in the world and home to over 3,100 tech start-ups, is set to increase its base to 11,500 tech start-ups by 2020, as per a report by NASSCOM.

BSc. Computer Science 

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree is a three year course, minimum eligibility for which is a Plus II in science stream. Computer Science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and the practical methods of implementation and application in computer systems. Subjects usually studied under this degree are Software Engineering, System Software, Computer Architecture and Organisation, Data Structures, Data Algorithms, Operating Systems, Database Management Systems, Computer Fundamentals, C Programming, Java and Unix Programming etc.

Universities offering BCA/ BSc. Computer Science

• Panjab University, Chandigarh (Through its affiliated colleges)
• Punjabi University, Patiala (Through its affiliated colleges)
• GND University, Amritsar (through its affiliated colleges)
• IKGPTU, Jalandhar (Through its affiliated colleges)
• Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar