From Theory to Practice: How Computer Science Forms a Foundation for Software Engineering

Brandon Hoshi ('19)
Software Engineer Visual Concepts

Stevenson Hall 1300
11:00 AM - 11:50 AM

For most, the reason for obtaining a computer science degree is to ultimately pursue a career as a software engineer. While there is inevitably a great deal of programming involved in a computer science program, students may still end up anxious about whether what they’re learning is actually useful or not. In this talk I will explain that the answer is an unequivocal “Yes”. The foundational knowledge created through studying computer science is invaluable in a career as a software engineer. Through personal examples from working as an engineer at a AAA game developer, I will show how theoretical knowledge translates to concrete skills and shine a spotlight on parts of computer science that are significantly more important than most students might realize. I will also talk about important skills for software engineers that aren’t directly related to computer science.