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                    <h1>What is Computer Science about?</h1>
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    <iframe width="400" height="250" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/V7ncvnyzV3k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
	
	
<p>Computer science is about understanding computer systems and networks at a deep level. You will use your understanding of mathematical reasoning to reason rigorously about the behaviours of computer programmes and systems. </p>

<p>This course concentrates on creating links between theory and practice, covering a wide variety of software and hardware technologies and their applications.</p>

<p>The course offers the opportunity to develop more understanding of Computer Science as a subject, and focuses on the mathematical underpinnings of computer science. It offers the opportunity to gain practical problem-solving and programme design skills.</p>

<p>The first year and part of second year you will spend acquiring a grounding in core topics. Students can then choose from a range of options in Computer Science subjects starting in second year. <p>

<p>In the second year, students take part in a group design practical, which may be sponsored by industry.</P>

<p>By studying Computer Science at Oxford, you will open up a world of exciting career opportunities. Computer scientists are in high demand, as global technology continues to advance at pace, and, with the knowledge, skills and experience you will have as a graduate at Oxford, you can expect to be extremely sought after.<p>

<p>In recent years, our graduates have progressed to careers in a wide range of fields that need an understanding of computer systems, what such systems can (and cannot) do, and how to design them.</p>

<p>Graduates fill technical, managerial, academic, financial and commercial posts, both in the UK and abroad, with jobs ranging from senior software engineers, developers and analysts to games programmers, and technical leads. </p>

<p>More information about <A href="https://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/admissions/career_paths.html"> career paths</a>.<p>

</p> Some example Computer Science problems: </p>
</p>
<ul><li> <a href="finding_shortest_route.html" title="Finding the shortest route">Finding the shortest route</a>.
</li><li> <a href="greatest_common_divisor.html" title="Greatest common divisors">Greatest common divisors</a>.
</li></ul>

</p>
<!--
<p>Computer Science is about learning and understanding the 
mathematical, scientific and engineering principles underlying
every kind of computing system, from mobile phones and the internet,
via systems that interpret natural language, to the supercomputers
that forecast tomorrow's weather or simulate the effects of disease
on the human heart.
</p>
<p>To be a successful Computer Science student, you will need a curiosity
about how things work, and the ability to use mathematics to solve
problems creatively. 
</p>
<p>As a university subject, Computer Science goes far beyond the applications you might learn about in school; just as a course on transport engineering would go beyond
what you might learn in driving lessons or a car maintenance class.

</p><p>Our graduates go on to careers in many fields that need an understanding
of computer systems, what they can (and cannot) do, and how to design 
them: from computer manufacturers and software firms to management 
consultancy, finance and teaching. But whatever you do after leaving Oxford,
our Computer Science degree offers you the chance to spend three or four
years studying a fascinating subject in one of the world's most beautiful and
interesting cities.
</p>

</p> Some example Computer Science problems: </p>
</p>
<ul><li> <a href="finding_shortest_route.html" title="Finding the shortest route">Finding the shortest route</a>.
</li><li> <a href="greatest_common_divisor.html" title="Greatest common divisors">Greatest common divisors</a>.
</li></ul>

<!---
<p><span class="pull-right pull-right-margin thumbnail">
    <img src="/admissions/undergraduate/images/geomlab-fish.png">
</span>If you are going to study Computer Science at university, it's important 
to know what the subject is about.  Here are notes and slides from two 
talks (prepared for <a href="/admissions/undergraduate/open_days/opendays.html" title="Open days">open days</a> in Oxford) that answer that
question.  Each talk focuses on a programming
problem and how it is solved.
</p>
<ul><li> <a href="finding_shortest_route.html" title="Finding the shortest route">Finding the shortest route</a>.
</li><li> <a href="greatest_common_divisor.html" title="Greatest common divisors">Greatest common divisors</a>.
</li></ul>
<!--<p>To get an idea of some of the smaller programs you might work with in our courses,
there is a page of Java-based <a href="/admissions/undergraduate/courses/software_demonstration.html" title="Software demonstrations">software demonstrations</a>.
</p>
<p>For more exploration of Computer Science ideas in an accessible, interactive way,
you might like to look at <a href="http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/geomlab" title="http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/geomlab" rel="nofollow">GeomLab</a>,
where you can learn how to program a computer to draw pictures like the one shown on
the right.
</p><p>We also provide some <a href="reading.html" title="Background reading">suggestions for background reading</a>
for prospective undergraduate students wanting to learn more about Computer Science.
</p> -->

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