Course overview

 

The Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science (L31) provides students with sound methodological, experimental, and applied skills in the core areas of computing. These provide the conceptual and technological foundation for a computational approach to problem-solving and for the design, production, and implementation of the diverse applications required by the Information Society to organize, manage, and access information and knowledge. Graduates in Computer Science will be qualified to contribute to the planning, design, development, supervision, estimation, testing, and management of facilities and systems for information generation, transmission, and processing, using standardized methodologies. As professionals, Computer Science graduates are capable of analyzing complex systems (companies, services, natural and artificial systems), systematically identifying crucial processes, and proposing feasible models and solutions through software and IT systems. The curriculum enables graduates to quickly enter various work environments, adapting to the rapid innovation that characterizes the field.

 

Learning Objectives

The Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, belonging to the L-31 class (Italian classification - Computer Science and Technology), aims to train high-level professionals in the field of computing. It is designed both for students intending to pursue further studies through a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and for those seeking immediate entry into the workforce. The program provides the solid technical skills and the necessary theoretical and mathematical foundations required to develop IT applications in industry and services.

The degree program is structured into different curricula. This organization includes specific credit ranges to allow for a sufficient number of interdisciplinary courses, as well as the necessary flexibility for internships and work placements. In all cases, graduates in Computer Science will possess a strong command of the technological and professional aspects of the discipline, its theoretical-mathematical foundations, its evolution, and its current practical applications.

Furthermore, graduates will develop an open and flexible mindset geared toward problem-solving and the rapid acquisition of innovative methodologies and technologies. This will enable them to successfully integrate into professional roles that require familiarity with the scientific method.

To equip Computer Science graduates with the aforementioned skills, the Degree Program:

• Includes activities designed to provide a foundational knowledge of discrete mathematics and differential and integral calculus, alongside core expertise in the key areas of computer science (including theoretical foundations of informatics, algorithms, operating systems, databases, interaction and multimedia, software engineering, computer networks, and cybersecurity);

• Provides project-based and laboratory activities aimed at mastering programming methodologies;

• Includes activities designed to ensure a strong command of the English language.

In compliance with the principles of European harmonization, the exit competencies developed by graduates of the Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science meet the specific requirements identified by the Dublin Descriptors system.

The aforementioned knowledge is acquired through participation in lectures and practical exercises, as well as through guided and independent study, provided by the educational activities within the core and characterising disciplinary sectors: MAT/01-MAT/09, FIS/01-FIS/03, and INF/01.

The degree program adheres to the GRIN Initiative (the Italian Association of University Professors of Computer Science), which manages the quality certification of course content by defining a specific quality seal for university-level IT education. Since 2004, GRIN has introduced this seal to help both students and the professional world navigate the various IT-related degrees offered by Italian universities under the new academic regulations. This content quality certification is based on a set of criteria that define the mandatory amount of computer science taught, the topics covered, and the number of qualified IT professors. If a degree program meets these criteria, it is entitled to display this quality seal.

The quality certification is defined by five key criteria (the year of introduction is in brackets):

• A sufficiently high volume of computer science must be taught (since 2004);
• A significant amount of computer science must be taught across its fundamental sectors (since 2004);
• There must not be an excessive focus on only a few aspects of computer science (since 2004);
• An adequate amount of mathematics must be taught in the areas most relevant to computer science (since 2008);
• The degree program must have a sufficient number of appropriately qualified professors (introduced as a guideline in 2005, becoming a mandatory criterion in 2008).

Compliance with these five criteria leads to the award of the "Bollino GRIN" certification. This quality seal is awarded annually based on the educational offerings of the current academic year. The Computer Science programs at the University of Catania (both Bachelor's and Master's) received this certification in 2012 and 2013 and aim to maintain this quality seal for future academic years.

Career Opportunities and Employment Data

IT Analyst and Designer

Role in the workplace:

• Information Systems Manager
• Cybersecurity Expert
• Software Development Team Leader
• Software Architect / Software Designer
• 3D Graphics, Gaming, and Multimedia Specialist
• AI and Cybersecurity Specialist

Key Competencies:

• Ability to design and implement software algorithms
• Management of centralized and distributed systems
• Organization and leadership of software development teams

Career Prospects:

• Software Analyst
• Systems Analyst
• System Administrator (for centralized and distributed environments)
• Network Specialist
• Game Developer
• Cybersecurity Consultant

IT Consultant at:

• Public and private research centers
• Data centers of medium and large companies (including non-IT sectors)
• Advanced technology industries (electronics, biochemistry, food processing, etc.)
• IT and management service providers
• Public and private organizations managing large-scale databases
• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all production sectors

Professional Licensing

The degree program allows graduates to qualify for the following regulated professions:

• Junior Information Engineer (Section B of the Italian Register of Engineers);
• Graduate Industrial Technician (Certified Industrial Technician).

Professional Training (ISTAT Classifications)

The degree program prepares students for the following professions:

• Computer Programmers – (3.1.2.1.0)
• Applications Experts – (3.1.2.2.0)
• Web Technicians – (3.1.2.3.0)
• Database Administrators – (3.1.2.4.0)
• Network and Telematics System Administrators – (3.1.2.5.0)

 

Career Support and Job Placement

Within the degree program, internship activities are provided to allow students to engage with diverse local organizations in both the private and public sectors. Furthermore, many theses are conducted in collaboration with external entities or companies, fostering an initial and direct connection with the professional world.

Starting this year, the program also includes seminars held in collaboration with social partners and representatives from the workforce. Additionally, the Career Guidance and Training Center (COF) of the University of Catania provides a "practical and functional" link to local employment opportunities. To this end, the COF has established a dedicated space within the Forum.

 

Employment Statistics

Graduates in Computer Science have an employment rate ranging from 73% to 80%, depending on the years since graduation, with an additional 10-20% involved in post-graduate training activities.

The average time to find employment is 2.1 months for those graduated within one year, and 11 months for those graduated within three years. Job stability is high, with permanent employment rates increasing from 40% to 92% between one and five years after graduation.

Regarding the average duration of the degree program, AlmaLaurea data shows a mean value of 5.5 years. This figure should be considered in relation to the concurrent work activities undertaken by many students, which naturally extends the time required to complete the degree.

It is also noteworthy that the perceived effectiveness of the degree for the work performed stands between 86% and 92% (rated as "highly effective" or "effective").