Programming across disciplines is reshaping higher education and redefining digital literacy for every graduate.
Breaking the Tech Barrier
For much of the past century, programming was perceived as a skill for computer science majors. That perception is rapidly changing. In today’s digital era, programming has become a core competency that empowers learners across discipline. Whether applied in business analytics, scientific research, or creative design, coding now functions as a share academic language within higher education.
Universities are responding to this shift by embedding programming into curricula across diverse fields, driven by the growing demand for graduates who can thrive in a technology-driven world. As industries undergo digital transformation, programming is no longer optional. It is a critical tool for innovation, efficiency, and problem-solving. These are skills essential for every graduate, regardless of major.
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, captured this idea when he remarked, “learning to write programs stretches your mind and helps you think better. It creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.” (Gates, n.d.).
His words underscore the enduring value of programming as a discipline that cultivates analytical thinking and adaptability, qualities that higher education seeks to instill in all student.
Why Programming Matters for All Disciplines
The misconception that programming is only relevant for computing students stems from its historical association with software development and technical problem-solving. Today, modern industries operate in ecosystems where data, automation, and digital tools are ubiquitous. Programming serves as the backbone of these systems, enabling efficiency, innovation, and informed decision-making.
Programming in Business and Analytics
- for business students, programming unlocks the ability to analyse large datasets, automate repetitive tasks, and develop predictive models. In an era dominated by big data and artificial intelligence, understanding how to manipulate data through languages like Python gives future managers and entrepreneurs a competitive edge. Recent studies highlight the growing integration of programming into business education, showing its role in enhancing analytical and managerial skills (Luo & Adelopo, 2025). Programming enables marketing graduates to write scripts to segment customers or visualize trends, outperforming peers who rely solely on manual methods.
Programming in Design and Creative Fields
- design students derive significant benefits from programming. Interactive media, user experience (UX) design, and web development all require coding skills. Tools such as Unity, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript allow designers to bring creative visions to life without depending entirely on developers. Moreover, programming fosters logical thinking and problem-solving, skills that complement creativity and enhance design processes. Research in design education emphasizes that coding strengthens both technical and creative faculties, improving employability and innovation (OnlineDesignTeacher, 2024).
Programming in Science and Research
- the fields of biotechnology, education, and environmental science also increasingly rely on programming. Researchers use coding to run simulations, analyse behavioural data, and model ecological systems. The ability to write scripts for statistical analysis or automate data collection accelerates research and improves accuracy. Studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education confirm that computational approaches and programming integration are reshaping research practices in biotechnology and related sciences (Zavala-Yoé, 2025; Yuana et al., 2025).
Programming as a Cognitive Tool
- programming is not merely a technical skill; it is a transformative cognitive practice. It cultivates the attributes that employers consistently value across industries: structured thinking, persistence, and problem-solving.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, famously remarked in a 1995 interview, “Everybody should learn to program a computer, because it teaches you how to think.” (Jobs, 1995). His insight underscores the enduring relevance of programming as a discipline that shapes the way individuals approach complexity and innovation.
Research supports this perspective. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that learning computer programming enhances cognitive skills such as reasoning, creativity, and mathematical ability, with measurable transfer effects across domains (Scherer, Siddiq, & Sánchez Viveros, 2019). These benefits align closely with graduate attributes that universities aim to foster, including critical thinking, adaptability, and lifelong learning.
By introducing programming into non-technical majors, higher education institutions equip students with a mindset that embraces complexity, encourages innovation, and strengthens resilience in problem-solving. In this way, programming functions not only as a technical tool but as a cognitive framework that prepares graduates to thrive in diverse professional and academic contexts.
Universities Respond with Innovation
Forward-thinking institutions are reimagining how programming is taught, making coding accessible through contextualised courses, gamified learning, interdisciplinary projects, and flexible delivery modes. The demand for graduates who can combine domain expertise with coding proficiency continues to grow, as industries increasingly value hybrid skill sets that bridge technical knowledge with interdisciplinary specialisation.
Contextualised Programming Education
One approach gaining traction is contextualised learning, where programming instruction is tailored to the needs of specific fields. Business students, for example, may learn Python for analytics and predictive modelling, while design students engage with web technologies to bring creative visions to life. This ensure that programming is not taught in isolation but as a toll directly relevant to disciplinary practice.
Gamified and Active Coding Learning
- another innovation is the use of gamification and active learning. Interactive platforms, coding challenges, and game-based environments reduce anxiety and make programming more engaging. By transforming coding into a dynamic and playful experience, universities encourage persistence and mastery while lowering barriers for students who may initially feel intimidated by technical subjects.
Interdisciplinary Programming Projects
- equally important are interdisciplinary projects that integrate programming with domain-specific challenges. These initiatives foster collaboration across majors, allowing students to apply coding in contexts such as healthcare simulations, environmental modelling, or digital media production. Such projects not only strengthen technical skills but also cultivate teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving attributes that are essential for graduates navigating complex professional landscapes.
By embedding programming into diverse curricula, universities move beyond the teaching of technical skills to enriching the student experience. Innovation, adaptability, and resilience are cultivated alongside coding proficiency, ensuring that learners gain competencies that extend far beyond the classroom.
This educational shift reflects a broader recognition of programming as a foundational competency for the modern graduate, one that transcends disciplinary boundaries and equips students to thrive in a technology-driven world.
The Future of Digital Literacy in Higher Education
As technology permeates every field, programming is emerging as a core literacy. Employers increasingly seek graduates who can adapt to digital tools, harness data, and drive innovation in complex environments.
Chris Pine, author of Learn to Program, captures this mindset when he observes, “Programming isn’t about what you know; it’s about what you can figure out.” (Pine, 2009). His words highlight the problem-solving essence of coding, emphasizing adaptability and discovery rather than rote knowledge.
How Universities Can Embed Programming
The question is no longer whether non-technical students should learn to code, but how quickly universities can embed programming into their curricula. By integrating programming across disciplines, higher education empowers students to innovate, adapt, and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Programming thus becomes not only a technical skill but a universal literacy, one that equips graduates with the cognitive and creative tools necessary for lifelong learning and professional success.
Taken together, these perspectives highlight programming as more than a technical skill. It is a universal literacy, a cognitive tool, and a driver of innovation across disciplines. By embedding programming into higher education, universities prepare graduates not only to meet the demands of today’s digital economy but to lead in shaping the future.
Hephi Liauw is the Head of School, School of Foundation at Swinburne Sarawak. Her research interests include data driven modelling and leveraging digital technology for today’s business. Hephi is contactable at [email protected]