posted by admin on Oct 31
Computer Science degrees are offered at hundreds, if not thousands of colleges across the country for a good reason; the demand for computer experts has never been higher. In fact, the need for computer scientists will continue to rise through at least 2015 according to the United State Department of Labor’s 2006 report on career growth.
What many people don’t realize is that part of the hiring increase of the future in the computer sciences area includes a trend toward more specialization. According to the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, “The explosive use of computers has created a high demand for specialists to provide advice to users, as well as for day-to-day administration, maintenance, and support of computer systems and networks.”
When considering a career in the computer sciences, you should consider colleges and universities that offer a variety of programs under the umbrella of either computer science degrees or information technology degrees, as the terms are interchangeable. Look to see if the school offers just one degree or if they offer several different specializations. Ideally, a school should offer at least three bachelor’s degrees that are more tightly focused, such as Computer Programming, Network Engineering or Database Administration, all of which would fall under Management Information Systems (MIS).
The Department of Labor’s report also recommends that anyone pursuing a computer science degree be sure to pursue ongoing education after a degree is achieved and a job is landed. Because of the rapidly changing face of computing, it’s essential that anyone working in this industry continue to build on his education by getting additional certifications and adding new skills every few years.
Find a college that also offers ongoing certifications that are licensed by leaders in the industry, such as Microsoft’s various programs, Cisco’s CCNA and Net+. Knowing that you can return to your alma mater for continuing education is a great way to ensure that your certification courses will be of the same high caliber as your undergraduate classes.
Outlook is Good for Properly Trained Specialists
The Occupational Outlook Handbook of 2006 is adamant in its belief that there is no end in sight to the increasing need for computer specialists. It lists numerous specific titles that require intense training in particular areas, including:
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer Programmers
Software Engineers/Developers (consistently growing as businesses continue to require new, highly specialized software to suit their needs)
Database Administrators
Computer Support Specialists
Data Communication Analysts/Webmasters (increasingly popular in retail as more businesses open online, virtual storefronts)
Computer Systems Administrators (expected to be one of the fastest growing careers in the next five years)
Cyber Security (a relatively new field that has taken off like a rocket as online terrorism and corporate espionage has increasingly threatened corporate computer systems)
The best computer science degree programs will not only include a wide range of specializations, but will also offer different types of degrees as well. Ideally, a college should offer Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees along with various types of certification. This will help guarantee that the teaching staff is current on all the latest advancements and also giving you the most educational options. With computer training being in such high demand, you may even find that you can get a great job with one degree and get reimbursement through your employer to pursue a higher-level degree.
With so many reasons to go into the computer sciences and so many highly specialized career options available, pursuing one of the many specialized computer science degrees now offered is a great investment in your future.
posted by admin on Oct 24
One of the most important decisions anyone has to do is deciding what they want to do in life. Some people know at a very young age what career field they want to pursue. Many high school students face the decision of going directly into the workforce or continuing on with their education and receive a degree in a field they want to work in. If they choose to pursue a higher degree, people are also faced with what major they want to study in college. Some people start college with an undecided major, while others may think they are going down the path that is right for them and end up changing majors numerous times. One major that is growing and covers a wide range of career fields is a Computer Science degree.
Some majors are not very flexible and easy to transition into another career field, such as teaching, accounting and pharmacy. More often then not if you are studying for a pharmacy degree, you are going to be working in a pharmacy, or if you are studying for a teaching degree, you’re going to be in a classroom, teaching students. However, with a Computer Science degree, you can work in the career field of your choice, at the location of your choice.
With the way technology is in the 21st Century, every small, medium and large size business works with computers. Each and every day our lives revolve around technology and computer systems. This makes a Computer Science degree flexible in the respect that wherever there is a company, there is a need for computer technology degreed employees. Many business rely heavily on computers, such as accountants, advertising agencies, banks, hospitals and school districts, just to name a few. If there is a glitch in the computer system or a software program is not functioning properly, that can be a major problem for employers. This makes the field of computer technology all that much more important.
In a typical Computer Science degree program, students will receive the proper training to complete most computer tasks related with business information systems. Graduates of such a program will receive the knowledge and skills necessary for employment in management, designing of applications, as well as information systems. Some specific techniques students will learn while completing this program are elements of management integration with information systems, understanding current systems analysis and design and how to analyze interpret and apply information system functions that are important in day-to-day business. Besides computer skills, students also receive training in other areas of the business field. Students learn pertinent human resource management skills, decision-making in business organizations, legal and environmental issues, as well as professionalism in the workplace. While these skills are not specific to a Computer Science degree, they are directly related to working in a business environment.
The training in a Computer Science degree program, gives students the skills necessary to not only be successful in a computer technology workforce, but real-life situations. It also gives students the knowledge and power to be successful on an international level. Language in the computer technology field is universal, meaning that it is easy for anyone with a computer technology background to understand, no matter what the spoken language is. Computer technology is a growing career field and these jobs are available all over the world.
posted by admin on Oct 24
One of the most integral specializations in the world is the ever evolving education of IT and Computer Science. According to a recent statistical report published by a well reputed university, there are exponentially more PHD’s being completed in engineering backgrounds than any other science major in the world. And this statistics come as a no surprise. http://education.ixs.net. A simple look around us would conclude and justify the penetration of such specialists in today’s world. Almost everything that we touch and hear has gone through an extensive IT or computer science experience. From the bread that we purchase that has been manufactured in mills and shipped across the world via intelligent IT routing networks to the paper that we write on, there is a significant impact of IT and computer science. In Japan, restaurants are now being served by miniature robots.
An extensive amount of work is also being done to hone the current skill sets of the teaching facilities and teachers around the world and improve the telecom equipment available for labs and tests at the major universities around the world. There are certain hindrances that the administration of engineering universities needs to be privy to. Firstly, there is a huge investment in the overall purchasing of computers, networking devises, and applications that are pertinent to training and embarking on a tier 1 educational road of excellence. The one time cost in the hardware and software of engineering schools limit their powers of generating the required skill set. Secondly, the teachers need to be at par with the current trends and changes in the telecom market. The teachers have to know the current technologies in place and not be providing obsolete teaching material. Unfortunately this is a dilemma across the world. The teaching material is always a few technologies behind the current deployment. This brings forth a major requirement in educating Computer and IT knowledge to students and that is the sequential update of knowledge bases, text books and research material.
The fourth dimension is related to the overall decay of advanced labs and infrastructures to provide real time experiences and orchestrate a true picture in the minds of the engineering students of what to expect as engineers as they move forward in their careers. Without labs that can cultivate scenarios in the field, it is almost close to impossible to educate theory based education. The element of understanding the lower level designs and the packet level communication will never be existent in the minds of the students who have never had the opportunity to test the theories of IT and computer sciences.
A recent survey conducted at the University of Cincinnati concluded a rather bizarre and uncontrollable reality that is seeping into the educational edifices of IT and engineering schools. There is a major variation in the PHD programs to the overall teaching curriculum at the bachelors or masters levels. One of the reasons behind this conundrum is lack of specialists in that field in that particular university.
An overall view of the IT and Computer Science educational perspective states that massive influx of finances is required to uplift the infrastructure to cater to the ongoing needs and the PHD programs need to be linked directly with the curriculum and bachelor level classes. For more information and details visit: http://education.ixs.net/content/Teaching-IT-and-Computer-Science.php