1. CS 10051: Introduction to Computer Science What is the course about?

2. Organizations for the first course in computer science  1) A programming course – Learn the “language of the year” be it Java, C++, C#, Python, Visual Basic, etc.  Problems with this approach: Students come to believe computer science is the same as programming. It isn’t. Students come to believe computer science is the same as programming. It isn’t. Programming is to computer science like writing is to an English major. All computer scientists can program, but they do many other things as well. Programming is to computer science like writing is to an English major. All computer scientists can program, but they do many other things as well.

3. Organizations - continued  2) Study the hardware only. How is data represented in a computer? How does a computer function?  Problems with this approach: Computer science is not just about machines although all computer scientists understand the basics of how a computer is logically constructed. Computer science is not just about machines although all computer scientists understand the basics of how a computer is logically constructed. Machines are to computer science like microscopes are to biologists and telescopes are to astronomers. Machines are to computer science like microscopes are to biologists and telescopes are to astronomers. However, the computer is a bit more complicated than these and some understanding of its “innards” helps explain why certain things can and cannot be done. However, the computer is a bit more complicated than these and some understanding of its “innards” helps explain why certain things can and cannot be done.

4. Organization - continued  3) Learn how to use various types of software such as word processors, spreadsheets, web designers, etc.  Problems with this approach: Most computer scientists view these tasks as being in the realm of “computer literacy”, not computer science. Most computer scientists view these tasks as being in the realm of “computer literacy”, not computer science. While computer scientists can use these tools, normally they do not take courses covering these topics. While computer scientists can use these tools, normally they do not take courses covering these topics. These topics are covered in CS10001 (Computer Literacy) These topics are covered in CS10001 (Computer Literacy)

5. Organization - continued  4) Depth first approach – start with the most abstract ideas, the development of algorithms, and concentrate on these. Only after many designs are done, will any concrete examples be examined.  Problem with this approach: Many students, especially beginning students, have difficulty with this level of abstraction, although some do find it a worthwhile approach. Many students, especially beginning students, have difficulty with this level of abstraction, although some do find it a worthwhile approach.

6. Organization - continued  5) Breath first – provide an overview of many topics and some depth in each. Hardware Hardware System software System software Programming languages Programming languages Algorithm design Algorithm design Applications such as artificial intelligence, database, natural language processing, etc. Applications such as artificial intelligence, database, natural language processing, etc. Complexity theory Complexity theory

7. Breadth First Organization  This is the approach we will take. It’s somewhat like learning the first week of many upper division courses.  One goal is to help you answer, “What does a computer scientist do?” and “What can’t a computer do?” We hope that knowing those answers will help you no matter what you decide to do in the future.  And, of course, we hope you will find that working with computers is FUN and intellectually stimulating!

8. Course goals  1. To introduce you to the formal discipline of computer science and its terminology.  2. To foster your appreciation of the range of ideas that form the bedrock on which the discipline of computer science rests.  3. To hone your abilities to use scientific methodology for investigating the nature and use of computing in the world.  4. To develop in you an appreciation of what computing can do and can not do to aid the study of any discipline.

9. Course goals – continued  5. To contrast the experimental and the inductive techniques of the computer science discipline.  6. To improve your ability to write and discuss scientific material in computing.  7. To improve your ability to read and understand scientific materials in computing.  8. To develop in you a familiarity with computing that will allow you to grow with the discipline in future years.

10. What are not goals for course  To instruct you in the use of specific computing products such as Microsoft Office Products or a particular operating system.  2. To instruct you which button to push on which screen.  3. To teach you to program in the "computer language of the year".  4. To make you an expert in all of the areas on which we will touch.

11. Job Opportunities in Computer Science Both Recent and Long Range

12. Recent IT Job Prospects in Ohio Highlights from a recent report from Northeast Ohio Technology Commission (NorTech):  About 96,000 IT professionals employed in Northeast Ohio  More than 8,600 IT workers were hired in NE Ohio in 2006 and more than 10,600 were hired in 2007.  Approximately 31% of firms surveyed hired at least one IT professional in 2006 and at any time, half the employers with more than 25 employees are seeking to fill at least one IT position.

13. Jobs for Recent KSU Graduates with BS in Computer Science  Recent KSU CS graduates have easily found jobs, with about 75 % staying in Ohio. These graduates typically have had starting salaries in the $50,000.  There are a wide range of interesting careers for graduates in a B.S. in Computer Science, including medical informatics, information security, game design, multimedia systems, and web development.  Some companies recently hiring recent our CS graduates include NASA Lewis, Progressive Insurance, Goodyear, Cisco Systems, Hitachi Medical, Davey Tree, Fed Ex, Ernst & Young, Philips Medical, Sherwin Williams, National Bank, Key Corp, Procter and Gamble, Lexis-Nexis, Bell and Howell.

14. References for Previous Slides  Primary reference for preceding slide is “A letter to prospective undergraduate students” in computer science at Kent State from the Department Chair. See http://www.cs.kent.edu/programs/ugrad/prospective.html http://www.cs.kent.edu/programs/ugrad/prospective.html  For great overview of computing degrees and careers, see http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=6 http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=6  For a short brochure on IT degrees and careers, see http://www.acm.org/careernews/extras/careercolor.pdf http://www.acm.org/careernews/extras/careercolor.pdf  Recent article in the online Kent Stater states job prospects may be down but CS job prospects are strong: http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper 867/news/2008/12/02/News/Report.Job.Prospects.For.G rads.Shrinking.In.Fragile.Economy-3564900.shtml http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper 867/news/2008/12/02/News/Report.Job.Prospects.For.G rads.Shrinking.In.Fragile.Economy-3564900.shtml http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper 867/news/2008/12/02/News/Report.Job.Prospects.For.G rads.Shrinking.In.Fragile.Economy-3564900.shtml

15. Long Range Information about IT Job Prospects Based on 2005-2006 Documents

16. OVERVIEW What field has… …the best-rated jobs, and 5 out of the top 10 highest paid, highest growth jobs? …the best-rated jobs, and 5 out of the top 10 highest paid, highest growth jobs? …shown strong job growth in the face of outsourcing? …shown strong job growth in the face of outsourcing? …a looming severe shortage in college graduates? …a looming severe shortage in college graduates? Computer Science! This slide and the rest of the slides in this presentation were collated from SIGCSE announcements and displayed at the Gettysburg College Department of Computer Science website. Individual sources are given on the last slide.

17.  Software engineers top the list of best jobs according to a Money magazine and Salary.com survey based on “strong growth prospects, average pay of $80,500 and potential for creativity”. [1]

18.  5 computing jobs are in the top 10 salary jobs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ list of the 30 fastest growing jobs through 2014. [2] 1. Computer systems software engineer: $81,140 2. Computer applications software engineer: $76,310 6. Computer systems analyst: $67,520 7. Database administrator: $61,950 9. Network systems and data communication analyst: $61,250 Salaries are given as mean annual salaries over all regions.

19. In April 2006, more Americans were employed in IT than at any time in the nation’s history. [3] In May 2004, “U.S. IT employment was 17% higher than in 1999 5% higher than in 2000 and showing an 8% growth in the [following] year … The compound annual growth rate of IT wages has been about 4% since 1999 while inflation has been just 2% per year … Such growth rates swamp predictions of the outsourcing job loss in the U.S., which most studies estimate to be 2% to 3% per year for the next decade.” [4]

20. “According to the National Science Foundation, the need for science and engineering graduates will grow 26%, or by 1.25 million, between now and 2012. The number of jobs requiring technical training is growing at five times the rate of other occupations. And U.S. schools are nowhere near meeting the demand, according to multiple studies.” [5] The percentage of college freshmen listing computer science as their probable major fell 70% between 2000 and 2004, which will make shortage worse. [6]

21. [1] Wulfhorst, Ellen. Reuters.com, Apr. 12, 2006. http://www.salary.com/careers/layoutscripts/crel_display.asp?tab=cre&cat=nocat&ser=Ser387&part=Par615 [2] Morsch, Laura. CareerBuilders.com, Jan. 27, 2006. http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/Careers/01/26/cb.top.jobs.pay/index.html [3] Chabrow, Eric. InformationWeek.com, Apr. 18, 2006. http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=185303797 [4] Patterson, David. President’s Letter: Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science, Communications of the ACM, Sept. 2005, Vol. 48, No. 9 [5] Deagon, Brian. Investor’s Business Daily, May 12, 2006. http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=24&issue=20060512&view=1 [6] Robb, Drew. ComputerWorld.com, July 17, 2006. http://computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=112364