What are your Career Options? Computing Majors What are your Career Options?

What is Computing? Any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computers Designing and building hardware and software Processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information Doing scientific studies using computers Making computer systems behave intelligently Creating and using communications and entertainment media Finding and gathering information relevant to a particular purpose The list is virtually endless and the possibilities vast

College Degrees A student typically earns a bachelors degree in one of the computing disciplines There are currently five major degrees: Computer Science Information Systems Software Engineering Computer Engineering Information Technology

Computer Science Spans the range from theory through programming to cutting-edge development of computing solutions Offers a foundation that permits graduates to adapt to new technologies and new ideas Work falls into three categories: Designing and building software Developing effective ways to solve computing problems Devising new and better ways of using computers Most computer science programs require some mathematical background.

Computer Science Career Path 1 Designing and implementing software Includes aspects of web development, interface design, security issues, and mobile computing The career path of the majority of computer science graduates A bachelor’s degree is generally sufficient Many software professionals return to school to obtain a Master’s Career opportunities occur in a wide variety of settings including large or small software companies, large or small computer services companies, and large organizations of all kinds

Computer Science Career Path 2 Devising new ways to use computers Refers to innovation in the application of computer technology Career path can involve advanced graduate work, followed by research Can involve entrepreneurial activity such as was evident during the dot-com boom of the 1990s

Computer Science Career Path 3 Developing effective ways to solve computing problems Refers to the application or development of computer science theory and knowledge of algorithms to ensure the best possible solutions Career path in the development of new computer science theory typically requires graduate work to the Ph.D. level, followed by a position in research

Computer Science Career Path 4 Planning and managing an organization’s technology infrastructure Type of work for which the new information technology (IT) programs explicitly aim to educate students

Information Systems Concerned with the information that computer systems can provide to aid a company or organization Concerned with the processes that an enterprise can implement and improve using information technology Must understand both technical and organizational factors Must be able to help an organization determine how technology processes can provide superior performance Serves as a bridge between the technical and management communities within an organization

Information Systems Issues that businesses rely on IS people to address: What information does the enterprise need? How is that information generated? Is it delivered to the people who need it? Is it presented to them in ways that permit them to use it readily? Is the organization structured to be able to use technology effectively? Are the business processes of the organization well designed? Do they use the opportunities created by information technology fully? Does the organization use the communication and collaboration capabilities of information technologies appropriately? Is the organization capable of adapting quickly enough to changing external circumstances? More?

Software Engineering Develops and maintains software systems Important because of the impact of large software systems and the role of software in safety-critical applications Integrates significant mathematics Most existing degrees in computer science, not in software engineering Graduates of computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering programs are good candidates for those positions, with the amount of software engineering study in the programs determining the suitability of that graduate for such a position.

Computer Engineering The design of digital hardware and software systems including communications, computers and devices Programming is focused on digital devices and their interfaces with users and other devices An important area is development of embedded systems Cell phones, digital audio players, digital video recorders, alarm systems, x-ray machines, and laser surgical tools are all the result of computer engineering Majors are offered by a large number of universities Major requires significant study of mathematics

Information Technology Two meanings: Common usage – refers to all of computing As an undergraduate degree program – refers to preparation of students to meet computer technology needs of businesses and organizations

Information Technology Possess a combination of knowledge and expertise to care for an organization’s information technology infrastructure and the people who use it Assume responsibility for selecting hardware and software products Integrate those products with organizational needs and infrastructure Install, customize and maintain those applications Provide a secure and effective environment that supports the activities of the organization’s computer users Programming involves writing short scripting programs

Mixed Disciplinary Majors Computer Science and Mathematics combines computer science with mathematics Computational Science blends computer science with physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, earth sciences, and business Bioinformatics combines computer science with biology and biochemistry Medical Informatics is drawn from computer science in combination with biology and chemistry Gaming and Animation combines computer science with art and media studies

Summary A CS degree from a respected program is the most flexible of degrees and can open doors into the professional worlds of CS, SE, IT, and sometimes CE A degree from a respected IS program allows entry to both IS and IT careers

Source http://computingcareers.acm.org/