COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPUTER SCIENCE IS KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS Phyllis Tedford, M.S. Computer Science With thanks to Dr. Fernandez for the slides! College of Science and Technology has 4 departments: Computing Sciences - CSCI Mathematics and Statistics - MATH Life Sciences - LSCI Physical and Environmental Sciences – PENS Computing Sciences: Computer Science, Engineering Technology, Geographic Information Science

What is COMPUTER SCIENCE? Solving everyday problems in an efficient manner using computers. IT CAN INVOLVE: Business and Science Graphics and Games Software Design Managing Networks And much, much more! Computer science is all about solving everyday problems. From graphics and games to business and science. Computer scientists design and develop software. They write programs, develop algorithms and manage networks that make modern civilization possible.

Examples of Computer Science in Society Today

Where Computer Science Can Take You…. ART Graphics Designer Web Designer Game Designer BUSINESS Internet Strategist Start Your Own Business Create Business Applications MEDICAL FIELD Design Analysis Systems for Drug Design Support the Delivery of Medical Treatment

Where Computer Science Can Take You… INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Database Specialist Customer Interface Technical Support CRIMINAL JUSTICE Identify Cybercrime Computer Forensics OTHER Human Computer Interaction Robotics

Internship Opportunities Career Fair Interact with company representatives and start exploring job and internship opportunities Inroads Become part of an organization that will train you in leadership skills and help you land internships with big time companies in Central Texas ….and get PAID!!

SOURCE: 2007 College Graduates, Computing Research News, Vol. 19/No. 5 WHAT’S YOUR DEGREE WORTH? AVG. Starting Salary CHEMICAL ENGINEERING $59,218 COMPUTER ENGINEERING $55,920 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING $55,333 MECHANICAL ENGINEERING $54,057 COMPUTER SCIENCE $53,051 Information Systems & Sciences $49,966 Civil Engineering $48,998 Economics (business/managerial) $47,782 Management Information Systems $47,407 Finance $46,442 Accounting $46,292 Business Administration $43,256 Marketing $39,269 Political Science $35,261 History $35,092 Sociology $32,161 English $31,924 SOURCE: 2007 College Graduates, Computing Research News, Vol. 19/No. 5 7

Where Are They Now? Meet a few of our Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Alumni who graduated with a CS Degree…. Name: Jessica Dick Location: Houston, Texas Current Job: Site Application Coordinator for US Production Headquarters of ExxonMobil “By receiving a degree in Computer Science, I was afraid that I had limited my options to just programming -- which is not what I wanted to do. However, I found that having a CS degree allowed me to choose from many different types of jobs…and it gave me a very competitive salary.”

Where Are They Now? Name: Liza Mucheru-Wisner Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Current Job: Program Coordinator II in the Computing Sciences Department at TAMU-CC “My CS degree helped me learn the fundamental skills I needed to develop an exciting career…I hope to use my education experiences combined with my computer science background to encourage educators to include technology in their teaching. “ Name: Alessandra Perez Location: Alice, Texas Current Job: Designing databases and website maintenance at Energy Dynamics (IT Department)

Recommendations Don’t give up if it gets a little tough! Seek help from faculty Seek help from students Seek help from staff WE ALL WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!

Take an active role in your success! Put in an honest effort. Form study groups. Ask for help when you feel lost. Realize and accept that this degree is a challenge – and it will be hard work. But… Your professors and instructors really do notice when you make an honest effort to do the work. They also notice when you don’t. Having to explain any new information to another person is the best way to learn it! Form study groups – informal or formal – to meet and go over the information you studied in class. Did you know your professor(s) can reserve a room for your group if you want to meet on a regular basis? We sometimes don’t know you’re lost or confused or frustrated until you tell us. We won’t bite. We want to help. And we know lots of ways to help and get you help! No one said this would be easy. With all the help available to you and with your commitment, you can make this happen. Because….

IT IS WORTH THE EFFORT!