Computer Science

Computer Science Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Overview: Computer scientists impact society through their work in many areas. Because computer technology is embedded in so many products, services, and systems, computer scientists can be found in almost every industry. Design of next generation computer systems, computer networking, biomedical information systems, gaming systems, search engines, web browsers, and computerized package distribution systems are all examples of projects a computer scientist might work on. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Overview (continued): Computer scientists might also focus on improving software reliability, network security, information retrieval systems, or may even work as a consultant to a financial services company. Employment is roughly distributed among the following detailed occupations: - Computer systems analysts: 487,000 - Network systems/data communications analysts: 231,000 - Database administrators: 104,000 - Computer and information scientists, research: 22,000 - All other computer specialists: 149,000 Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Preparation: Computer scientists should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail oriented. They must have a strong grasp of mathematics, including calculus, probability, and statistics, and computer systems. Preparation in one or more of the sciences, such as, physics, chemistry, biology, is also a requirement. Abilities to work as part of a team and to communicate well also will be important as computer science jobs frequently require interaction with specialists outside of computer science or engineering. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Preparation (continued): Entry level positions in the field typically require a four year bachelor-of-science degree in computer science, information science, or computer engineering. State-of-the-art high technology research and development positions frequently require the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in either computer science or computer engineering. Tenure track professorial positions in a university require the Ph.D. degree. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Preparation (continued): Those interested in a career in Computer Science should consider reviewing programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. Accreditation is based on an evaluation of an engineering program's student achievement, program improvement, faculty, curricular content, facilities, and institutional commitment. A list of universities offering accredited degrees in Computer Science is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life– Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Day in the Life: The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies. Job tasks and occupational titles used to describe these workers evolve rapidly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Day in the Life (continued): Teams and Coworkers Although computer specialists sometimes work independently, they frequently work in teams on large projects. They must be able to communicate effectively with computer personnel, such as programmers and managers, as well as with users or other staff who may have no technical computer background. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Day in the Life (continued): Tasks Computer scientists employed in private industry may advance into managerial or project leadership positions. Those employed in academic institutions can become heads of research departments or published authorities in their field. Database administrators may advance into managerial positions, such as chief technology officer. Some Computer Scientists choose to work as independent consultants or start their own computer consulting firms. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Day in the Life (continued): The Workplace Computer Scientists usually work in offices or laboratories in comfortable surroundings. They usually work about 40 hours a week -- the same as many other professional or office workers do. However, evening or weekend work may be necessary to meet deadlines or solve specific problems. Given the technology available today, telecommuting is common for computer professionals. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Earnings: According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, median annual earnings of computer systems analysts were $66,460. The middle 50 percent earned between $52,400 and $82,980 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems analysts were: Federal Government: $71,770 Computer systems design and related services: $69,560 Data processing, hosting, and related services: $67,230 Management of companies and enterprises: $66,840 Insurance carriers: $57,040 According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, last year, Class of 2006 computer science graduates saw their starting salary offers remain fairly level, but salaries to this discipline appear to now be on the rise again, with a 2 percent increase in the average starting salary offer. This puts the average salary offer at $51,070. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Earnings: According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, last year, Class of 2006 computer science graduates saw their starting salary offers remain fairly level, but salaries to this discipline appear to now be on the rise again, with a 2 percent increase in the average starting salary offer. This puts the average salary offer at $51,070. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Employment: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer systems analysts, database administrators, and computer scientists held about 993,000 jobs in 2002; including about 94,000 who were self-employed. Although they are increasingly employed in every sector of the economy, the greatest concentration of these workers is in the computer systems design and related services industry. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Employment (continued): A growing number of computer specialists, such as systems analysts and network and data communications analysts, are employed on a temporary or contract basis; many of these individuals are self-employed, working independently as contractors or consultants. A sample list of employers of Computer Scientists is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment–Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Career Path Forecast: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer scientists are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations through 2014. Employment of these computer specialists is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer systems design and related services -- projected to be one of the fastest growing industries. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Career Path Forecast (continued): Job growth will not be as rapid as during the previous decade, however, as the information technology sector begins to mature and as routine work is increasingly outsourced overseas. In addition to growth, many job openings will arise annually from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions or other occupations or who leave the labor force. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science Resources: More information about Computer Science is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including employer lists, accredited Computer Science programs, suggestions for precollege students, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF that summarizes the field. Associations: Association for Computing Machinery Association for Women in Computing IEEE Computer Society The British Computer Society Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

Computer Science