Computer Science Programs on the Rebound
Computer Science majors are more than just programmers. For the first time since 2000, the number of newly declared computer science majors has increased, and there are some good reasons why.
In the last few years, colleges and universities have been doing more to attract students to their computer science programs, and their efforts are starting to pay off. But what does this mean for you, and why is it a good thing?
Variety, for one. many colleges have expanded their computer science departments and curriculum. One major in particular is picking up speed: Computer Forensics. From murder cases to divorce proceedings, the e-mail messages that people send and the websites they view can and will be used in court. Computer Forensic Specialists, the digital detectives who uncover this data and make it usable in the courtroom, are more in demand than ever before, and schools have responded by including related majors. So, some of those cool jobs you see on shows like CSI: Miami actually exist in real life!
Additionally, computer science departments have worked to make classes more fun. For example, the Institute for Personal Robots in education provides small robots for use in introductory computer science classes, which schools such as Bryn Mawr College and Duke University have taken advantage of. A textbook accompanies the robot and teaches students how to program the robot to perform certain tasks (though it most likely won’t be able to do your homework for you).
Among the youngest Internet users, teenage girls are the primary creators of Web content — blogs, graphics, photographs and websites — and colleges are doing more to encourage and support the number of women in computer science programs. Purdue, Indiana and Carnegie mellon are among schools that offer outreach programs committed to increasing the visibility and impact of women and minorities in the computer sciences.
As computer science-related professions have expanded and evolved with technology over the last few years, so too have computer science programs. If you think you have any interest or aptitude, take a closer look at the many faces (and robots) of these majors. Today more than ever, computer experts are some of the most vital employees in the country (and that goes for My College Guide’s computer folks, too!).
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