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If you decide to attend Binghamton University and major in
Computer Science (CS), a preponderance of available indicators,
projections, and educated opinions all suggest the same thing:
You will graduate
with a wide range of attractive and high-paying career paths from
which to choose!
Demand for CS Majors is High, and Rising
A recent U.S. Department of Labor report
states that
"Computer software engineers are projected to be one of the
fastest growing occupations over the 2004-14 period.
Very good opportunities are expected for college graduates with at least a
bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science and with
practical work experience."
The March 20, 2006 Issue of US News & World Report states:
"Employment in software publishing has more than doubled in the past 15
years……. as the price of computer hardware falls and more menial tasks are
outsourced, the need for creative software designers is expected to grow. The
ever evolving nature of the Internet and the host of applications that
customers want to run on their personal computers mean that demand for
software engineers will continue to grow."
Traditional CS Jobs are High Paying
The Computing Research Association (CRA) has compiled
a considerable amount of information
and links regarding the Information Techology (IT) workforce
The message is clear: Jobs in IT are varied, high-paying, and growing.
As anecdotal evidence of high wages, a recent Binghamton CS graduate
(BS '06) received a starting job offer of $75,000 plus a $10,000
signing bonus for his first job, fresh out of the program.
Students with Masters degrees from Binghamton routinely receive
jobs that earn them approximately $85,000 and above.
Traditional CS Jobs are Highly Attractive
Money Magazine recently ranked the
Best
Jobs in America, using critera
including "stress levels, flexibility in hours and working environment,
creativity, and how easy it is to enter and advance in the field."
Software Engineer topped the list, and
"Computer/IT analyst" came in 8th.
There is no better educational training for either of these job categories
than earning a degree in CS.
Computing and Information Technology careers are all over other
similar projections and lists. Here are two more examples:
The 25 Top Jobs for 2005-2009 (FastCompany.com)
Ten Hottest Careers for College Graduates
: Experts Predict Where the Jobs Will Be in 2014 (College Board)
CS Gives You Options
Our recent graduates have gone on to a wide range of diverse
and attractive positions, including the following:
Software Engineer
Programmer
Computer Engineer
Network Engineer
Systems Programmer
Graphics Programmer
Database Administrator
System Analyst
Web Developer
Embedded System Engineer
IT Specialist
Internet Technology Specialist
Project Manager
Our graduates currently work for many different kinds of
top employers, including:
Powerhouse Computing Companies including
IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Google, Hewlett-Packard,
Computer Associates, Sun Microsystems, and Yahoo
Wall Street and Financial Firms like
Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Merrill-Lynch, and MetLife
Defense Contractors such as
BAE, General Dynamics, L3 Systems, and Lockheed-Martin
Consulting Firms including MITRE, KPMG, and Sapient
Entertainment companies, such as
Dreamworks, Pixar, and ILM
Goverment Laboratories like Brookhaven National Labs and NSA
Other graduates used their degree as a springboard to graduate education at
prestigious universities, not just in CS, but in business, medicine,
and law as well. For example, our recent graduates are pursuing or
have received:
Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science, Computer
Engineering, or Software Engineering
from UC Berkeley, Binghamton, Brandeis, Cornell,
MIT, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, Tufts, Maryland, UMass, USC,
and Virginia.
Business degrees from Baruch College, Drexel University, and
the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Medical degrees from
Albany Medical College, Buffalo, The Sackler School of Medicine, and
SUNY Upstate Medical Center.
Law degrees from Columbia, Fordham, NYU, and USC
Binghamton CS Graduates are in Demand
The following companies regularly recruit on the Binghamton University
campus:
Bloomberg
Central Hudson Gas and Electric
Deloitte Consulting
Deutsche Bank
Goldman-Sachs
Google
IBM
Lockheed Martin, which has a special
page for Binghamton graduates
Microsoft
The U.S. Census Office
The U.S. Department of Energy
Your Opportunity
It is undeniable that the bursting of the dot-com bubble led to a backlash and subsequent reduction
in CS enrollments. There is also a misperception that
many traditional CS jobs will be increasingly outsourced overseas.
These two things combine to provide a real opportunity for forward-thinking
students.
Whereas the short "get rich quick" dot-com era may indeed be
over, demand for CS graduates remains strong, and
projections indicate that the immediate future will see a shortage of
qualified graduates. This, in turn, means that jobs will be plentiful,
and well-trained individuals will be able to demand higher salaries.
The jobs that are being outsourced overseas are the low level programming
tasks, not the high-paying creative positions. This only increases
the importance and value of a formal CS education.
Several articles address and support these points
well (read the articles, not just the headlines!).
The Chronicle of Higher
Education ran an article when CS enrollments nationwide were near their
lowest point (May 2005). The article describes why CS is still important
and argues that demand for CS students is still high.
Enrollments have begun to recover well, but the article's points remain
relevant.
IBM, traditionally one of the largest employers of CS
graduates in the world, undertook a specific initiative to
enhance CS curricula and encourage more students
to enter the field. In this article, IBM's Vice President for
Innovation and University Relations discusses this issue.
In a
February 2006 article in HPCWire,
a Princeton University
professor argues the importance of studying CS.
Bill Gates also knows that computer science will continue
to grow in importance, and in October 2005 USA Today wrote about his
tour of college campuses to make just that case. In particular, Gates said
"You're going to have tons and tons of opportunities. If there's
a field to go into, this is it."
In summary, if you're looking for a high paying, attractive job opportunity
in the fields of Computing or Information Technology... or if you're undecided
about your future career, you're looking to "keep your options open," and
you want to be well qualified for many different kinds of jobs upon
graduation... then Computer Science at Binghamton may be the right major
for you.
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