A LETTER TO PROSPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
(Prospective Graduate Students, Please Click
HERE)
As the Chair of the Computer Science Department, let me thank
you for your interest in Kent State and the Computer Science
Department.
I would like to urge to consider pursuing a Bachelors Degree in
Computer Science at Kent State University. You're probably aware that
this is a great time to enter the computing field, but you might not
be aware just how bright the future is for computing at the moment.
WHAT DO COMPUTER SCIENTISTS DO?
When many people think of a computer science career they often think
of an isolated programmer working alone all day. In reality, many
computer science jobs involve much more than simply writing computer
programs, and many jobs involve working as part of a team.
There are a wide range of interesting careers for graduates with a B.S
in Computer Science. A Computer Scientist may start a career in
medical informatics, information security, game design, multimedia
systems, or web development.
For a great overview of computing degrees and careers, see:
http://computingcareers.acm.org/?page_id=6
Look at this 3-page brochure on degrees and careers:
http://www.acm.org/careernews/extras/careercolor.pdf
WHAT ARE THE JOB PROSPECTS FOR COMPUTER SCIENTISTS?
Unfortunately, there is a common MISCONCEPTION that there are few jobs
in computing, a misconception rooted in the crash of the dot-com
companies 6 years ago and fears over outsourcing. The REALITY is that
there are more jobs in computing now than at the height of the dot-com
boom, and while some jobs have been outsourced to India and China,
other jobs have emerged to fill the vacuum.
This bright outlook for computing has been confirmed by the
U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the 10-year
period from 2004-2014, a staggering 71% of the new jobs in science and
engineering will be in computing. Even considering new jobs plus net
replacements (e.g., filling retirements), 59% of the new jobs are in
computing. This isn't a misconception, this is the reality
nationwide!
An article in CNNMoney in 2006 even listed "Software Engineer"
as the single "best job" in America:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/2006/
WHAT ARE THE JOB PROSPECTS IN OHIO?
The hiring outlook in Ohio mirrors that nationally -- it is very good,
with "Computer Software Engineers" among the
fastest growing occupations in the state.
The importance of computing professionals was also confirmed in
a study commissioned in late 2007 by
the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition (NorTech).
Here are some highlights from their report on the
job situation for computing professionals in Northeast Ohio report:
- There are an estimated 96,000 IT professionals employed in Northeast
Ohio.
- More than 8,600 IT workers were hired in Northeast Ohio in 2006, and
more than 10,600 were hired in 2007
- Approximately 31% of firms surveyed hired at least one IT
professional in 2006, and at any given time, half of all employers
with more than 25 employees are seeking to fill at least one IT
position
Our recent graduates have easily found jobs, with around 75% staying
in Ohio to work at local companies, such as Progressive Insurance,
NASA Lewis, Goodyear, Cisco Systems, Hitachi Medical, Davey Tree, Fed
Ex, Ernst & Young, Philips Medical, Sherwin Williams, National Bank,
Key Corp, Procter and Gamble, Lexis-Nexis, Bell and Howell. These
graduates typically have had a starting salary in the $50,000's.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER COMPUTER SCIENCE AT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY?
We are proud of our modern CS curriculum that aligns with current
national guidelines from the two major computing professional
associations (the Computing Curriculum from the ACM and IEEE-CS).
We prepare students by focusing on concepts, together with application
of those concepts. Other types of computing programs (such as
Information Technology programs) tend to focus on using and managing
computers, and on specific computer applications. Computer technology
will change but the underlying concepts remain the same, which allows
Computer Science students to adapt to new technologies as they appear.
With a large research faculty, we offer a broad array of courses, with
a rich set of electives. For example, a student in our program might
specialize in the area of
game programming
or information security.
We also have an internship program to help interested students get
real-world work experience.
Moreover, our undergraduate students benefit from the department's
thriving graduate program. Students take classes from professors who
are researchers and have up-to-date knowledge in their fields.
Interested students have the opportunity to do research with faculty
members. Qualified students with good GPAs may take graduate classes,
and a
combined B.S./M.S. program
allows up to 12 credit hours of
graduate classes to count for both undergraduate and graduate credit.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Just ask! While any of our faculty and staff would be happy to help
answer your questions, one great starting point is our two very
dedicated Undergraduate Advisors:
Yuri Breitbart
MSB 251
330-672-9046
Michael Rothstein
MSB 268
330-672-9065
Arden Ruttan
MSB 270
330-672-9066
Gwenn Volkert
MSB 216
330-672-9037
ugradinfo@cs.kent.edu
http://www.cs.kent.edu
In closing, I hope you will consider pursuing a Bachelors Degree in
Computer Science at Kent State University.
Best regards,
Robert Walker
Professor & Chair, Computer Science Department
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