Daily Archives: April 20, 2012
Majors: Computer Science
What is Computer Science:
Computer science graduates are called upon to design, install, and maintain complex systems in diverse environments, the types of high technology networks that serve as the economic lifeblood of modern civilization.Computer science majors program computer systems, maintain communications networks and develop the core digital technologies that influence our lives. They may study specialized fields such as artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine behavior. The purpose of computer science is to investigate algorithms, design efficiency, implementation and application of computer systems to the problems of businesses and government. The goal of a computer scientist is to maintain and create the most effective computer systems using the most current technology available. The field of computer sciences is one of the fastest growing industries today. As people rely more on computers, the development and maintenance of computer systems is critical. The computer science major or its equivalent tends to be offered most frequently within a college of engineering or in a college of arts and science.
In countless old Star Trek episodes, a baffled captain asked the computer for help, and the computer promptly replied with an answer. What was once science fiction is becoming reality, thanks to computer scientists working in voice recognition.
If you study computer science, you may learn how to design computer programs that allow humans and computers to speak to one another. Keep in mind, your work is more likely to help a vision-impaired person than a captain navigating the universe, but you never know. Computer science majors learn about computer systems and the way humans and computers interact from a scientific perspective. Instruction includes programming and the theory and design of software.
Are You Ready To…?
- Regularly stay up until all hours trying to debug your computer programming
- Build teamwork skills and friendships while problem solving with other students
- Complete an internship designing Web pages, developing software, testing software, or building other computer skills
- Join the campus chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery
Salary:
Starting salary for graduates with a bachelor’s in Computer Science: $63,017 – $105,000
Graphic Designers- $32,600 and $56,620
Computer support specialists- $33,680 and $55,990
Multimedia artists and animators- $41,710 and $77,010
Network and computer systems administrators – $51,690 and $84,110
Database administrators- $52,340 and $91,850
Computer programmers- $52,640 and $89,720
Network systems and data communication analysts*- $54,330 and $90,740
Computer systems analysts- $58,460 and $95,810
Computer applications software engineers- $67,790 and $104,870
Computer systems software engineers- $73,200 and $113,960
Computer scientists- $75,340 and $124,370
Computer hardware engineering- $76,250 and 122,750
Computer and information systems managers- $88,240 and $141,890
Information and Technology Specialist- $64,200
Popular Computer Science Degree Jobs – Full List
Software Developer $80,500
Software Test Engineer (STE) $84,000
Senior Software Engineer $98,000
Software Development Manager $115,000
Software Architect $116,000
Programmer Analyst $74,800
Systems Developer $93,800
Web Developer $58,000
Software Development Engineer, Test (SDET) $82,000
Application Support Analyst $69,000
Computer Systems Analyst $68,300
Database Administrator (DBA) $85,100
Systems Administrator $62,900
Systems Engineer (IT) $83,300
Systems Analyst $81,900
Network Administrator, IT $59,000
Network Engineer, IT $83,900
Business Analyst, IT $81,500
Program Manager, IT $111,000
For 2011 graduates, several computer-related majors were on their list of the top-paid majors for bachelor’s degree graduates. More than 56 percent of computer science majors of the class of 2011 who applied for a job before graduating received an offer, making computer science the major with the highest offer rate.Here’s a tip for incoming and current college students: If you want to have a high-paying job on graduation day, study computer science.
#5 on list of top 15 lucrative degrees, right after Computer Engineering as of July 24, 2009
Top 10 Colleges for Computer Science:
(If you’re unsure about college go to www.cappex.com (See College Search Made Simple) it has all the information you need about school. It allows you to fill out a profile about what you plan to do and what colleges you’re interested in then colleges can contact you and you choose whether to share your information with them or not. They also have hundreds of scholarships and it tells you what your chances are of getting in and what is required to apply.)
- 1 RANKED
School of Computer Science 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA, 15213-3891
SCORE: 5
- 1 RANKED
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Room 38-401 Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307
SCORE: 5
- 1 RANKED
Department of Computer Science 353 Serra Mall Stanford, CA, 94305-9025
SCORE: 5
- 1 RANKED
University of California–Berkeley
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 205 Cory Hall Berkeley, CA, 94720-1770
SCORE: 5
- 5 RANKED
Department of Computer Science 4130 Upson Hall Ithaca, NY, 14853-7501
SCORE: 4.6
- 5 RANKED
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Thomas M. Siebel Center for Computer Science 201 N. Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL, 61801
SCORE: 4.6
- 7 RANKED
Computer Science and Engineering AC101 Paul G. Allen Center, Box 352350 Seattle, WA, 98195-2350
SCORE: 4.5
- 8 RANKED
Department of Computer Science 35 Olden Street Princeton, NJ, 08540-5233
SCORE: 4.4
- 8 RANKED
Department of Computer Sciences 1 University Station C0500 Austin, TX, 78712-1188
SCORE: 4.4
- 10 RANKED
Georgia Institute of Technology
College of Computing 801 Atlantic Drive Atlanta, GA, 30332-0280
SCORE: 4.3
-www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com
-www.networkworld.com
Related articles
- Best Practices in CS Education – Part -II: Innovative Curriculum with Small CS Core at Top Universities (goelsan.wordpress.com)
- The 6 Hottest Tech Careers of 2012 (money.usnews.com)
- Computer Science for the Rest of Us (Non-Computer Scientist) (nytimes.com)
- Computer Science Transitions From Elective to Requirement – US News and World Report (computinged.wordpress.com)
Earth Day 2012
The Earth’s View (A Speech To Humans)
By Trista L. Pollard
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As you know, I have been around for a long time, almost 4 billion years. In fact, I was here long before you were born. Even though you humans have not been around as long as I have, you have had a huge impact on my health. You have affected my environment in extraordinary ways, some which were positive, but most, which were negative. For the most part, we have had a tense relationship. However, things have started to improve.Since the first dweller, you have searched for methods to make your way of life easier and more comfortable. You natural curiosity has helped you to produce the most astounding, most helpful instruments known to humankind. In the process, my health has suffered from your growing technology. Let me start with the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850). You call this the birth of the machine. I call this “the last time I had an atmosphere without smog.” Major cities crowded with people exploded everywhere in the United States and Europe. I had to add new words and phrases to my vocabulary like factories and emissions from fossil fuels.
After you established your smoke producing factories, you began to focus on transportation. First, you tried to build a self-propelled vehicle. Once you humans succeeded with this task, you decided to build the transcontinental railroad. You were traveling faster and mass-producing goods quicker than ever before. However, you were also using up my oil and coal to make these monsters move.
After World War II, people moved away from the cities to the suburbs. This meant more of you were spreading out. I never had so much “itching” in my life! The constant digging and building almost shook me to my core. my grasslands were beginning to disappear to make room for your homes. Animal habitats also started to disappear. Industrial companies were allowed to dump chemicals anywhere they wanted, including in my water supply. It was a mess!
During 1957-1958, this period was recognized as the International Geophysical Year. Scientists from sixty-seven nations worked together during an eighteen-month period to study me. They focused on my atmospheric gases, ozone layer, and ocean floor. This is when they declared Antarctica a neutral zone, which meant it could only be used for international scientific research.
Once we entered the 1960s, airplane travel increased. Boy, you humans love all types of mechanical movement. In addition to airplanes, travel by trains and automobiles grew. There were more tucks and cars on my roadways and highways. Some of my most beautiful countryside was being torn away to make room for extended trails of tar and pavement. This is the time when scientists examined my atmosphere. They wanted to know how jet planes were affecting my ozone layer.
Finally, during the 1970s you started to pay attention to my health. The United States government formed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce laws that protect my environment. It was just in time because on April 22nd of that year we officially had my first birthday celebration in the US. More than 20 million of you marched in parades, sang songs, and attended teach-ins about me. I thought we were on the right track. However, I had another health problem- animal loss.
During my early history, you humans only hunted animals for food, clothing, and occasionally shelter. As I got older, you started hunting animals for sport and luxuries. I never thought I would see an alligator on some of your feet or holding your papers from work. Due to this phenomenon, the numbers of alligators and other species began to decrease dramatically. Animals were also losing their habitats because you were building your houses in more remote locations. Some of my animals even died out (remember the dodo bird). Well, in 1973 the Endangered Species Act was passed in the US to protect threatened animals and other wildlife. Since the act was passed, 35-60 insects, plants, and animals are added to the list of threatened species each year. These are the animals, which are in danger of extinction. By 1998, there were about 1,200 threatened and endangered plants and animals on the list. What would I be if I had no animals in my forests, marshes, and tundras?
Due to the efforts of sensitive and caring humans, some of the endangered and threatened animal populations have increased. These same humans have also worked to improve my atmosphere, water, and environment. In 1974, the Safe Drinking Water Act was passed. It outlawed the dumping of pollutants and toxic chemicals into my water. This was the best way to keep my water safe for drinking. Scientists found two holes in my ozone layer- one in 1982 over Antarctica and the other in 1988 over the Arctic. Once scientists realized that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were to blame, they worked with other humans around the world to reduce the use of these chemicals. CFCs are chemical compounds that are used as coolants in refrigerators and fire extinguishers and used in aerosol cans. By 1993, you were able to reduce the amount of CFCs that you put into the atmosphere daily. During the 1990s, the US Congress passed tougher laws to protect my environment. Now there is even mandatory recycling in many towns and cities throughout the world. We have a long way to go. However, now that Earth Day is a regular holiday (yeah me!), I am confident that all of you humans will help me to maintain my health. Thank you!
-www.edhelper.com
A Look Into My Eyes: Part 2
You’re probably wondering, “What makes her different? How is she special?” I didn’t start a successful business nor help build a school in Africa. I don’t even have 200 hours of logged volunteer time, but there is one thing that I do have: a personality.
Sure, everyone has a personality. But not many people show them. After all, the hardest part about meeting new people is deciding which version of yourself to be. I say that because sometimes you can be random and silly, while at other times you are withdrawn and shy.
Everyone sees who I appear to be but not many people know the real me. You can only see what I choose to show. There’s so much more you just don’t know.
