Computer Science Degree

The technology age is upon us and the availability of jobs in the computer field is almost endless. Education is the fastest, most effective way to get your foot in the door. Many employers require some education like a bachelor’s or master’s computer science degree. Whether you are computer literate or not, you can learn everything you need to know to qualify for one of hundreds or thousands of jobs in the computer industry. With a little time and patience, you could be on your way to a computer science degree in no time.

Start your career search by looking inside yourself. What are you interested in? What skills have you already mastered? Are you looking to further yourself in a current job or are you trying to break into a new field?

Besides the generic skills most employers look for, like interpersonal aptitude, the ability to work within a team or alone and good communication skills, they will also look for talent and proficiency in their field: particularly in any field that rely on a computer science degree. They may also look for employees with interests outside of work to prevent “burn-out.”

You might be able to incorporate your hobbies with your career; marry your automobile hobby with 3-D computer science degree and work for a car manufacturer or take your interest in the stock exchange and couple it with a computer science degree concentrating on databases and you could find yourself coming up with a new way to forecast stocks.

You would be hard pressed to find any industry or employer that isn’t touching a piece of technology today. If you have a computer science degree, you will be equally hard pressed to find any serious lack of employment opportunities for individuals looking for a job. From small, one-room offices that keep an office calendar in Outlook to a multi-billion dollar super-employer with computer records of each transaction to grassroots effort charities, computers are everywhere. Further, people that have earned a computer science degree are scooping up some of the most fantastic jobs available.

If you attain a computer science degree, you could work in any industry imaginable. The banking world, telecommunications, transportation, medicine, law, market research, agriculture, forestry, computer gaming – you name it; all such fields have numerous job openings for individuals that have earned a computer science degree.

Are you a people person? Maybe you’d enjoy working in the IT department of a large corporation, rebuilding their computers and maintaining their systems. Do you like to manage? Consider a job as a project manager, overseeing tens or even hundreds of workers on a large scale project. Odd hours and isolation more your thing? You might make a great computer programmer. Do you like design and want to make a difference? You might have what it takes to be a web designer and programmer specializing in low-cost sites for non-profit groups.

One of the great opportunities you have with a computer science degree is the flexibility to work in far away places via a virtual office. Many employers are now finding off-site employees to be happier (they get to set “the mood” in their home office) and less expensive (employers don’t have to pay rent to house hundreds of employees; not to mention the savings in insurance on the structure.) By working offsite you can travel and still fit in a few billable hours from the luxury of a hotel room or on your way to a faraway land.

While working on your computer science degree, you’ll pick up a host of skills and develop strengths you may not have realized you had. You’ll pick up the fundamentals of hardware, software, user interfaces, networking, multi-media, databases, e-commerce, privacy and digital security.

After you’ve mastered the basics, you will learn how the systems are designed and begin to work with programming languages. C++, Perl and Java are the most common but you will also touch on other languages syntax and semantics; compilers and interpreters; representation of data types; sequence and data control; type checking; run-time storage management; functional, logic, and object-oriented programming paradigms; concurrency and multi-threading.

You might then opt to follow a curriculum more focused on your discipline. Database courses usually cover relational model of databases, structured query language (SQL), normalized structure of database management systems based on relational model, in addition to protecting the security and integrity of databases.

If you are gravitating toward a career working in operating systems, you will take classes that cover the benefits of Unix, Linux and Windows. Material will include Internal design and operation of a modern operating system; process scheduling and memory management, demand paging and file space allocation, file and directory management, security and file access methods.

There are also computer science degree courses that are geared toward platform game designers and programmers. These classes will include skill development in game engines, interfaces, platforms including PC, game boxes (Playstation, X Box, Game Boy, etc.) Networking will also be covered.

If networking is more your speed, you can take specialized classes to cover the peculiarities of that field. While studying for your computer science degree, you’ll learn protocol definitions and compilation; how to manipulate client and server machines and various networking application software. You’ll also become skilled at systems programming, file contexts and remote database queries.

The most common job titles that require a computer science degree include: computer, systems, web or applications programmer, software or hardware engineer, computer scientist, web developer, systems analyst, IT or computer consultant, database administrator, computer engineering technician, software or hardware developer.

Industries that need people with a computer science degree are even more varied. The medical field, law, gaming, manufacturing, food and agriculture, entertainment, publishing and pet kennels all use computers in one way or another; those individuals that earn a computer science degree will find little difficulty breaking into the latter mentioned fields of employment. Computers need to be designed, built, maintained, networked and software needs to be created for each of these industries to run.

While most employers will accept an Associate’s computer science degree, a Bachelor’s or even a Master’s is preferred. Of course, job and world experience is also important. If you’ve been unemployed or out of your chosen field for a while, a little re-education is helpful in a job search.

Computer scientists are the theorists, researchers, and inventors in information technology. Not only do the latter mentioned professionals have fantastic careers, but many scientists and researchers began their career with a computer science degree. Computer scientists are often employed by academic institutions conceiving new programming languages and working out very complex problems. Some also work on applications of cutting edge technology like robotics, virtual technology and artificial intelligence.

Database administrators have become very necessary in the past few years. A computer science degree with a database administration concentration is great for someone who enjoys the fast paced business of Internet and e-commerce. Database administrators understand how to generate, manage, organize, store and extract large volumes of data as needed.

Computer support specialists are the people that provide technical support and advice to customers or internal users. By earning a computer science degree, computer specialists learned to understand the intricacies of software as it interacts with other programs and operating systems. Subsequently, a well-earned computer science degree causes the computer specialist to become the troubleshooters of the computer industry. While first responders are often entry level positions, the senior support specialists quite often hold a computer science degree.

Computer systems administrators are responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting an organization’s networks (LAN and WAN), Internet and intranet systems. In addition to daily administrative software support, they are often in charge of system-wide updates and changes. Systems administrators with a computer science degree also oversee the security of the organization’s systems.

Computer systems analysts function similarly to support specialists, though analysts often spend more time studying and developing fixes whereas support specialists implement them. As such, systems analysts often work for a corporation or organization meeting their needs rather than working with customers. Systems analysts usually specialize in industry-specific systems, like banking, accounting, or engineering systems.

Computer programmers write the code that is eventually compiled and sold as computer software. Programmers may conceive, design and implement problem solving structures for computers. A strong understanding of math and logistics is necessary for computer programming. Programmers also need to understand one or more programming languages.

Software engineers work very closely with programmers. Software engineers spend much of their time solving technical problems with complicated algorithms, computer programmers spend more time writing code implementing the solutions from the engineers.

According to the US Department of Labor, the pay scale for those with a computer science degree varies greatly. Depending on the area of the country, job experience, knowledge and interpersonal skills, you could make anywhere from $30,000 per year to well over $100,000 annually. Below are some paychecks employees with a computer science degree enjoyed in 2005.

Computer Scientists and Database Administrators $104,000 to 231,000
Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators $51,170 to 65,120
Computer Systems Analysts $57,040 to 71,770
Computer Programmers $62,160 to 73,060
Computer Software Engineers $74,370 to 91,390
Computer and Information Systems Managers $86,450 to 107,870

Information technology professionals that work as independent contractors can expect to fetch an additional 10-20% over the average salary if no benefits, such as health insurance and paid vacation, are offered.

Independent contractors with a computer science degree may be required to temporarily relocate for a job or, at the very least, avail themselves to their employer during business hours of the hiring company.

Contractors should expect to pay for their own hardware, software, office space, health insurance, computers and vacation time. Salary renegotiation is common for long term contracts lasting 6 months or more.

Full time employees in the information technology industry should expect a benefits package including health and life insurance (often with optional dental and vision), vacation and sick time of 1-2 weeks per year, an annual performance review including the potential for salary increase and paid federal holidays.

Many land based colleges and universities have discovered the power of offering classes online and computer science degree courses are no different. If you are interested in studying for a computer science degree, visit the website of your local community college.

You may have seen a commercial on TV or an ad in a newspaper or magazine advertising online-only schools offering a computer science degree in under a year. While this is possible, you should understand that these often teach the bare minimum of computer science and may not cover nearly as much coursework as the land colleges will, even through their online program.

The cost of many of these online-only colleges is prohibitive. The financial aid packages are often high-interest and nearly impossible to pay off during the first few years of employment. Even with a degree in-hand, you’ll likely start at the low end of the salary scale.

Look into the background of any online school before you sign up for their courses. Will you be able to transfer credits from the online school to a 4-year program, if you decide you need more education? Is job placement available? How many hours per day or week will you be required to be online and will that interfere with your day job or obligations? Will you be able to concentrate on school work from a home or work PC? Do you have the discipline to study at your own pace?

The degrees offered by many of these online colleges are helpful in a job search but may not hold the prestige of a degree from a land based college when it comes to benefit and compensation negotiations. If you can talk to previous graduates of the college you are thinking of attending, make sure you ask all of these questions. It could save you time, money and trouble in the future.

If you decide to take classes for your computer science degree at a land based school, regardless of whether the classes are held in a school building or online, you can earn your degree faster if you have the knowledge or work experience to “test out” of many of the core classes. The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) are tests offered to shorten the time it takes to earn your computer science degree. They are much less expensive than paying for the college credit required for Associate and Bachelor programs. You get to save time and energy by moving straight into advanced coursework.

The first step of utilizing the CLEP tests is to confirm that your school acknowledges and accepts CLEP scores as proficiency in a subject. There are nearly 3000 colleges in the US that do accept CLEP scores.

The second step is to make sure you know the material you need to pass the test. There are dozens of books available from public libraries that offer sample material, tutorials and sample tests.

The next step is to schedule your test and go take it. There are numerous testing sites, mostly at colleges, around the US. Some testing sites will charge a small fee, around $25, in addition to the CLEP fee of $60. You’ll save hundreds of dollars in tuition and books if you pass the test.

Current tests offered are:

American Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, English Composition, English Literature, Freshman College Composition, French Language (Levels 1 and 2), German Language (Levels 1 and 2), Spanish Language (Levels 1 and 2), American Government, Human Growth and Development, Introduction to Educational Psychology, Introductory Psychology, Introductory Sociology Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, U.S. History I: Early Colonizations to 1877, U.S. History II: 1865 to the Present, Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, College Algebra, College Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Precalculus, Financial Accounting, Introductory Business Law, Information Systems and Computer Applications, Principles of Accounting, Principles of Management and Principles of Marketing.

After you have earned your bachelor’s degree, you may want to work for your post graduate degree. A Master’s of Science if offered a few select colleges and universities around the country. Typically, in addition to a lesser degree, you’ll need either work or research experience or both to qualify.

You might choose to learn more about computer graphics including 3D design and programming. Maybe you’ll take classes that will further your knowledge of advanced algorithms. You could practice techniques for modeling, specifying, and analyzing software requirements and designs. Of course, studying artificial intelligence may be worth your while. Advanced security, networking, computer architecture, algorithmic language compilers, parallel processing and abstract programming may also be offered.

Before going back to school, you may want to ask your employer if they provide compensation or partial payment of additional education. Being more knowledgeable in your field is beneficial both to you and your employer; they realize this and will often pay some or all of your tuition and books.

Other educational opportunities exist as well for those seeking a computer science degree. Joining discussion groups, reading white papers and attending industry conferences all offer wonderful learning experiences that will allow you to put your computer science degree to good use. Some employers are aware of the benefit these non-traditional re-education opportunities bring to you and the company and will often pay some or all of your related costs. It never hurts to inquire and use your computer science degree to the best of your ability.