Computing and computer technology are part of just about everything touching our lives today, from the cars we drive to the movies we watch to the many ways we all interact with each other (not to mention with businesses and government).
Understanding the many facets of computing is a necessary skill for any educated person in the 21st century. Whether you want to create the next hot application or simply need to map your next big idea for the boss, studying computing will give you a competitive edge, the ability to solve complex problems, and a career that will never be obsolete.
To keep your career on the cutting edge and marketable in any business environment, consider the following reasons why majoring in Computer Science is a sound investment.
1. Improved hiring prospects
Computer Science students do well in terms of getting full-time employment after graduation. According to code.org, there were nearly 500,000 computing job openings nationwide last year, and fewer than 64,000 Computer Science students graduated into the workforce. They also had the second-highest projected starting salaries of all majors (next to Engineering) with an average of $67,539 in 2019, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
2. Nearly recession-proof jobs
Companies are eager—if not desperate—for talent in all areas of computing. As you read above, there are actually more computing jobs available than there are qualified people to fill them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects computing and information technology jobs will grow between 12%–37% through 2022. If you take into consideration this high expected growth rate, it’s easy to see that companies simply need more talent. That future talent comes from today’s Computer Science students.
3. Opportunities for true creativity and innovation
If you think Computer Science is devoid of creativity, think again. The field is about much more than programming; it’s about inventing and building solutions. A Computer Science major is an artist whose canvas may be a smartphone or PC display and whose paints and brushes are programming languages and development environments.
The internet has been in existence for decades now. What was once mainly used by university and military researchers has become the most disruptive technological innovation of our time: the protocols and software of the World Wide Web. And it was all largely due to one person with a revolutionary vision. Can’t imagine a world without Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, or Twitter? All were created by two to four individuals—some as college students—on the software platform provided by the web. With a major in Computer Science, you’re limited only by your imagination.
4. An essential part of a well-rounded academic education
Having a computing background will provide you with a foundation of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and logical thinking that will serve as an advantage to you in your career in whatever field you choose. Beyond the vast applicability of a Computer Science degree, it’s also seen by an increasing number of universities and employers as a sign of academic well roundedness.
5. Collaborative work and individual effort
Though you might imagine a lone hacker toiling away at their computer, computing is often about being part of a collaborative team that requires people with many different kinds of skills. But there is also plenty of space for individual flair and imagination.
6. Limitless future opportunities
It’s the Computer Science major who will help transform what the internet will be like in the next 20 years. Like the rest of infrastructure, the internet will eventually seem to disappear by becoming ubiquitous. Developing the Internet of Things will require specialized skills and computing expertise. So many everyday items, appliances, and vehicles are now online that their numbers far exceed the Earth’s population. Making these networks of devices sufficiently robust and resilient will be a challenge for current and future Computer Science majors.
7. Making a positive difference in the world
Computing drives innovation in the sciences, such as major advances in the study of the human genome, tracking important AIDS vaccine research, and monitoring and protecting the environment—just to name a few. If you want to make a positive difference in work and in the world, study computing.
8. Civil liberty protection
As the internet grows, privacy will come at a premium. Enormous quantities of data about our daily affairs flows across the Internet, and while this generally makes our lives easier, it also increases our vulnerability to hacking. Despite our penchant for giving up some privacy in exchange for convenience, our experiences online may make us yearn for the anonymity of the past. Who will have access to our medical records and our financial data? These will be some of the many digital issues computing experts will help confront and solve.
9. Frontline warriors in the battle against cybercriminals
Encryption algorithms—aka the mathematical rules by which secret codes are made and broken—have been at the center of a simmering spy vs. nerd war since the early 1990s. Cybercrime is a big business, as conspiratorial smugglers and hackers infuse our computers with virus attacks to steal our identities and financial data. Majoring in Computer Science will give you a leg up in making the world as well as your neighborhood a safer place to live, work, and play.
10. Strengthening your primary career choice
Want to follow your dream of working in the arts or health care or education? You can still major (or minor or have a concentration) in Computer Science, particularly if you bolster your degree with supplemental learning opportunities like internships, extracurriculars, and graduate school. In any case, Computer Science will give you a broad foundation of skills that can be applied to a variety of careers and will serve as a competitive advantage in a crowded job market.
Start searching for colleges with Computer Science programs right here on CollegeXpress.
