Computer Programming:

College & Careers

Computer Programming

Creating software by writing in computer

language ("code")

Computer Programming

Software is just a list of instructions: First do this,

then this, then this, and so on. . .
Modern progams have a very large list of
instructions: Windows XP has over 50 million!

Programmers spend about

twice as much time fixing
problems (bugs) as they
do writing the instructions

Computer Programmers

Enjoy building things

Think Abstractly
Work in teams or as individuals
Work in many different fields
The NYPD has a team
of computer programmers

Computer Programming: #1 Job

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bestjobs/

A quick search for "Computer

Science" in occupations
Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
1. Mathematicians
2. Computer software engineers
3. Operations research analysts
4. Computer systems analysts, database administrators, and computer
scientists
5. Medical records and health information technicians
6. Market and survey researchers
7. Statisticians
8. Atmospheric scientists
9. Computer programmers
10. Medical scientists
11. Economists
12. Software Publishers
13. Conservation scientists and foresters
14. Sales engineers
15. Travel agents
16. Urban and regional planners
17. Announcers
18. Dietitians and nutritionists
19. Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
20. Teachers-postsecondary

Outlook for the next decade

"Despite the recent economic downturn among firms involved in information

software publishing is, nevertheless,

projected to be the fastest growing industry in the
U.S. economy over the next decade. Wage and salary
technology,

employment is expected to increase by 68 percent between 2002 and 2012,

more than four times the 16 percent growth projected for all industries
combined. Even in difficult economic times, organizations continue to make
investments in software. Software boosts productivity, increases efficiency,
and, in some cases, reduces the need for workers. Growth will not be as rapid
as it was during the previous decade, however, as the software industry begins
to mature and as routine work is increasingly outsourced overseas."

-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook

http://bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs051.htm

Average starting salary for

College
graduates by major

Accounting -- $43,050 (up 2.4 percent)

Business Administration -- $38,357 (up 2.6 percent)
Marketing -- $37,519 (up 4 percent)
Economics/Finance -- $40,719 (up 0.3 percent),
Computer Science -- $51,042 (up 4.9 percent)
Information Science -- $43,741 (up 3.9 percent)
Civil Engineering -- 43,159 (up 4.1 percent)
Chemical Engineering -- $53,659 (up 2.1 percent)
Electrical Engineering -- $51,113 (up 2.4 percent)
Liberal Arts -- $29,060 (down 3.6 percent)
Education -- $30,207
(SF Teacher -- $39,520)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/Careers/04/20/class.2005/index.html

Which jobs are most offered?

In a separate part of its survey, NACE asked employers which

jobs they have offered the most so far this year and what their
starting salaries were.
Accounting (private): $44,564
Management trainee: $35,811
Teaching: $29,733
Consulting: $49,781
Sales: $37,130
Accounting (public): $41,039
Financial/Treasury analysis: $45,596
Software design/development: $53,729
Design/construction engineering: $47,058
Registered nurse: $38,775
http://money.cnn.com/2005/04/15/pf/college/starting_salaries/?cnn=yes

Computer animation and gaming

"The market for educational software and

entertainment software, which includes
video games, is also expected to experience
robust growth over the next decade. "
-2005 Occupational Outlook
Handbook
http://bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs051.htm

Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering

Computer Science
Liberal Arts--more variety in classes and more
electives
Study more than just programming--create own
computer language and compiler
Not as much Calculus
Computer Engineering
More emphasis on Hardware and Electronics
Lots of Calculus and Engineering classes
Not as many opportunities for electives
Both majors prepare for careers in programming and
software design

The MIS Degree: Management Information Systems

Usually offered as a Business degree

Studies in using and managing computer
information systems in a business organization
Strong emphasis on networking and the the skills
needed to design, implement, and evaluate
computer-based systems
Not much emphasis on programming, engineering
or calculus

Computer animation and gaming

Specialized trade schools often offer specialized

training specifically in animation and gaming
Academy of Art (SF) offers a bachelors of fine arts
in "Game Design", "Motion Graphics", "Special
Effects" and "2D and 3d animation"
Digipen (Redmond Washington) offers degrees in
"Real-Time Interactive Simulation", " Computer
Engineering ", "Applied Arts in 3D Computer
Animation", "Production Animation"

Top Computer Engineering schools

Smaller Colleges and Universities

1.
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2.
Cal PolySan Luis Obispo
3.
Cooper Union (NY)
4.
Harvey Mudd (CA)
5.
Milwaukee School of Engineering (WI)
Larger Universities
1.
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology
2.
University of CaliforniaBerkeley
3.
Stanford University (CA)
4.
University of Illinois (Champagne-Urbana)
5.
Carnegie Mellon (PA)

Other well regarded Computer Sci/Eng schools

Local
1.
UC Davis
2.
San Jose State
3.
University of Santa Clara

Further away
1.
Cornell (NY)
2.
Georgia Institute of Technology
3.
CalTech
4.
Purdue (IN)
5.
Princeton (NJ)
6.
UCLA, UCSD, UCSB
7.
Brown (RI)
8.
Dartmouth (NH)
9.
Swarthmore (PA)
and many, many others

Computer Programming in
different majors

There are many majors that require or benefit from

programming. For example:
Engineering
Economics
Information & Library Science
Business & Accounting
Music and Visual Arts
Meteorology & Atmospheric Science
Biology
Mathematics and Physics
Urban Planning

Computer Programming in
different college majors

Engineering

Many Engineering majors (including UC Berkeley and

Davis) now require coursework in programming
"Admissions requirements for undergraduate
engineering schools include a solid background in
mathematics, and science, and courses in English,
social studies, humanities, and computer and
information technology." -Occupational Outlook
Handbook 2004-2005

Computer Programming in
different college majors

Economics

"Because of the importance of quantitative skills to

economists, courses in mathematics, statistics,
econometrics, sampling theory and survey design, and
computer science are extremely helpful."
"Many businesses, research and consulting firms, and
government agencies seek individuals who have
strong computer and quantitative skills and
can perform complex research."
- from the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook

Computer Programming in
different college majors

Mathematics & Physics

Many schools, like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo,

now require Math and Physics majors to study
computer programming
"Mathematicians should have substantial

knowledge of computer
programming, because most complex

mathematical computation and much

mathematical modeling are done on a
computer."
- from the 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook
Handbook

Computer Programming in
different college majors

Many Universities have centers for Computer

Music Research

UC Berkeley CNMAT: "is an interdisciplinary research center,

drawing participants from many university departments including
physics, mathematics, electrical engineering, psychology, computer
science, cognitive science and music."
Stanford CCRMA "The Stanford University Center for Computer
Research in Music and Acoustics is a multi-disciplinary facility
where composers and researchers work together using computerbased technology both as an artistic medium and as a research tool. "
UC San Diego CRCA "Center for research in computing and the
arts. Since 2000, the University of California San Diego's Music
department offers both Masters and Ph.D. degrees in computer
music."

Computer Programming in
different college majors

Business & Accounting

In Business, writing Macros is very useful, and is seen
as the mark of a computer "power user"
A Macro is a small program inside of a Microsoft office
document
Each of the components of Microsoft Office (Word,
PowerPoint, Excel, Access etc.) has built into it a
powerful version of the Visual Basic (VBA)
programming language.
Programming Macros allows Office to be customized to
meet the particular needs

Computer Programming
in different college
majors

Meteorology & Atmospheric Science

"Weather forecasting has transformed over the last

half-century, thanks to innovations ranging from highspeed computers and space satellites to "chaos theory"
and gadgets with acronyms like AXBT. " - SF
Chronicle 10/25/04
"Computer science courses, meteorology courses,
a strong background in mathematics and physics, and
good communication skills are important to prospective
employers."

Computer Programming
in different college
majors

Biology

Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing and most

complex industries in the world
"undergraduate biological science majors usually study
allied disciplines such as mathematics, physics, and
computer science. Computer courses are
essential, as employers prefer job applicants who are
able to apply computer skills to modeling and
simulation tasks and to operate computerized
laboratory equipment." - Occupation Outlook
handbook 2004-2005

Computer Programming
in different college
majors

Information and Library Science

Berkeley SIMS : "The School of Information Management and

Systems (SIMS) prepares leaders to understand, organize, and
manage information. Through research and teaching we seek to
discover better ways to collect, describe, evaluate, classify, store,
retrieve, manipulate, present, and distribute information. We work
with information as text, statistics, graphics, video, and audio,
both stored and real-time sensor data. "

Companies see potential profits in Information:

"Google's efforts to widen its search capabilities beyond basic

Web page results" include "a feature that lets surfers see excerpts
from some books", "satellite imagery" and a "Desktop Search" Cnet, October 27 2004

Computer Programming
in different college
majors

Urban Planning

"Planners use computers to record and analyze

information and to prepare reports and recommendations for

government executives and others. Computer databases, spreadsheets,

and analytical techniques are widely utilized to project program costs
and forecast future trends in employment, housing, transportation, or
population. Computerized geographic information systems enable
planners to map land areas, to overlay maps with geographic variables
such as population density, and to combine or manipulate geographic
information to produce alternative plans for land use or development."

"Because familiarity with computer models and

statistical techniques is important, courses in statistics and
computer science are recommended."