CMSC104 Section 4 Richard Chang September 1, 2011 Careers in Computing? CMSC104 Section 4 Richard Chang September 1, 2011

Careers in Computer Science? Read Chapter 0 of text (sixth edition only) Computer science isn’t just programming This is like saying “carpentry is all about sawing.”

Non-Myths Source: “Viewpoints” article in Communications of the ACM, July 2011: http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2011/7/109900-non-myths-about-programming/pdf Decline of interest in Computer Science usually attributed to myths. Maybe they are non-myths.

Non-Myths (cont’d) 1. Programming is boring 2. You spend most of your working life in front of a computer screen 3. You have to work long hours 4. Programming is asocial

Non-Myths 5. Programming is only for those who think logically 6. Software is being outsourced 7. Programming is a well-paid profession

CS Starting Salaries Recession officially December 2007 – June 2009 Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Fall Salary Survey