Computer Careers Dr. Kip Irvine School of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University

 Largest number of computer science graduates in the state  One of top producers of Hispanic students  Lots of industry partners  Largest CS/IT program in Florida  1200 CS and IT students, 35 full-time faculty, 200 grad students  Website: cis.fiu.educis.fiu.edu

Student Computer Club  Free tutoring  Picnics, LAN games  Programming team

Computing Field

Who Needs Computer Majors?  Science & Engineering  Education  Arts & Entertainment  Business  Government

Pure Science  Physics, Chemistry  computer software used for simulations, analysis, research  What's needed  B.S. degree in Computer Science, with a minor in Physics or Chemistry

Engineering-Related  Robotics  Biomedical engineering  Telecommunications

Robotics  All driven by computer software  Java, C++, other languages  artificial intelligence  visit the FIU Discovery Lab visit the FIU Discovery Lab  What's needed:  M.S. degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

Telecommunications  Software for cell phones and networks  What's needed  B.S. degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Education  Corporate training  Software for elementary education  Computer teachers needed  middle school, high school  community college  What's needed:  B.S. and/or MS degree in computer science, Information Technology, Computer Education

Entertainment  Computer animation  Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic,...  Computer-generated music  What's needed  Bachelor degree in Computer Science  Advanced training in computer graphics and music

Business and Government  Applications software  large-scale systems  Web-based software  Security systems  What's needed  B.S. degree in Computer Science or Information Technology

Major #1: Information Technology

Entry-Level Opportunities  Network engineer  Programmer/analyst  Database administrator  Customer support technician  Computer security

Network Engineer  Install networks  replace broken hardware  troubleshoot network problems  train users

Programmer/Analyst  Assist in the design of new software  Write computer code  Create automated tests for software

Database Adminstrator  Designs the database  stores all customer, company data  Maintains and configures database  Trains programmers  Creates reports

Customer Support Technician  Meets with customers, and management  Needs good communication skills  Intermediate technical skill level

Computer Security  Installs and maintains security software  Constantly monitors the system  On call 24 hours per day  Constantly learns about new viruses

Pay Scales for IT  Most urban centers  entry: $50-60K  after 5 years: $90-100K  Less developed regions  entry: $40K  after 5 years: $70K Database adminstrators and security experts are paid about $20K more than the above.

Required Preparation  Good math skills  Good communication skills  Bachelor degree in Information Technology or Computer Science  Two summer internships

Major #2: Computer Science

Required Preparation  A passion for mathematics and science  trigonometry, calculus, statistics, physics  Bachelors degree in Computer Science  and two 3-month internships  Masters degree helpful but not required.

Pay Scales for Computer Science  Large companies  entry: $80K  after 5 years: $120K  Small companies  entry: $60K  after 5 years: $90K

Common Job Titles  Software engineer  BS degree  Professor  PhD degree  Research analyst  BS or MS degree  Software architect  BS or MS degree with experience

Comparing Computer Science and Information Technology

Computer Science Degree  Computer Science degree leads to jobs of a more technical nature  software engineering (large systems)  research and development  Very rigorous in math & logic

IT Degree  IT degree leads to jobs of a practical, business-oriented nature  networking  business software (small systems)  Fewer barriers to entry than Computer Science  i.e. math & science, programming skills

In Closing…  Where do you want to be in 5 years?  How much time will you spend studying?  Visit Computer Science at FIU: 