Transcript Document

Computer Programming:
College & Careers
Computer Programming
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Creating software by writing in computer
language ("code")
Computer Programming
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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
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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.
2.
3.
4.
Mathematicians
Computer software engineers
Operations research analysts
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
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"Despite the recent economic downturn among firms involved in information
technology, software
publishing is, nevertheless,
projected to be the fastest growing industry in the
U.S. economy over the next decade. Wage and salary
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
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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?
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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
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"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
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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
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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
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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
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Smaller Colleges and Universities
1.
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2.
Cal Poly–San 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 California–Berkeley
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
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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
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Computer Programming in
different majors
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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
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Engineering
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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
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Economics
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"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
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Mathematics & Physics
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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
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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
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Many Universities have centers for Computer
Music Research
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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 multidisciplinary facility where composers and researchers work
together using computer-based 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
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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
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Meteorology & Atmospheric Science
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"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
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Biology
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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
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Information and Library Science
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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. "
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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
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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."
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"Because familiarity with computer models and
statistical techniques is important, courses in statistics
and computer science are recommended."