With technology continually moving ahead in leaps and bounds these days, and changing our world and disrupting industries in large and small ways, it’s no wonder increasing numbers of people are choosing to enter the I.T. world for their career.
Now, while it’s certainly possible for gifted, tech-savvy individuals to pick up the skills they need on their own, if you want to have a long-term career in this area, it’s worth studying in-depth at a university so you come away with that all-important piece of paper that will help future employers and investors take you more seriously. This isn’t the only reason to study either. Read on for the rundown on some of the top reasons why you should consider enrolling in a computer science degree this year.
It’s a Growing Industry With Plenty of Opportunities
If you’re looking for a career with excellent career prospects, it’s hard to go past I.T., whether you decide to specialize in big data, web systems, artificial intelligence, mobile computing, security, application programing, games and other digital media, cloud computing, or another area. Computer science is one of the most valuable college majors because the field is continually growing, and large (and small) tech firms and other businesses are always on the lookout for talented people for all areas.
After graduation, computer science students tend to have an easier time gaining full-time employment than graduates of many other areas and often end up with higher starting salaries to boot. On top of the fact that you’ll usually find there are more computing jobs on offer than there are qualified people to fill them, the growth in this industry isn’t slowing down. In fact, according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computing and information technology roles will grow between 12 and 37 percent in the years leading up to 2022. This means job security is more likely.
Another plus is that, once you’re a qualified computer-science graduate, you will have lots of choices when it comes to job opportunities. There are many different fields to enter; you can select between government roles, public or private enterprises; and have the chance to work all around the globe, if you wish. You won’t be tied down to just one type of job over the years, and will have less likelihood of getting bored as a result.
Set Yourself Up to Be an Entrepreneur
If you’ve always wanted to become an entrepreneur, and are wondering, is a computer science degree worth it, consider this: some of the biggest names in business over the last decade (and more) have actually come from computer-based niches.
This covers areas such as mobile applications, cloud computing, gaming, software-as-a-source, crowdfunding, internet-of-things, peer-to-peer networking, and more. For instance, there are the founders and owners of companies like Snapchat, Twitter, Square, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, Atlassian, Tinder, Instagram, Fitbit, Spotify, Dropbox, and Hulu.
Having a computer science degree and the knowledge and skills that come along with it can make it much easier and quicker for you to achieve your business dreams in the current tech-driven world. Being qualified in this area can help you to design products, streamline processes, cut costs, deliver better customer service, and otherwise run a company efficiently.
Develop Problem-Solving and Creativity Skills
No matter what you want to do with your career over the years, having skills in problem solving and creativity will help you. Having strengths in this area are also beneficial when it comes to your personal life, such as relationships, making and saving money, buying goods, and raising children.
Happily, when you study a computer science degree, you will be constantly honing these types of skills. You will learn how to notice problems, break them down, the thing about where to avoid wasting time, consider what could go wrong, search for the systems of issues, understand and streamline systems, and come up with solutions.
Computer science graduates also have to get good at being creative, and searching for innovation. This field isn’t, after all, just about programming; instead, it typically involves having to invent and build solutions to often complex problems, and imagining what could be and how things could change. Computer science requires a lot of experimentation, which means you have to have an open mind and be ready to try lots of new things. In turn, doing this for years will lead you to have a well-developed creative “muscle.”
