"More Americans are employed in IT than at any time in the nation's history." - InformationWeek, April 18, 2006
At the University of South Carolina, an undergraduate degree in computing provides an excellent starting place for a career field in which substantial growth is predicted. Computing professions draw on a wide variety of talents and interests. For example, scientific computing professionals need a strong background in mathematics, while those working in areas such as user interfaces need a strong background in social sciences and communication.
At USC you can combine a major in computing with a major or minor in another discipline to increase your marketability. These degree options allow you to combine the study of computing with intensive study in another area. For example, a combination of biology and computing provides an excellent background for bioinformatics or medicine.
CNN.com identifies the following five computing jobs as among the top ten fastest-growing jobs. Salaries shown are median annual salaries according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
1. Computer systems software engineer, $81,140
2. Computer applications software engineer, $76,310
6. Computer systems analyst, $67,520
7. Database administrator, $61,950
9. Network systems and data communications analyst, $61,250
There are more jobs predicted in computing than in all other fields of science and engineering combined. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts substantial growth in the following occupational categories:
Computer and information systems managers
Computer software engineers
Computer scientists and database administrators
Computer support specialists and systems administrators
Computer systems analysts.
We offer three majors in computing: computer engineering, computer information systems, and computer science. Students in all three majors take a common core of computer science courses as well as additional courses in supporting areas.
The particular choice of a major in computing will depend in part on your interests outside computing. Computing is a horizontal discipline - there are few parts of the world in which computers are not used.
Computer engineering majors work with both hardware and software, and they look at design problems associated with integration of hardware and software components. The systems they work with may be integrated systems found everywhere: from your car, to your iPod©, to your microwave.
Computer information systems majors focus on the use of computer applications to support businesses. They look at a variety of challenges - ranging from payrolls to insurance to e-commerce - and they take core business courses as part of a minor in business information management.
Computer science majors focus on improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of their chosen application area and of computing applications in general.
Hardware and software technology in computing changes rapidly, and computing professionals routinely find themselves working with technology they did not learn in college because it did not exist when they were in college. For this reason, the USC degree programs stress the principles of computing, rather than today’s current fad, so our graduates will be able throughout their careers to learn new technology when they need it and to adapt to the constant changes they will encounter.
Many computing students continue their education at the graduate level, either at USC or elsewhere. The department offers a fast-track option for students with excellent academic records to enter graduate school at USC before completing an undergraduate degree. There is also an accelerated option for students to enter USC’s International MBA program.
Most students who go to graduate school choose a program in computer science and engineering, and they generally receive research or teaching assistantships to support their graduate study towards a master’s or doctorate degree. Some students make other choices. For example, some of our graduates have entered MBA or MD programs.
