Fewer Students Pursuing Computer Careers

(AP)  A life working with computers conjures up images of sitting in a cramped cubicle hunched over a computer or fiddling with wires in a dimly lit room.

In the corporate world, those people are often known as "computer monkeys."

The perception is that it's a dull life, a geeky life, a life few people want.

There is also a perception that there are few jobs available in computer-related fields, which couldn't be further from the truth, said Jeffrey Vitter, dean of the College of Science and a computer science professor at Purdue University.

That view is showing up in the number of people studying computer science in college and entering computer-related fields. Although little can be done these days without the assistance of computer technology creating more jobs for those with computer skills, the number of people being trained to work in the field is dropping nationwide.

"The last five years, enrollments have dropped by half," Vitter said. "Nationwide, there are more jobs in the U.S. in computing than there ever have been, even at the height of the dot-com craze. The 10-year count for growth in new jobs is that there will be 1.4 million net new jobs over a 10-year period. That's the hottest growth area of any area at all in the science and engineering fields."

Vitter said the job growth presents a remarkable opportunity for students to get into a field where the starting salary is often $50,000 to $80,000 a year, but they have to be encouraged to explore computer-related fields.

"By far, the biggest reason that kids are not majoring in computer science is that their parents are telling them not to. Their parents think there are no jobs," he said. "What I would say to all the parents is, if you want your kids to tap into great jobs that are intellectually rewarding and financially rewarding as well, get them plugged into computer science or computer engineering or information technology. What you can do with those degrees is really mind-boggling."

The software engineering students at Indiana Tech know their friends think they're geeks, and their parents understand little about their future careers. But they also know they are the first people their friends turn to when they need help with technology a fairly frequent occurrence.

"I get a lot of crap from the guys on how much time we spend in (the computer lab)," freshman Tommy Rodda said. "If we're not doing homework because we have to, we're doing homework because it's fun."

Rodda has known for a long time that he wanted to do something with computers as a career.

"I couldn't get away from them," he said. Although he didn't know exactly what he wanted to study, he knew he was interested in video games, as well. Studying software engineering gives him the flexibility to enter any number of computer-related fields when he graduates.

Classmate Brad Taylor is interested in using his degree in medical technology or military systems. Freshman John Gallias is thinking about developing education software and working as a technology consultant with schools.

"Every job relies on a computer now," Taylor said.

Monique Anderson, director of software engineering at Indiana Tech, said most people don't realize the versatility that comes with a computer degree, particularly software engineering.

"You can do anything," she said. "You can go work for places like Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, gaming, Mercedes-Benz. You can pretty much take it and spin it into anything you want to."

The fear that it will lead to a job sitting in a cubicle eight hours a day typing code is a turnoff, Anderson said. That is why schools such as Indiana Tech are trying to show students that working with computers isn't all about being condemned to isolation in a dark corner.

Classes include teaching students how to work in teams on long-term projects. And Indiana Tech is developing a degree program that will start in the fall in computer security and investigations, which blends criminal justice and information security.

Another turnoff to entering computer science programs is the impression that the work is too difficult.

"They're intimidated," Rodda said. "(They think) it's way too much work and not enough play. It's really the exact opposite."

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[gonefishinga]

On a further note, American's need to do more about protecting US jobs. Many nations force their corporations to use local workers versus outsourced. We give it all away. There are no limits set (yet). If US companies outsource all their work, there won't be US workers in key industries. US employees pay most of the taxes collected vs. that of big US corporations. IT is a strategic and key need of the US, yet we are letting foreign work forces run and control it. We need to lobby congress to keep IT and other service jobs in America, for Americans. We should also boycott US based firms whose workforce does not consist of at least 50 percent (or more) of Americans.

[gonefishinga]

Your parents are right. As an IT consultant for major US companies for 18+ years I see it clearly. Better to use all your raw brainpower in a field that has a future. If you work in IT, your job can be eliminated at
any time due to outsourcing of your job to India, where the US company will save a bundle of money. India's programmers are regularly temporarily based in the US by Indian companies and are physically present in most large US companies at three eights (3/8) of comparable US salary. Indidans are trained software engineers, versus a US programmer (i.e. we can't compete). Said companies have no loyalty to US employees. US programmers are viewed as 'widgets' and programming is the new slave labor of the 21st century (work hard for little money).

[sooner_n_pa]

This writer is misleading readers in several ways. I've been in IT for 16 years. The best times were of course 94 - 02'. Since then things have changes dramatically in IT. It's no longer the booming field that it once was. During the good%u2019ol days the easiest way to get a raise was to leave and go to work down the street. We%u2019re talking salary increases of 30% in most cases. Those days are long gone for most IT fields. The thing is you can be in "IT" and make $25k or you can make $150k. It's all up to the individual. IN the end you got to enjoy what you do for a career and you've got to work hard and want to succeed. That holds true for anything. If I wanted to be a librarian, I'd make sure I was the best librarian that I could be. If I wasn't happy with my salary, I would find a way to supplement my income or explore alternative avenues within that career field.

Do what makes you happy. But do it really well.

[toolmangler-2009]

SharnCedar, Thank you for doing your homework.I have been trying to open some minds here but they are so focussed on putting down the current administration they cannot hit the ground with their hats. When all is said and done , those that hit the ground running will advance. The rest will work for them, if they are lucky...

The picture is bigger than Bush or any one else in the presidency.

[sharncedar]

As far as future prospects, what Americans can make the most money at is by doing what they do best. What they do best is innovate, what they do worst is follow directions or conventions in a mindless manner. That means they're best job is entertainment and computer programming, both of which require large amounts of innovation and new thinking every time out. The Indians in India can't even touch the American programmers. Programming is not labor-intensived, its thought-intensive, it isn't like factory work. For example, all of say windows Vists could be typed into a computer by one person in two months. And yet the project took 5 years by 1000's of people. Why? Because of the labor costs? Of course its not costly for labor, its mind power, clarity of thought, innovation and hubris, communication and cooperation, captured like lightning in a machine. Americans will be the best in the world at IT for a long time, its a natural fit.

The Indians at 1/5 the price can hardly compete, what does that say when our currencies become more equal. We'll smoke em. Imagine they become 1/2 the price, or almost the same price. Those companies that outsourced will be dead meat.

[sharncedar]

What a bunch of whining - this is what confuses "generation faux" that computer work isn't lucrative. There is a huge demand for IT people, even with offshoring, even with H-1. The starting salaries are higher than any other field. Most if not all of the recent new big money earners are computer geeks (the Youtube dweebs, the Google nerds, even ol' bill Gates that gawky nerd himself, etc. etc.)

Only "generation faux" is so stupid they can't see where the real money and power lies, they think real estate like Donald Trump is the way to go, they will be washing cars for computer geeks. They get their information from TV, what do you expect.

[granolaboy1]

Until Congress stops using H-1B to artificially control wages in the field, become a doctor or lawyer.

[payasyougo]

The loaded rate for labor in India is about 1/5 that in the US. The loaded rate in Europe is about 1/2 that in the US. It's a party at the CEO and director level regardless of the performance of a company and you as a shareholder will be the first one gone at a corporate bankruptcy filing. Any incompetent CEO can follow a textbook plan of cutting costs by exchanging loaded rates (read - laying off US workers and outsourcing overseas). This looks good on the books for several years. However, this is a shortsighted approach that is accepted by a shortsighted me-now-today society governed by a shortsighted political system. Most people have to start their careers in a large company, which owns the intellectual property and does not hesitate to move development of those new ideas overseas.

I'm not cynical, I just have not so far been able to change this model so in the mean time I will set my kids up for the highest possibility of successful lives and the proper career path is important to their ability to take care of themselves. I have no doubt they will do fine because they will not be dependent on anyone else.

[payasyougo]

I discourage my kids from the computer science field. I also discourage them from the arts, where I would most likely continue to have to support them for the rest of their lives. I also discourage them from embarking on a life of crime. This parental guidance comes from the heart, which knows I won't be around forever therefore I must use my judgment to assure their self-sufficiency. As a tail end baby boomer I will not be able to leave my kids any significant inheritance and the government will not be a viable entity in 30 years to fulfill it's current promises to the people.

[sketchy16]

I started my college career in Computer Engineering, but the program is so boring and unfriendly I had to change. I disagree that parents are telling their kids to stay away from computer based jobs. My parents were very dissapointed when i changed my major. But I would rather be doing something I will enjoy for the rest of my life then being the "computer monkey"