Your Future In Computer ScienceComputer Science is more than pressing buttons on a game program or filling in a spread sheet. Computer science involves the study of the hardware and software that brings you the latest entertainment, communications, business, and medical applications, and many of the other services that place the marvels of modern life at your finger tips. 
We have reached a point in our society where almost everything you interact with is controlled by some form of computer, even if it isn't readily visible. There are computers in your car, phone, mp3 player, TV, appliances, and maybe on your desk. They can even go with you on your belt or in your backpack. And with wireless communications abounding, the wonders of the Internet are available almost everywhere. The potential is exciting and challenging, limited only by our imagination. As a Computer Science student you will actually learn what makes these products and applications work and how to design and implement your own! What does someone with a Computer Science degree do?Endless opportunities exist for those who complete a Computer Science degree. Challenging opportunities exist in engineering, science, business, and entertainment industries. The most common choice following graduation is to begin a professional career working for a company or public sector organization performing software development. Yet, some graduates prefer to work in positions that don't involve as much software development including, technical marketing, system administration, web site development and support, network administration, or database administration. Other graduates elect to pursue further studies at the Masters or PhD levels. 
Many people think that a person with a Computer Science degree will be working endless hours, alone in a cubicle, writing line after line of code. This vision has been popularized by the Dilbert cartoon series, however, it is largely inaccurate. A professional software developer will spend considerable time working with other developers, managers, engineers, marketers and maybe even customers to develop an effective solution to a computing problem or opportunity. Software development is definitely a team activity, and often it ends up being interdisciplinary effort. If you would like to see more information about a Computer Science career and the opportunities it presents, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. To see what some of our alumni have done since graduate visit the Alumni Profile section of our web site. Where can you go with a Computer Science degree?With a degree in computer science you understand how software is designed, developed, and delivered. Computer science at the University of Idaho is a practical degree with a hands on focus. And when you are done you have a degree in a field that is expected to grow by nearly 40% from 2007 to 2012, compared with only 15% predicted growth for all occupations combined. 
With about 20% of all venture capital spent in 2006 spent on software, it is one of the fastest growing areas of the economy and promises to continue at this pace well into this century. As a result, computer science degrees are still one of the highest paid degrees in science and engineering. Starting salaries often fall in the range from $60,000 to $80,000. Not sure where you want live after graduation. Looking to relocate? Hot spots for computer science are on both coasts and in mid-country places like Colorado. You may also be surprised to find out that a lot of software development is done in small companies located in small and out of the way places. Internet services make working from almost any location in the world feasible. If you've been worried that computer science jobs are rapidly leaving this country and going over seas, you shouldn't be. It is true that countries in eastern Europe and Asia are developing skilled work forces to perform software development and some routine software development work has moved there. However, the really challenging and creative jobs are largely remaining in our country. With many of our leading software development firms now having a global focus and new market opportunities, for those who are interested, great opportunities are available to work collaboratively with people in other countries and to travel internationally. What is it like to be a student in the University of Idaho's Computer Science Department?Our program has a number of attributes that may fit nicely with the education and environment you are looking for: 
Additional reasons to consider attending the University of Idaho can be found at "Why Idaho?" If you'd like to see what some of our graduates have to say about their University of Idaho experience visit the Alumni Profile section of our web site. The University of Idaho Computer Science program was one of the first programs in the nation to integrate a Capstone Design (practical, senior-level, software design and development) experience into its curriculum. To give you a sense of the technical abilities that our graduates possess, we invite you to visit the Computer Science Capstone Design Web Site. What is Moscow like?Moscow is located in the Palouse "hills" region of northern Idaho. It is a dry land agricultural region producing wheat, barley, peas, and lentiles. Moscow is a "university" community of about 22,000 and has the unique situation of being located very near to another "university" community. Just 8 miles to the west is Pullman, WA, home of Washington State University. 
We also have live webcams showing pictures around campus. If you would like to find out more about recreational activities and things to do in North Idaho, look here: http://www.northidaho.org/. What are the requirements for a University of Idaho BSCS degree?We have several pages in our web site devoted to degree requirements and course information. We invite you to take a look: What do I need to do to be prepared?
Being adequately prepared for your entrance into the college experience will make the transition easier. A strong background in science and mathematics is helpful. Here are a few suggestions on how to prepare for college and how to select a college that will offer a program that is right for you. The guide was developed by one of the leading professional computing societies in our discipline, the IEEE Computer Society. Careers in Computer Science and Computer Engineering Another source of information comes from the Association for Computing Machinery and is located in the Computing Degrees & Careers portion of their web site. What financial assistance is available?Approximately 2/3 of entering freshmen receive some form of financial aid. Aid can come in various forms, ranging from federal grants, to student loans, to scholarship awards, to work-study opportunities. The Computer Science Department also has some discretionary scholarship funds that are distributed to deserving students. To discuss your personal situation and to see what may be available to you, contact the Student Financial Aid Services office at (208) 885-6312. More information about various forms of financial aid can be found at the Financial Aid and Scholarships web site. Additional information on the cost of a University of Idaho education is available at "Cost of Attendance." How do I sign up?If you would like more information or would like to talk personally with a member of the Computer Science Department, give us a call at (208) 885-6589 or e-mail us at undergradinfo@cs.uidaho.edu To complete the admissions process please review the information on the Admissions web site or contact the University of Idaho Admissions Office at (208) 885-6326. Copyright © 2008 University of Idaho Board of Regents |