According to a recent report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), students who majored in computer science are number four on the top-ten list of highest-paying salaries for the Class of 2013. So, if you want to learn more about computer programming or software development, consider computer science as a possible major!
Education
According to the College Board, computer science majors usually earn Bachelor’s degrees. In order to prepare for computer science programs, consider taking calculus, AP Chemistry and AP Statistics in high school. Some typical college courses for the major include artificial intelligence, digital system design, software engineering and computer system organization.
What to know before you apply
Before choosing a particular program, you should know whether the college is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Also, you should find out whether you will start taking computer science classes as a freshman, or a as a sophomore. Finally, you should be aware of whether you will be recommended to pick a specialization in the major. For example, will you be expected to focus on databases or another aspect of programming?
Salary
Choosing a computer science major can lead you to many careers, including computer systems analysts, management consultants and software developers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer systems analysts earned an average yearly salary of $82,320 in 2011, while management consultants earned $87, 980. Software developers earned between $92,080 and $100,420, depending on their specialty.
According to the recent NACE report, computer science majors from the Class of 2013 make an average starting salary of $64,800.
For more information about choosing a career, visit NextStepU.com/Careers.
