CareerOpportunitiesforComputerScienceMajors

ProgrammingandSoftwareDevelopment
Systemsanalyst
Determinesanorganization'sneedsanddesignsprogramstomeetthem.Actsasa
problemsolverwhospecializeinhowinformationflowsfrominformationsourcesto
computers.Superviseslowerlevelprogrammers.

Systemsconsultant
Worksundercontracttoinstallorconfigurehardwareorsoftware,writeorcustomize
programs, or otherwise help solve information processing problems for an
organization.Businessrelatedcoursesarehelpful.

Softwareengineer
Designsandwritescomplexcomputerprogramsaspartofasoftwaredevelopment
team.Appliesprinciplesofcomputersciencetosolvepracticalproblems.

Systemsprogrammer
Designs and writes programs that interface with a computer's lowlevel operating
system,suchasdevicedriversandutilities.

Databaseanalyst
Designsandcreatesprogramsusedtocollect,maintain,andanalyzedataneededby
business,government, or otherinstitutions. Adapts programs tochanging business
needs.

ArtificialIntelligenceprogrammer
Applies principles of artificial intelligence to design and implement systems that
perform complex tasks. Applications include: expert systems that apply rules to
makingdecisions,suchasschedulingfreightshipmentsordiagnosingdisease;pattern
recognitionsystemsthatgiverobotstheabilitytoseeandunderstandobjectsintheir
environment;neuralnetworkprogramsthatcanlearntoperformtasksbyconstantly
reevaluatingtheirperformance.

Scientificapplicationsprogrammer
Workscloselywithscientistsandengineerstowriteprogramsthatsimulatenatural
phenomena or analyze experimental results, or apply scientific or engineering
principlestoresearchormanufacturing.
Userinterfacedesigner
Designsthemenus,icons,andotherfeaturesthatpeoplewillusetointeractwitha
computerprogramoroperatingsystem.Needstohaveempathywithcomputerusers
andartisticsenseofcomposition.

Embeddedsystemsapplicationprogrammer
Designsanddevelopsapplicationsforappliancesandentertainmentproductssuchas
PDA,mobilephone,mp3player.

InformationSystemsOperationandManagement
Electronicdataprocessing(EDP)auditor
Closelyexaminesdataprocessingoperationstoguardagainstlossthroughmistakes,
carelessness,orfraud.Oftenworkinbanks,insurancecompanies,accountingfirms,
andotherorganizationsthatusealargeamountoffinancialdata.

Databaseadministrator
Takesoverallresponsibilityfortheusage,accuracy,efficiency,security,maintenance
of an organisation's database systems. Coordinates development and use of data
resources.

Systemsadministrator
Responsibleformanagingtheoperationofamultiusercomputersystemornetwork
sothatitrunsreliablyandmeetsuser'sneeds;updatesandconfiguressoftwareand
hardware;providesassistancetousersandmanagers.

Computersecurityspecialist
Protectscomputersystemsfromillegalintrusions,viruses,datatheft,fraud,orother
formsoftampering.

Management/ITconsultants
Uses problem solving skills and computer knowledge to solve business and
management problems for organizations and foster improvement in areas such as
organization structure, business communication, and productivity. Defines and
analyzes problem, interviews employees, develops possible solutions, and presents
optionstoclient.

Informationsystemsmanager
Overseesalloperationsinanorganization'sinformationsystemdepartment,including
technicalsupport,training,network,anddatabaseoperations.Ensuresthateveryone
in the organization has timely, reliable access to the computer system and its
databasesandotherresources.
Chiefinformationofficer(CIO)
Serves as the highest information services executive for a major corporation.
Responsible for longterm planning and setting organizationwide policy and
standardsrelatingtoallcomputerrelatedactivities.

TelecommunicationsandNetworking
Networkengineer/consultant
Plans for the installation or expansion of local or widearea computer networks.
Performs complex configuration of servers, hubs, routers, and other network
communications equipment. Writes scripts or programs to automate network
operations.

Networkadministrator
Takesoverallresponsibilityfortheoperationandplanningforalocalorwidearea
computer network. Plans expansion; selects appropriate network operating system
and software tools; configures major features; deals with connection between local
networkandInternet;establishproceduresforsupportstaffandusers.

ComputerScienceResearch
Computerscientist/researcher
Applies theoretical expertise to complex problems and develop innovative ideas
necessary for the application or creation of new technology. They usually work in
researchlabsoracademicinstitutions.

Computerscienceprofessor
Teachescollegecoursesincomputersciencetheory,performsresearchandsupervises
studentresearch.Mayserveasconsultanttogovernmentorbusiness.

ArtificialIntelligenceresearcher
Develops programs to imitate the thinking and reasoning processes of the human
brain;forexample,recognizevoicesandobjects,speakinahumanlikevoice.

Dataminer
Analyzes databases in business, government, or scientific applications in order to
extractadditionalinformationorfindusefulpatterns.Needsfamiliaritywithmajor
databaseandstatisticalpackages.

Bioinformaticsspecialist
Organizes and manipulates information relating to genetic sequences, molecular
structure,andotherdatarelevanttothebiologicalsciences.Shouldbefamiliarwith
geneticsandbiochemistry.

Medicalimagingspecialist
Developsimageprocessingandpatternrecognitionalgorithmsforanalyzingmedical
imagestodiagnosedisease.

WebandInternet
Internetapplicationsprogrammer
DevelopsprogramsthataddfeaturessuchasformsandanimationtoWebsitesorthat
providetoolstohelpusersgetthemostoutofInternet.

Internetconsultant
Usessomecombinationofanalysis,design,programming,andsupportskillstohelp
clientswiththedesignofInternetsitesandconfigurationofInternetsoftwareand
connections.

Webmaster
CreatesormaintainsaWebsite.Providescontentandprogrammingorsupervises
writers and programmers. Monitors the performance and popularity of the site.
ProvidessecureformsandtransactionsforInternetbasedbusinesses.

Internetadvertisingdesigner
CreateseffectiveadvertisingfeaturesforWebsites,includinganimation,sound,and
text.

GraphicsandMultimedia
Animation/Specialeffectsdeveloper
Developssoftwareprogramsforcreatingsequencesofcomputerimagesforgamesor
movies.

Multimediadeveloper
Usesdesignandprogrammingskillstocreateinteractivemultimediaproductsthat
combinesound,images,andtext.

Computergamedesigner/programmer
Designsorwritescomputergamesorgameengines.Developalgorithmsthatmakethe
charactersrealisticandintelligent.

Electronicsoundproducer
Creates the music, voice, and sound effects for multimedia or computer games.
Integratessoundintotheoveralldesignofthemultimediaproduct.
TrainingandSupport
Technicalsupportrepresentative
Answersquestionsfromcomputerusersandsolvesproblemswiththeinstallationor
operation of software. Researches problems using manuals, help files, and online
knowledgebases.

Trainer,softwareapplications
Teachesspecificcoursesincomputersoftwareoroperatingsystems.Mayworkwithin
acorporationorataschool.

Technicalwriter
Writesinstructionalguidesandothermaterialsthatexplainshowtousecomputer
systems,software,operatingsystems,orprogrammingtools.Researchesandwrites
reviewsandfeaturearticlessuitedtospecificreaderprofiles.

ComputerIndustrySpecialists
Systemsintegrator
Combinescomputerhardwareandsoftwarefromavarietyofmanufacturerstocreate
thebestpossiblesystemforaclient'sneeds.

ITrecruitmentconsultant
Obtains thebrieffor job vacancies from clients,then matches candidates with the
relevantqualitiestothesevacanciesandarrangesinterviewswiththeclients.

ITsalesprofessional
Gives technical advice and guidance to customers pre or post installation of their
computersystems.

Journalist,computerrelatedpublications
Gathersfactsonpeopleandeventsinthecomputerindustry;writesnewsstoriesfor
computermagazinesortheInternet.