Why study Computer Science?

The most important aspect of computer science is problem solving, an essential skill for life. Students study the design, development and analysis of software and hardware used to solve problems in a variety of business, scientific and social contexts. Because computers solve problems to serve people, there is a significant human side to computer science as well.

Top Ten Reasons to Study Computer Science

The Association of Computing Machinery is an international organization for computer scientists. The ACM has developed the following list of top ten reasons to study computer science which we quote from their web site.

1. Computing is part of everything we do! 
2. Expertise in computing enables you to solve complex, challenging problems.  
3. Computing enables you to make a positive difference in the world.
4. Computing offers many types of lucrative careers.
5. Computing jobs are here to stay, regardless of where you are located.
6. Expertise in computing helps even if your primary career is something else.
7. Computing offers great opportunities for true creativity and innovativeness.
8. Computing has space for both collaborative work and individual effort.
9. Computing is an essential part of well-rounded academic preparation.
10. Future opportunities in computing are without boundaries.

According to the Association of Computing Machinery:

"Computing and computer technology are part of just about everything that touches our lives from the cars we drive, to the movies we watch, to the ways businesses and governments deal with us. Understanding different dimensions of computing is part of the necessary skill set for an educated person in the 21st century. Whether you want to be a scientist, develop the latest killer application, or just know what it really means when someone says 'the computer made a mistake', studying computing will provide you with valuable knowledge."

Expertise in computing enables you to solve complex, challenging problems.

According to the Association of Computing Machinery: 
"Computing is a discipline that offers rewarding and challenging possibilities for a wide range of people regardless of their range of interests. Computing requires and develops capabilities in solving deep, multidimensional problems requiring imagination and sensitivity to a variety of concerns."

Computing enables you to make a positive difference in the world.

According to the Association of Computing Machinery:
"Computing drives innovation in the sciences (human genome project, AIDS vaccine research, environmental monitoring and protection just to mention a few), and also in engineering, business, entertainment and education. If you want to make a positive difference in the world, study computing."

Computing offers many types of lucrative careers.

According to the Association of Computing Machinery: "Computing jobs are among the highest paid and have the highest job satisfaction. Computing is very often associated with innovation, and developments in computing tend to drive it. This, in turn, is the key to national competitiveness. The possibilities for future developments are expected to be even greater than they have been in the past."

Computing jobs are here to stay, regardless of where you are located.

According to the Association of Computing Machinery: 
"There actually are more computing jobs than qualified people to fill them in the United States. U.S. IT employment was 17% higher in 2004 than in 1999. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says computing has the greatest potential for new jobs through 2014. Yes, some IT jobs have gone overseas. If you consider the expected growth in computing, it's easy to see that companies simply need more talent. Don't miss out on pursuing the large number of open positions available right now, here in the United States."