Technology
How To Get More Women Into Computer Science
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet recommends that schools hire more female computer science teachers at the high school level. Though boys don’t seem to care much about the gender of their teachers, girls seem to see the subject as more “cool” if it’s taught by a female instructor. Changing the curriculum to be more girl-friendly is another recommendation. To many applications being built in computer classes focus on games or sports, which are of far less interest to girls than boys. One California school, Harvey Mudd College, has actually been able to boost its percentage of women computer science majors by simply changing the name of its courses from “Introduction to Java Programming” to “Creative Problem Solving In Science And Engineering With Python,” and by using course examples that focus on world health instead of gaming. High schools need to stop killing girls’ interest in technology. Right now, 74% of American girls in middle school express interest in STEM subjects, but by the end of high school, just 0.4% are focused on getting a college degree in computer science. Schools need to do a better job of changing a perception that math and science are masculine fields, by creating more opportunities that keep young women engaged in tech learning. The Challenges
There’s no shortage of obstacles for women in tech. To begin with, many young girls find that there’s little social support for tech learning from their friends. Ms. Sweet says that a girl is about one-third less likely to be interested in coding if her girlfriends don’t think it’s “cool.” Young women, unfortunately, aren’t getting a message that tech is a great field from the women who have gone into it. The Harvard Business Review has reported that 50% of all women who go into STEM fields eventually leave because of “hostile work environments.” While out and out discrimination may be minimal, many women in tech report an undercurrent of condescension and isolation that companies have not been quick to address. A male-dominated venture capital world makes it hard for women entrepreneurs to get funding. With less than 10% of all partners at VC firms being women today, it’s hardly surprising that less than 9% of all venture capital-funded startups in 2014 were run by women CEOs ( Find out about one of the few women who has broken through in the tech VC world: read Meet the Only Female General Partner at Alphabet’s VC Arm. Better maternity leave policies need to be created that allow women to stay in tech without having to choose between work and family, and to avoid burnout for women who are returning from maternity leave.
Elite University’s Affordable Online Master’s in Computer Science
Expertise & Career Opportunities You Can Gain With A Bachelor’s Degree In Information Systems
A bachelor’s degree in Information Systems (IS) is designed to prepare you to work in all areas of business where information technology is used; in other words, virtually anywhere. IS degree holders can potentially wind up with a broad spectrum of job titles from database specialist to systems analyst, programmer or even web designer. Many job listings for IT administrators also call for applicants with information systems training.
Stated differently: information systems is one of the more general types of technology degrees. It provides you with a foundation in both technology and business concepts. While this can potentially help you get a “foot in the door” in many business settings, it’ s also likely that you’ll want to gain certification in skills like C# or C++ later on if you want to advance beyond an entry level job. While you’re working on your bachelor degree in information systems, you might also consider using your electives to take courses in areas like security or cloud computing – more specialized areas where the demand for experts is relatively strong these days.
Computer Tech Specialty Courses
Like just about all bachelor’s degrees, a BS in information systems will require you to take some “core” liberal arts courses in English, math, communication, and political science or history. Those will be followed with a series of “foundation” courses that focus more squarely on technology including:
- Database design and management
- Systems analysis
- Technology planning
- Programming concepts
- Consulting, designing and maintaining information systems
- Develop/refining business processes
- Network engineering
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information systems administrators in the U.S. earn median salaries in a broad range from $88,000 to $141,000, though earns are very much affected by the particular industry where they are employed. Software publishers pay on the high end of the scale, while insurance carriers are on the lower end.
A Degree That Comes With Many Different Names
Because there are many potential job pathways with IS training, colleges and universities offer a number of different degrees that all fall under the heading of Information Systems. Some of these include:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor in Business Administration- Business Information Systems
- Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems- Information Systems Management
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology- Information Systems
BA Business/Information Systems: Students learn about current business practices and how to design, develop and implement information systems in a high technology environment. Courses unique to this program may include procurement, business law and troubleshooting (searching for and correcting computer problems and assisting system users).
Bachelor in Computer Information Systems/Health Information Systems: students who enroll in this program have a desire to work in the healthcare sector. In addition to the standard IS courses, the curriculum will cover EMRs (electronic medical records), PACS (picture archiving systems) and HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
Bachelor in Computer Information Systems/Information Systems Security: The security of private information is a huge concern nowadays. Students in this type of program learn how to design policies, procedures, standards and protocols for information security and apply them in their work environment. They also ensure that security is in compliance with laws, standards and practices. Graduates may find work as an auditor, security analyst, disaster recovery analyst, strategic planner or a security tech specialist for a private company or government law enforcement agency.
Online Computer Training: Keys To A Career Move
Virtually every business, large or small, now needs technology experts on hand with the training to develop web sites, build databases and fix the IT disasters that crop up every business day.
If you think it makes sense to take your interest in computers to a higher level, you’ll find that there’s a wide range of online computer training that can allow you to take the first step toward a tech career without making a huge commitment of time or money.
A tremendous variety of training choices is available, whether you want to study computer engineering, java programming, web security or other programming skills that can land you an “IT” or “Development” position in a good company. You’ll also find lots of tech courses offered online that can help you get a foot in the door if you are just starting out in this specialty, or even if you are a small business owner who wants to better understand how technology can help your business.
Economic Bright Spot
Technology is one of the few relatively bright areas in the economy at present. Banks, media companies, retailers and other kinds of companies have continued to invest in their digital assets, because even in hard times, they create powerful savings and efficiencies. A recent report from Bloomberg said that many large tech companies have increased their staffs by more than 50% in the past two years, while some smaller ones grew their employee ranks fivefold. Against this background, the article said, some young people are looking at tech as being more attractive than investment banking.
One nice thing about this category is that it’s a “big tent,” in the sense that many different types of people can fit into it. Although you obviously need to be comfortable with computers to succeed, career opportunities here range from site design, if you’re a more creative type, to software development or database management if you are more of a computer scientist who is comfortable writing code. In between, there are functions like drupal development, project management, online sales analytics or executive management of tech teams, each of which involves different types of skills.
One Step At A Time
Online computer training is offered by accredited colleges and universities nationwide. Specialties include security, network administration, php, java, other coding languages and web design. Many successful people have started by learning a few particular skills for part-time or project work, and then moved on to classes that give them an education in the more complex specialties like database and network administration. There’s no real limit to how far a bachelors or associates degree can take you in this field, since many tech experts become IT directors, a very senior management position.
But there’s also great distance learning offered by independent providers. Basic programs for beginner students are also available online at a very reasonable cost – often below $200. This type of online computer training can include basic desktop computing, small business computing and technical web development.