CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS
SKILLS & ABILITIES OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR
AnalyƟcal Skills
 Iden fying problems
 Thinking logically
 Conceptualizing complex systems
 Solving problems
 Assessing needs
 Reasoning Algorithmically
 Tes ng solu ons
OrganizaƟonal Skills
 A ending to detail
 Coordina ng tasks
 Working in teams
 Se ng priori es
 Planning complex tasks
 Finger Dexterity– able to precisely coordinate fin‐
ger movements to complete tasks
Technical Skills
 Evalua ng computer so ware and systems
 Conduc ng feasibility studies
 Managing databases
 Designing program
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CommunicaƟon
Wri ng documenta on
Explaining processes
Wri ng/understanding computer language
Describing technical informa on to non‐technical
personnel
*ParƟally taken from the University of Kansas Career Center
POTENTIAL CAREERS
Business
 Technical Support Representa ve
 Computer Graphics Technician
 Senior Applica ons Planner *
 Research & Development Lab Programmer *
 Strategic Analyst
 Marke ng Consultant
 MIS Corporate Officer
 Product Manager
 Computer Systems Analyst
 Corporate Security Specialist
 Electrical Engineer *
EducaƟon and CommunicaƟon
 Professor *
 Editor, Technical Journal
 Graphic Ar st, Computer Aided Design
 Training Specialist
 Computer Support
 Technical Writer
 Computer Skills Teacher / Curriculum Developer
 Integrated Library So ware Designer *
 Ar ficial Intelligence Developer
 Top Execu ves (CEO)
 Engineering & Natural Science Management
* Careers generally requirng graduate / professional degrees
*ParƟally taken from O*NET OnLIne & the OccupaƟonal Outlook Handbook
POTENTIAL CAREERS (CONT.)
Government (Public)
 Communica ons control technician
 Public Health Service computer specialist
 Defense Dept. equipment specialist
 Systems programmer
 Technical informa on specialist *
 Auditor *
 Founda on informa on analyst
 Air traffic controller *
 Health informa on database designer
Research and Development
 Biomedical engineer *
 Expert systems designer *
 Gene c engineer *
 Automated systems designer
 Intellectual proper es lawyer *
 Applica ons programmer
 Demographer
 Sta s cian *
* Careers generally requiring addiƟonal graduate study
TYPES OF EMPLOYERS
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Businesses
College / Universi es
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Self‐Employment
Nonprofit Organiza ons
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Secondary Schools
COMPUTER SCIENCE RELATED TASKS
Analyze problems to develop solu ons involving computer hardware and so ware.
 Apply theore cal exper se and innova on to create or apply new technology, such as adap ng principles
for applying computers to new uses.
 Approve, prepare, monitor, and adjust opera onal budgets.
 Assign or schedule tasks in order to meet work priori es and goals.
 Conduct logical analyses of business, scien fic, engineering, and other technical problems, formula ng
mathema cal models of problems for solu on by computers
 Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to determine compu ng needs and system re‐
quirements.
 Design computers and the so ware that runs them.
 Develop and interpret organiza onal goals, policies, and procedures.
 Develop performance standards, and evaluate work in light of established standards.
 Direct daily opera ons of departments, coordina ng project ac vi es with other departments.
 Evaluate project plans and proposals to assess feasibility issues.
 Maintain network hardware and so ware, direct network security measures, and monitor networks to en‐
sure availability to system users.
 Meet with managers, vendors, and others to solicit coopera on and resolve problems.
 Par cipate in mul disciplinary projects in areas such as human‐computer interac on, or robo cs.
 Par cipate in staffing decisions and direct training of subordinates.
*ParƟally taken from O*NET OnLIne
RELATED BOOKS IN THE CAREER RESOURCE LIBRARY (CLC 530)
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OpportuniƟes in Computer Careers
Careers in High Tech
Resumes for Computer Careers
Resumes for ScienƟfic and Technical Careers
Careers in Focus: Computer and Video Game Design
InformaƟon Technology Jobs in America