Computer Science Major Is Cool Again

netbuzz sends along a piece from Network World reporting that the number of computer science majors enrolled at US universities increased for the first time in six years, according to new survey data out this morning. The Taulbee Study found that the number of undergraduates signed up as computer science majors rose 8% last year. The survey was conducted last fall, just as the economic downturn started to bite. The article notes the daunting competition for positions at top universities: Carnegie Mellon University received 2,600 applications for 130 undergrad spots, and 1,400 for 26 PhD slots. "...the popularity of computer science majors among college freshmen and sophomores is because IT has better job prospects than other specialties, especially in light of the global economic downturn. ... The latest unemployment numbers for 2008 for computer software engineers is 1.6%... That's beyond full employment. ... The demand for tech jobs may rise further thanks to the Obama Administration's stimulus package, which could create nearly 1 million new tech jobs."

Comments

Poor kids...

[geminidomino]

I feel for the hotshot larval geek that's been programming since he was in the single digits, knows 3-4 operating systems, and can put together a computer in 15 minutes while getting a blowjob and having a gun pointed at his head, who is going to enroll in a CS program and find out he knows fuckall about "computer science."

Lest I get modded down for being an elitist prick, I'm not bashing those kids. I *am* one (although too old to be a kid). It's all downhill from Discrete Math...

And by cool you mean....

[dmomo]

We on Slashdot think so?

Me: "I'm sorry Miss, but there will be no cutting."

She: "But Dmomo, I don't just want to be with your CS Degree, I love you for you. Let me push your stack."

Me: "Typical story. Get to the end of the Lady Queue... I'm a FIFO man"

She: "Swoon"

Dead Cats

[travdaddy]

the number of computer science majors enrolled at US universities increased for the first time in six years

Well, I guess it HAD to increase sometime. There's a financial saying that applies here, "Even a dead cat will bounce if you drop it from a great height."

Where.

[PeanutButterBreath]

WTF? Really? Where?

McDonalds. To save money, they are no longer purchasing specialized cash registers with individual buttons per item. Going forward, a new generation of tech-savvy employees will have to "program" the register to display the order price.

FIFO as a double entendre makes sense

[circletimessquare]

i don't even want to begin to think about LIFO in a sexual context

Re:Uh, no it's not. Never was. Never will be.

[Fallen Seraph]

Maybe so, but I have to get to work, so if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you could go ahead and put $20 on pump #3

Re:Single digit drops followed by single-digit ris

[camperdave]

CS majors were always cool.

No. They were only cool when they were allowed entry into the air conditioned server room.

Re:Uh, no it's not. Never was. Never will be.

[eis271828]

I don't think I want to be associated with Swordfish. You should have mentioned Office Space, though.

Re:RTFA

[mikael]

Reminds me of a comment by the CEO of one of the Indian outsourcing companies (Tata Consultancy?), "If India is going to continue to be successful in attracting outsourced work from the USA, the US must put more effort in attracting graduates into management roles".