Why Computer Science

Kent State University has a long history in computer science. We were one of the first four public universities in the state to offer a Ph.D. in computer science, and as one of the largest universities in the state we have a rich array of minors and electives to offer in your pursuit of a degree. We offer six different degree programs for students interested in pursuing a career in computer science:

• A Bachelor of Science degree program meets the needs of both the student wishing to pursue a career immediately upon graduation and those students planning for graduate studies in computer science. The curriculum is aligned with the most recent ACM/IEEE-CS curriculum guidelines and as such offers a good balance of practical skills and underlying knowledge necessary for adapting to the ever and often changing needs of technology.
• A Bachelor of Arts degree program is intended to allow students flexibility in combining computer science with other interests. Students in this program are free to select their minor from any subject and potentially utilize the B.A. degree program for a double major.
• The Combined B.S./Master's program allows undergraduate computer science students early admission into graduate school. Students in a combined program may begin taking graduate courses before completing their bachelor's degree.
• The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in computer science enables students with a bachelor's degree from another area to enter the many fields that require both computer science skills and skills gained in the student's prior studies. The program requires no prior computer science training and covers a breadth of knowledge in advanced computer science topics that can also be used to solve problems in the field of the student's bachelor's degree.
• The Master of Science (M.S.) in computer science provides students with an educational and research environment to develop career paths through necessary training with emerging technologies. Graduates have the technical knowledge and skills necessary for success within the information and high technology industries. The degree supports a thesis option, a non-thesis option, and three optional concentrations: computational data science, computer engineering, and computer security.
• The PhD program promotes research, discovery and integration. It is designed for students interested in becoming professional scholars, college and university teachers, or independent research workers in private, industrial or government research institutions.

Career Prospects

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the high demand for computer and information technology occupations, summarized as:

"Employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 12% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 546,200 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security. 

"The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $86,320 in May 2018, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $38,640."

Careers in Computing

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the following computer and information technology occupations in its Occupational Outlook Handbook: